Honestly, if you sit down to sketch the "new" Moana and just use your old reference photos from 2016, something is going to feel off. You’ve probably noticed it in the trailers. She looks... different. Not just the outfit, but her whole vibe has shifted because, in the timeline of Moana 2, she’s actually three years older. She isn't that wide-eyed teenager anymore; she’s a leader, a "Tautai" (wayfinder), and a big sister.
If you want to master how to draw Moana 2, you have to account for these subtle anatomical and design evolutions Disney baked into her character. It’s not just a wardrobe change.
The Big Shift: Anatomy and "Leader" Posing
When Disney animators like Bill Smeed and Jorge Ruiz Arriaga started working on the sequel, they didn't just copy-paste the old 3D models. They actually updated her physical structure to reflect her growth.
First off, she’s taller. Her limbs are a bit leaner, but don't let that fool you into drawing her "dainty." The animators actually gave her more defined muscle mass, especially in her biceps and shoulders. You’ll see this when she’s handling the oar. To get this right, your initial "wireframe" sketch should have slightly longer proportions in the legs and torso compared to the first movie.
There is also a huge focus on "strength in posing." When she stands, she isn't just standing; she’s commanding. Her shoulders are back, and her stance is wider. If you're drawing her in a neutral pose, avoid the "slumped" look. Give her that authoritative, wayfinder energy.
Getting the Face Right (It’s in the Chin)
Here is a weirdly specific detail for the art nerds: the mentalis muscle. In Moana 2, the technical team at Disney actually upgraded the facial rig to include better control over the chin muscles.
Why does this matter for your drawing? Because when Moana is determined or emotional, the area around her mouth and chin has more "life" to it. Her face is slightly more mature—less round, a bit more defined at the jawline. Her eyes are still those huge, expressive Disney eyes, but some fans have noted they feel a bit more "focused" now.
- The Eyes: Start with two large, slightly almond-shaped circles. In the sequel, her eyelashes and the outlines of her irises are a bit darker. It gives her a more intense look.
- The Nose: It’s a soft, rounded shape, but be careful not to make it too small. It needs to balance out her large eyes.
- The Hair: This is the big one. In the first film, her hair just kinda flowed back. In Moana 2, it has way more volume. It sweeps over her forehead slightly more. Think of it as a character itself—thick, wavy, and heavy.
Step-by-Step: Sketching the Wayfinder
Don't worry about being perfect on the first go. Even the pros at Disney go through thousands of iterations.
Phase One: The Skeleton
Start with a basic "action line" to determine her pose. Is she leaning into the wind? Use a curved vertical line to set that motion. Then, block in a circle for the head and an oval for the torso. Remember, she’s older now, so make that torso slightly more elongated than you would for a child character.
Phase Two: Building the "Leader" Silhouette
Connect the head to the torso with a strong neck—not a thin one. Moana is an athlete. For the arms, use cylinders. If she’s holding her oar (the iconic Moana 2 look), make sure the grip looks firm. Her hands are "working hands"—give the fingers some weight.
Phase Three: The New Outfit
The color palette has shifted to a darker, deeper red. This is a big deal in her culture because red is the color of leadership.
- The Top: It’s a textured, woven bodice. Instead of just drawing a flat line, use "wavy" or "serrated" lines to show the texture of the plant fibers.
- The Skirt: It’s layered. You’ve got the top wrap and the shredded leaf under-skirt. Give these some movement! If she's on a boat, those leaves should be fluttering.
Drawing the New Crew: Simea and the Gang
You can't talk about how to draw Moana 2 without mentioning her little sister, Simea. She is essentially a 3.5-year-old version of Moana but with a chaotic energy.
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If you’re sketching Simea, focus on her buck teeth. The animators specifically mentioned that her teeth influence how she talks (she bites her lower lip for 'M' and 'B' sounds). This is a goldmine for character expression. Draw her eyes even larger than Moana’s and keep her limbs "pudgy" and rounded to contrast Moana’s new athletic build.
Then you have Loto, the quirky engineer. She’s the opposite of Moana—short hair, a gap in her teeth, and a mole. When drawing the crew, variety is your best friend. Loto is "hummingbird-like," meaning her poses should be sharp, quick, and a bit frantic.
The Secret to Disney-Style Shading
If you're working digitally, you've got to look at the lighting. The sequel uses a new rendering system (they call it Hyperion) that handles "subsurface scattering" differently. In plain English? Her skin should have a warm, reddish glow where the sun hits it, especially around the ears and fingertips.
For the hair, don't draw every single strand. That’s a trap. Instead, draw the hair in "clumps" or "ribbons." Think about the overall shape and volume first, then add just a few fine lines on top to show the texture. If she's near the ocean, add some "specular highlights"—those bright white dots—to show that her hair is damp from the sea spray.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Making her too "Princess-y": Moana is a navigator. If you draw her with perfectly manicured, thin lines, you lose her soul. Keep the lines strong.
- Ignoring the Tattoos: If you’re drawing Maui (who, let's be honest, usually ends up in the background of a Moana sketch), don't forget Mini-Maui! He’s a hand-drawn 2D element on a 3D body. He should look flatter and more "graphic" than the rest of the scene.
- Flat Hair: If her hair looks like a solid brown block, it’s going to weigh down the whole drawing. Use different shades of dark brown and even some deep reds to give it that "lived-in" island look.
Actionable Next Steps
To really nail the look, you need to practice "gesture drawing." Don't spend an hour on one eye. Instead:
- Set a timer for 30 seconds and try to capture Moana's "vibe" or pose in just a few lines.
- Look for "behind the scenes" clips of Moana 2 to see how her hair moves in 3D—this will help you understand where the weight is.
- Focus on the "C-curve" and "S-curve" in her hair; it’s the secret to making it look natural rather than stiff.
The more you study the way her design has matured from the first film to the sequel, the more your art will actually look like the character we see on screen in 2026. Grab a high-HB pencil for the light construction lines and a softer 4B or a digital brush with some "tooth" to it for those dark, rich hair textures.