Get ready to set sail once again! Moana 2, the eagerly awaited sequel to Disney Animation Studios’ 2016 hit, is on the horizon. Moana (2016) brought us the fearless Polynesian princess and her unforgettable journey with Maui, the demigod, on a quest to save her island. Fans have been buzzing with excitement ever since the announcement of the sequel, and now, the wait is almost over!
In Moana 2, the adventure picks up three years after the original film. Moana sets out on a daring quest to locate the lost island of Motufetu, once a crucial oceanic link. However, this island has been hidden by the vengeful God of Storms, making Moana’s journey more treacherous than ever.
Prepare for an exciting adventure with the introduction of new faces. Simea, Moana’s spirited 3-and-a-half-year-old sister voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, is a bundle of energy and admiration, bringing a fresh and heartwarming dynamic to the story. On the other hand, Matangi, voiced by Awhimai Fraser, is a formidable new antagonist who wields the power of storms. Her unpredictable nature and ominous presence promise to challenge Moana and her crew in unprecedented ways.
Of course, the adventure wouldn’t be complete without the return of beloved characters. Fans can look forward to seeing Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Rachel House as Grandma Tala and more. This blend of new and beloved characters ensures a thrilling ride for audiences.
Animated films have been dominating the box office, and Moana 2 is set to follow suit. The original Moana grossed a staggering $643 million worldwide and attracted over 260,000 admissions during its UAE run. Building on this success, and following the momentum of animated sequels like Inside Out 2—which grossed over $1.6 billion—Moana 2 is poised for another blockbuster run.
Fans are buzzing with excitement as new videos and trailers for Moana’s upcoming adventure have taken the internet by storm, racking up millions of views. The sneak peeks show off stunning ocean battles, touching reunions, and the new track “We’re Back!” from Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.
Get ready, because Moana 2 is set to release on November 28, 2024.
With Moana 2 being one of the most anticipated films of the year, brands have a unique opportunity to ride the wave of excitement. Whether you’re targeting families, children, or adventure lovers, this sequel will attract audiences of all ages, offering unparalleled advertising opportunities. Contact us to advertise alongside this upcoming family blockbuster.
Source: IMDb, Entertainment Weekly, Collider, Variety, Motivate Val Morgan
Pixar has long established itself as a powerhouse in the world of animation, consistently delivering blockbuster hits that captivate audiences of all ages. From the record-breaking success of ‘Elemental’ to the heartwarming tales of ‘Toy Story’ and ‘The Incredibles,’ Pixar has cemented its reputation for creating some of the most beloved animated films of all time. Adding to its impressive roster is the sequel to the Academy AwardⓇ-winning ‘Inside Out’, poised to continue Pixar’s legacy of excellence in emotional storytelling and animation.
Eight years after the original release, excitement for the sequel has reached new heights, demonstrating just how beloved the first film was. With news and speculation continuously emerging, here is everything we know about Inside Out 2 so far.
Inside Out 2 hits the big screen on June 13th, 2024. The release is just around the corner, so get ready to revisit the world inside Riley’s head.
Inside Out 2 will premiere in all Middle Eastern markets with a full Arabic voice cast, alongside the original English language, showcasing Arab talent. This marks the first Disney animation to be released in Arabic.
The latest trailer teases the arrival of new emotions and the challenges Riley faces as a teenager.
The good news? The original cast is returning! Amy Poehler is back as Joy, Phyllis Smith voices Sadness, Lewis Black brings Anger to life, and Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling return as Fear and Disgust, respectively. New additions to the voice cast include Maya Hawke and Tony Hale, though their roles remain a mystery for now.
Picking up from the first film, Inside Out 2 explores Riley’s mind as she enters her teenage years. The established emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—will face some new company. The trailer hints at the arrival of complex emotions like Anxiety, Embarrassment, and possibly Ennui (boredom). How will these new players navigate Headquarters and influence Riley’s life?
Kelsey Mann steps in as director, taking the reins from Pete Docter, who helmed the first film. However, Docter remains involved as an executive producer, ensuring the spirit of the original is carried forward.
With a movie targeted toward families and children, Inside Out 2 presents a perfect opportunity for brands to reach a wide audience. Contact us to advertise alongside this upcoming family blockbuster.
Source: Collider, Pixar YouTube, IMDb
The cinema industry successfully ushered global audiences back into theatre in 2022 largely owing to the steadier flow of blockbusters in comparison to 2021, with Top Gun: Maverick, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Avatar: The Way of Water leading the long list of successful titles this year.
While 2021 was a dress rehearsal for the future of cinemas, 2022 has proved that cinema is back for real. This was especially evident in Saudi Arabia, when the country overtook Italy in annual box office revenue (in US$ terms), highlighting the prominence of cinema in the region.
Box office in 2022 had its first test with Scream which grossed nearly US$1M in the UAE alone and marked the successful return of the horror genre in the region since the pandemic. This was followed by the chartbuster performance of Matt Reeve’s The Batman, which earned a combined US$12M in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which earned US$6.7M in the UAE.
Summer blockbusters highly contributed to the recovery of the global box office in 2022, with Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick grossing a combined US$21.2M in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and over US$1.5 billion globally. Jurassic World: Dominion and Minions: The Rise of Gru also performed well, grossing over US$1.7M and US$1.64M in UAE and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
August to October was a challenging phase for cinemas in the region due to a weaker movie release schedule owing to pandemic-related delays. The year however ended on a high note with the release of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, which earned close to US$10M in the UAE in its opening weeks. Arabic titles such as Bahebek, 3amohom, and Men Agl Zeko also topped the 2022 charts across GCC.
