Warning! Spoilers for Moana 2 ahead!
Moana 2 introduced Matangi, a woman surrounded by bats and with mysterious powers. Matangi, voiced by Awhimai Fraser, is initially presented as a villain in the Disney sequel since she announces that she works for the god Nalo and holds Maui captive at her master’s orders. However, her role ultimately changes, making her an even more mysterious figure than before. Moana 2 didn’t come with all the answers regarding Matangi’s character, further implying that Disney may come out with more sequels or spinoffs in the future.
The 2024 sequel to Moana (2016) sees the titular hero of Motunui set out on a new adventure, this time with far higher stakes than before. Moana must sail across the ocean to find the island of Motufetū, which, in ancient days, served as the hub for all the island people of the Pacific Ocean. Motufetū was cursed by the god Nalo, who believed that keeping the people divided would increase his own strength and power. To end this isolation, Moana must touch the sunken island in Moana 2, and the foe-turned-ally Matangi turns out to be pivotal in her success.
Matangi’s Role In Moana 2, Explained
Matangi Is Morally Complex
Matangi is initially an antagonistic figure in Moana 2. She is first seen holding Maui captive, telling him that not only would he, a demigod, be destroyed, but the human girl he turned into a wayfinder would be as well. Matangi also told Maui that she serves Nalo, the envious and vengeful storm god. It’s implied that she was left to guard the portal of the gods inside the giant clam, which leads to the cursed island of Motufetū. However, rather than keeping Moana and her crew from passing through in Moana 2, Matangi helped them on their quest.
Matangi told Moana that, to achieve her goal, she must let go and allow herself to get lost—relinquish her power and control and trust her instincts. This did the trick, and just as Moana found her way, Maui and the rest of her crew appeared. This was when Maui realized that Matangi had been holding him captive only so that he could be reunited with and assist Moana. The mysterious bat woman explained that if Moana broke the curse on Motufetū, then she would also be free from the Nalo’s service and the giant clam she was seemingly imprisoned within.
Matangi’s Powers, Explained
Matangi Demonstrates Some Magical Ability
Matangi isn’t quite a god in Moana 2. Her power isn’t at the level of Moana‘s Te Fiti or the sequel’s Nalo. She’s more likely a demigod, which explains her familiarity with Maui and service to a higher-level god-like Nalo. Matangi has a close relationship with bats, which swarm around her and behave under her control. Gravity is also a non-issue for this being in Moana 2 since she freely walks on the walls and ceiling (all very bat-like). Matangi’s abilities fit perfectly with her name, which is similar to the words for “wind” in several Polynesian languages. The character herself is like the fluid wind off the wings of her bats.
Matangi’s abilities fit perfectly with her name, which is similar to the words for “wind” in several Polynesian languages. The character herself is like the fluid wind off the wings of her bats.
Matangi’s powers fit well with her master, Nalo, since he is meant to be the god of storms in Moana 2. Wind is obviously a significant feature of a storm and can be damaging and dangerous. However, wind can also be helpful and important, guiding boats through their sails (or the parachute contraption Loto created to maneuver around Nalo’s cyclones). In this way, Matangi’s powers and role in Moana 2 are perfectly fitting. It’s also interesting to consider that Maui is the demigod of the “wind and sea,” meaning his role ties in with that of Matangi’s as well.
How Moana 2 Hints At Matangi’s Lore
Moana 2 Hints At A Deeper Story Behind Matangi
There’s a lot left to explore about Matangi, but Moana 2 did provide some answers regarding her lore. During her song, “Get Lost,” Matangi mentions that she has been in Nalo’s service for 1,000 years, which likely began around the same time that Maui stole the Heart of Te Fiti and was banished to his isolated island. Whatever arrangement she has with Nalo seems to be against her own will, and Matangi later mentions owing a “debt” to the god, implying that, at one point, she needed his services and is still paying the price centuries later. While it’s unclear precisely what happened, Maui and Moana’s stories may also provide some answers.
Maui was once human but became a demigod when his family tossed him into the ocean to die. In Moana 2, Moana becomes something like a demigod as well after she sacrifices her own life. If Matangi is also a demigod, as Moana 2 seems to imply, then it’s likely that she also used to be a mortal human. Of course, the Disney franchise has not yet confirmed this, but the door was left open in Moana 2 for Matangi and other characters to return in future sequels or spinoffs.
What Happens To Matangi In Moana 2’s Ending (And How She Could Return)
Moana 2 Set Up More Stories For Matangi
Moana didn’t see Matangi again after she reached Motufetū and reunited all the people across the ocean. However, this character was featured during Moana 2‘s mid-credits scene, where she was seen talking to Nalo, in the flesh, about Moana’s success in breaking the god’s curse. Nalo mentioned that a human shouldn’t have been able to do what Moana did, to which Matangi replied—with fingers crossed behind her back—that she had no idea how the girl had managed it. Unfortunately, it’s clear that Nalo suspects Matangi, and he goes on to imply that she would still have to continue her service.
This mid-credits scene in Moana 2 is when Matangi mentions the debt she owes Nalo, stating that it has been paid through her 1,000 years of service and that she should now be free. Nalo seems to disagree, and his proclamation that he is only getting started implies that he will continue to use Matangi to do his worst to the people of the ocean. Though Disney has not yet confirmed a Moana 3 or any other type of spinoff, the door has clearly been left open for a continued story. Though Matangi did all she could to help Moana in Moana 2, the hero of Motunui may still find this mysterious figure in her way down the line.
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
- Director
- David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller
- Release Date
- November 27, 2024
- Studio(s)
- Walt Disney Pictures , Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Distributor(s)
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Writers
- Dana Ledoux Miller , Jared Bush , Jason Hand , Ron Clements , John Musker
- Cast
- Auli’i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Nicole Scherzinger , Hualālai Chung , David Fane , Rose Matafeo , Awhimai Fraser , Gerald Ramsey , Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
- Character(s)
- Moana , Maui , Hei Hei , Tala , Chief Tui , Sina , Moni , Kele , Loto , Matangi , Tautai Vasa , Simea
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes