You wouldn’t know from its looks that “Moana 2” originally was developed as a series for Disney+.

The sequel to Walt Disney Animation Studios 2016 hit “Moana” boasts the type of spectacular digital animation we’ve become accustomed to from the House of Mouse. “Moana 2” boasts brilliant colors, dazzling specular highlights and stunningly executed sequences.

However, you might suspect the original small-screen destiny for “Moana 2” from its narrative. While telling what certainly can be considered a complete story, the film is plenty interested in setting up yet another adventure for the appealing islander heroine.

Set three years after the events of “Moana,” its sequel sees the franchise’s namesake character (voiced again, enchantingly, by Auli‘i Cravalho), leading the people of her island, Motunui, with former leader Tui (Temuera Morrison, “The Book of Boba Fett”) — her father — ready to bestow upon the already-celebrated wayfinder a sacred island title.

Moana is honored, but her mind is on exploring — we catch back up with her on another island, pig pal Pua in tow — in the name of finding other people who call her beloved ocean home. A clue found on that island is followed by a vision in which one of Motunui’s original wayfinders, Tautai Vasa (Gerald Faitala Ramsey), instructs her to seek a lost ancient island by following fire in the sky.

Voiced again by Auli‘i Cravalho, Moana finds a clue in an early scene from “Moana 2.” (Courtesy of Disney Enterprises(

Come that fire does, and Moana puts together a crew for this journey important to the future of her people: Loto (Rose Matafeo), a spunky engineer who builds and is constantly tweaking the island’s canoes; Kele (David Fane), an older master farmer who has no real interest in the sea; and Moni (Hualālai Chung), a young man who has learned the island’s history and is designated as a story keeper.

Pau and the colorful chicken from the first adventure, Heihie (a returning Alan Tudyk), are along for the ride, as well.

Young Simea, voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, doesn’t want to see big sister Moana, voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho, go off on another dangerous adventure in “Moana 2.” (Courtesy of Disney Enterprises)

Moana wishes she also had the help of her big, shapeshifting, nemesis-turned-demigod pal, Maui (Dwayne Johnson), but, as she says, he’s off “demigod-ing.” When we reconnect with the man with the personality-infused tattoos, he has his hands full with Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), a mysterious, magic-wielding woman who will encounter Moana and give her guidance (and help hammer home a major thematic idea of this story: that it’s worth looking for a new way, even if it means getting lost at first).

Armed with his hook, the Dwayne Johnson-voiced Maui is a powerful being in “Moana 2.” (Courtesy of Disney Enterprises)

Soon enough, Maui, Moana and her ragtag bunch are together to take on Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i), the god of storms, who will bring lightning and more in a fight to keep them from finding the ancient island.

Arriving in cineplexes not even a week after big releases “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” “Moana 2” has plenty going for it and is certainly worth the price of another movie ticket.

And yet you can’t help but notice myriad little shortcomings, which may be attributable to the shift from series to film.

For starters, “Moana 2” doesn’t give meaningful subplots to any of the secondary figures. Thanks in part to comedian and actress Matafeo, you’re left wanting more of the energetic and confident Loto.

On a dangerous mission at sea, Moana, third from left and voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho, is supported by islanders Loto, left, voiced by Rose Matafeo; Moni, voiced by Hualālai Chung; and Kele, voiced by David Fane. (Courtesy of Disney Enterprises)

And while co-writers Jared Bush, who penned “Moana,” and Dana Ledoux Miller work to establish how crucial Moana’s success is for the future of her people, the stakes never truly feel that high. The need to find other islanders doesn’t compare with the blight that threatened the island in “Moana.”

Like that film, this one is infused with music. The songs are mostly enjoyable but feel mostly forgettable. There’s nothing matching the quality of the Lin-Manuel Miranda penned “How Far I’ll Go” from the first film, and the semi-annoying Johnson-delivered “Can I Get a Chee-Woo?” is a weak replacement for his “You’re Welcome” from “Moana.”

As we see how far the animated Moana will go, here’s a helpful reminder fans can look forward to the live-action reimagining of the first film, set for theaters in 2026 with Johnson as Maui and Miranda returning to contribute music.

You’re welcome.

(“Moana 2” contains action/peril)

“MOANA 2”

Rated PG, at the Landmark Kendall Square Cinema, AMC Boston Common, South Bay Center, Causeway, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport and suburban theaters

Grade: C+