Moana 2’s Lightning God, Nalo, Fully Explained

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Moana 2

Moana 2 debuts Nalo, a dark new god of storms and lightning who serves as the movie’s primary antagonist. Ultimately, Nalo himself is largely absent from Moana 2 beyond the clear evidence of his power. However, he’s no less of a threat to Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and her new crew, even with the help of her demigod friend Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson).

In Moana 2, Moana of Motunui is seeking to sail further than she ever has before as her village’s official Tautai, a leader and navigator tasked with finding new islands. As such, Moana receives a clear vision from her ancestors after finding evidence of other villages and people beyond Motunui. That said, Moana’s vision also coincides with Nalo’s debut. To that end, here’s everything you need to know about Nalo in Moana 2, his powers, and his future as a major threat to the People of the Ocean.

How Nalo’s Curse Sets Off The Events Of Moana 2

Keeping The Islands Separated

Despite not appearing much in Moana 2 itself, Nalo’s influence and power are certainly felt throughout the entire movie. This is especially true considering the dark curse he placed on the ocean in the ancient past, the discovery of which kicks off Moana’s new mission with a new crew. As revealed from ancient stories and tapestries, it’s revealed that Nalo wanted power over mortals and the People of the Ocean, so he sunk the island of Motufetū below the ocean, a central island with mystical channels that had helped connect the ocean and all of its island villages together.

To that end, Nalo serves as a supernatural explanation for “The Long Pause”, a period in actual ancient Polynesian history. Eastern Polynesia inexplicably wasn’t discovered for 2,000 years after the islands of Western Polynesia were found and colonized. Combined with the theft of Te Fiti’s heart in the first Moana movie, the result is that the ocean was far too dangerous to be further explored.

With Maui’s help and Moana’s own evolution into a demigod herself after she sacrifices herself to save her people, the duo successfully raise Motufetū from the depths and restore the ocean’s connections to its people. As seen in Moana 2’s ending, wayfinders from other villages soon make their way to this central island and meet with Moana. Moana then brings them back to Motunui to meet her people, a clear sign that Nalo’s curse was successfully broken despite his efforts and dark storm powers.

Nalo’s Powers, Explained

A Major Threat As A God of Storms

Despite his defeat in Moana 2, Nalo’s confirmed powers certainly make him a force to be reckoned with. At the very beginning of the movie, Nalo sends a bolt of lightning that nearly hits Moana just before she receives her vision from her ancestors to find Motufetū, confirming his command over storms that’s further proven by the movie’s end when he gathers a storm full of lightning and typhoons to try and sink Moana and her crew. Nalo seems to command sea life as well, at the very least some of its darkest sea monsters.

Related

The World Of Moana Explained

The world of Disney’s Moana movies is incredibly vibrant, with events and characters inspired by real-life Polynesian culture, history, and mythology.

Nalo can also force people into his service like the bat-lady Matangi who may be a demigod herself. As seen in Moana 2, Nalo kept Matangi imprisoned inside a massive clam and tasked her with guarding “The Portal of the Gods” that leads to Motufetū. It also looks as though Nalo can strip demigods of their power, such as when one of his lightning strikes hits Maui which caused him to temporarily lose his great strength and tattoos (at least until his power is restored by the Ocean).

How Moana 2 Sets Up Nalo’s Return

Planning His Revenge Against Moana and Maui

While Nalo’s curse was ultimately broken, it seems as though he’s far from finished with the People of the Ocean and its heroes. Wanting revenge against Maui and Moana, Nalo finally makes a full appearance sitting on a throne in Moana 2’s post-credits scene. He’s also joined by Mantangi, with whom he’s very displeased with.

Matangi had hoped that helping Moana and Maui go through the portal would go unnoticed by Nalo. However, the god of the storms somehow discovered her deception all the same. Likewise, it seems as though she’s still Nalo’s prisoner by the movie’s end, despite her hopes that Maui and Moana lifting his curse would have led to her freedom as well. As such, it seems Matangi will have no choice but to help Nalo in a potential Moana 3 (which has yet to be confirmed).

Additionally, Nalo and Matangi are joined in Moana 2’s post-credits scene by none other than Tamatoa, the giant crab from the first Moana movie. A major rival of Maui’s who has no love for either the demigod or Moana, it seems as though Nalo and Tamatoa might forge an alliance to get revenge and prevent Moana and her people from exploring the ocean further now that it’s been reconnected with its peoples and presumably villages all over the South Pacific. Considering that Moana is now a demigod herself, it wouldn’t be surprising if Maui and Moana fight Nalo directly in a possible third movie.

Who Plays Nalo In Moana 2?

Tofiga Fepulea’i

Nalo is voiced by New Zealand actor and comedian Tofiga Fepulea’i. Best known for his work as part of the comedy duo Laughing Samoans, Tofiga Fepulea’i has only had a few roles in television and movies ahead of his role in Disney’s Moana 2. These movies include 2019’s Take Home Pay and 2022’s Duckrockers.

Despite his background primarily in comedy, Tofiga Fepulea’i provides quite the intimidating and great villain voice for Moana 2’s Nalo. Likewise, one would expect that Fepulea’i would return to reprise his role as Nalo in a future Moana 3, when and if the sequel that’s been set up gets officially confirmed by Disney. Additionally, it will be very exciting to see Tofiga Fepulea’i in an expanded role, now that it seems Nalo is seemingly preparing to get his hands dirty and face the heroes directly now that his curse has been lifted at the end of Moana 2.

Moana 2 is now playing in theaters.

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

Expand