Here’s our 2022 wrap-up featuring the top movie releases in the eight countries we cover, the most watched genres across the region, the top 15 cinema ads booked through us that lit up the big screen, and last but not least, the new cinema locations added to our circuit and our milestones:
UAE
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Oman
Kuwait
Bahrain
Qatar
Lebanon
The 15 blockbuster ads (in no particular order) – booked through Motivate Val Morgan, that lit up the big screen in 2022 (also featured in Campaign Middle East):
Brand: Mercedes-Benz Burmester
Title: Innovations by Mercedes-Benz: Dolby Atmos
Media Agency: OMD
Brand: NEOM
Title: Trojena – Journey To New Heights
Media Agency: Starcom
Brand: Emirates
Title: Gerry the Goose Flies Better
Media Agency: UM MENA
Brand: Rolex
Title: Rolex & Cinema – The Path
Media Agency: Mindshare
Brand: Sephora
Title: Amna Al Qubaisi – Emirati F3 Driver – Redefining Beauty with Sephora
Media Agency: Spark Foundry – Publicis Media
Brand: Malabar Gold
Title: Brides of India
Brand: Hermès
Title: Terre d’Hermès
Media Agency: Havas Media
Brand: Thailand Tourism
Title: Amazing Thailand
Media Agency: Media Republic
Brand: Hayatna
Title: Grow Your World With Hayatna
Media Agency: Hearts & Science
Brand: Riyadh Book Fair
Media Agency: Blue Horizon
Brand: Infiniti QX60
Title: Take the Wheel
Media Agency: OMD
Brand: Jindal Shadeed
Media Agency: United Media Services
Brand: Theeb
Brand: Yas Island
Title: Yas Yas Baby
Media Agency: Initiative Media
Brand: Al Nahdi Pharmacies
2022 saw our cinema circuit expand with several new locations:
Our dedicated cinema buying platform – CinePlan and CineMeasure, was launched, which enables data-driven, audience-based buying across our network of cinemas in the Middle East. The platform was also recognized as one of Campaign Middle East’s Top 10 Media Milestones of 2022.
Get ready for an exciting year at the movies in 2023! Here are the top 20 movies to look forward to over the year ahead:
For more on the movies coming out in 2023, be sure to check out our sizzle reel
A comprehensive list of animation movies releasing in 2021.
As the idea of a bright new year dawns upon us, cinema offers you a refreshing line-up of blockbusters!
One can’t predict as to how much more damage COVID-19 is planning to wreak on the release schedule, nevertheless, from action movies, to thrillers and rom-coms, there’s much entertainment ahead on the BIG Screen in 2021.
What’s interesting though is the array of animation movies set to release now, more than ever before.
Here’s a comprehensive list of animation movies set to release this year:
Tom & Jerry
Warner Bros. is bringing the beloved franchise back to the big screen (for the first time in almost three decades) in hybrid format.
Releasing in cinemas – 25 February
Raya and The Last Dragon
Walt Disney Animation Studios has committed itself to a number of original films after releasing back-to-back sequels, and first up is this fantasy epic set in the magical realm of Kumandra, a land inhabited by an ancient civilization — and dragons — which draws on the cultures of Southeast Asia.
Releasing in cinemas – 4 March
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
The lovable rogue is back! Will Gluck directs this Peter Rabbit sequel based on the characters created by Beatrix Potter. The cast includes Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie, and James Corden in the lead role.
Releasing in cinemas – 11 March
Rumble
Paramount’s latest has gone through multiple titles, directors, and release dates, but the premise has stayed the same throughout. Based on Rob Harrell’s graphic novel Monster on a Hill, the film is set in a world where humans train monsters to fight in professional wrestling tournaments.
Releasing in cinemas – 10 June
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
The Rise of Gru is both a prequel and sequel within the highest-grossing animation franchise of all time. Narrative chronology places it between 2015’s Minions and the Despicable Me trilogy (2010, 2013, 2017); if Minions revealed where the gibbering yellow henchmen came from, this film provides an origin story for the villain who becomes their commander.
Releasing in cinemas – 3 July
Boss Baby: Family Business
McGrath returns to direct his sixth feature at Dreamworks. Family Business is a sequel to The Boss Baby, the 2017 comedy that became a surprise box-office smash and spawned a franchise.
Releasing in cinemas – 16 September
Other animated movies that are scheduled to release in 2021 include:
Kung Fu Mulan (January), Maya The Bee 3: The Golden Orb (February), Dragon Rider (February), Even Mice Belong in Heaven (April), Bob’s Burgers (April), Ron’s Gone Wrong (April), Troll: The Tale of Tail (May), Vivo (June), Rumble (June), Luca (June), Space Jam: A New Legacy (July) Hotel Transylvania 4 (August), Paw Patrol (August), My Little Pony Movie (September), The Bad Guys (September), The Addams Family 2 (October), Clifford: The Big Red Dog (November), Encanto (November) and Sing 2 (December).
Please Note: release months/dates are subject to change.
Despite the pandemic roadblocks and setbacks, the animated movie industry is determined to continue entertaining us in 2021 .. in a year we are bound to feel the ripple effects of 2020, and will need it the most.
Advertisers, here’s your chance to advertise alongside an array of wholesome family entertainment packed with fun for all age groups.
Contact us to advertise your brand alongside these movies.
Sources: IMDB, Wikipedia, Cartoon Brew, Lopper and Collider (more…)
