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Stunning New ‘Moana 2’ Trailer Proves Disney Should Skip Live-Action Remakes
If I had to pick just one word to describe Disney’s live-action remakes of its beloved classics, it would be lackluster. The House of Mouse has been on a spree of remaking old animated movies, starting earnestly in 2010 with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. However, this trend truly took off with 2015’s Cinderella, despite Maleficent arriving a year earlier as more of a spin-off than a direct remake of Sleeping Beauty.
Before this organized effort, there were sporadic attempts like 101 Dalmatians. To date, Disney has churned out over 20 of these remakes, the latest being The Little Mermaid in 2023. While it exceeded my expectations, it still felt lifeless and dull compared to its animated version. Good luck trying to remember any of the new tunes. Despite the animation’s charm, the live-action adaptations rarely capture the original magic, especially in the music department.
That’s the crux of Disney’s live-action remakes. Even the more successful ones pale in comparison to their animated predecessors. Take Beauty and the Beast, one of the better remakes, yet it remains overshadowed by the animated classic. On the flip side, some remakes like Mulan are outright disappointing, and I couldn’t even muster the interest to watch Peter Pan & Wendy.
Now, a new trailer for Moana 2 has been released, reigniting interest and debates over Disney’s remake strategies.
I thoroughly enjoyed Moana, although it’s not my favorite Disney princess movie. I consider Tangled to be the best among the modern Disney princess line-up. Nevertheless, Moana stands higher in my books than the overrated Frozen series.
The main point is that animation is where Disney truly excels. The vibrancy and life that animation brings cannot be replicated by live-action. The upcoming animated sequel to Moana looks far more engaging than any live-action remake. The colorful, lively world of The Little Mermaid was lost in its live-action version, transforming animated joy into a dull rendition filled with realistic but bland fish.
It appears Disney may be realizing this to some extent, which might explain why the first trailer of Snow White is more saturated and animated in appearance. But the question remains—why not just make a new animated Snow White? Animated remakes would be far more exciting and perhaps better received than live-action adaptations.
Films like Peter Pan could benefit significantly from dropping controversial elements like the “Why Is The Red Man Red” song, while Snow White, one of the weaker original animated films, could see a spectacular comeback through animation. Iconic movies like Robin Hood are perfect as they are but would still make better animated remakes than live-action ones. And why turn The Lion King “real” when a new animated version using modern technology could capture its original vibrancy?
Disney’s decision-making continues to perplex me. Their approach to projects, including their entire Star Wars strategy, often leaves me befuddled. Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been immensely successful, it has started losing its sheen recently. Disney should focus on its strengths: targeting the right demographics for each franchise. The MCU and Star Wars are especially popular among boys. Disney princess tales, enjoyed by girls and families, shine best in animated form. The success of non-princess films like Inside Out 2 illustrates that quality storytelling trumps everything else.
However, I’m voicing opinions that might just be lost in the wind. Perhaps one day, someone will understand the merits of sticking to what Disney does best. Until then, it will remain a lonely critic’s battle.
On my tombstone, feel free to write, “Old man shook fist at clouds.”
Source: Forbes
