12 Best Moana Characters Ranked by Fans
- Joao Nsita
- 9 minutes ago
- 11 min read
12 Best Moana Characters Ranked by Fans
You have watched Moana and Moana 2 more times than you can count, but you have never actually sat down and ranked the entire cast against each other.
That changes today. Across two films, an expanding voyaging crew, a pantheon of gods and monsters, and one very memorable coconut crab, the Moana franchise has built one of the richest character rosters in modern Disney animation. Fans have been debating their favorites for nearly a decade, and the results tell a clear story about who really left a mark.
Let's find out who tops the list 👇
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#12 — Kele
Voiced by David Fane, Kele is one of Motunui's elders and the least flashy member of Moana's wayfinding crew in Moana 2. A mostly grumpy, largely nonverbal farmer more passionate about his vegetables than about high-seas adventure, Kele exists primarily as a grounding presence and a stark foil to the more energetic, upbeat personalities surrounding him.
He does not get a big emotional arc or a standout musical number, and fans have generally rated him among the most forgettable additions to the sequel's crew. Still, there is something quietly charming about a character who signed up for a perilous ocean voyage and remains far more invested in how his crops are doing back home. Kele's grounded practicality provides a nice contrast to the film's higher-stakes drama, even if he rarely takes center stage.
Where to watch: Stream Moana 2 on Disney+.
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#11 — Loto
Voiced by Rose Matafeo, Loto is the bright young boat designer and builder responsible for constructing Moana's new ship in Moana 2. As the crew's resident architect, she is constantly tinkering, improving, and reengineering her creations mid-voyage, giving her a distinct, hands-on energy that sets her apart from the rest of the wayfinding team.
Loto's technical expertise proves genuinely useful throughout the sequel, and Matafeo's comedic timing gives the character a sharp, likable personality even in a relatively limited amount of screen time. She may not carry the emotional weight of the franchise's central figures, but she represents exactly the kind of specialized, competent crew member that makes Moana's expanded found-family feel like a real team rather than a random assortment of side characters.
Where to watch: Stream Moana 2 on Disney+.
#10 — Simea
Voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Simea is Moana's lively baby sister, introduced as a brand-new addition to the family in Moana 2. Too young to join the voyage herself, Simea nonetheless makes a strong impression through her infectious admiration for her older sister, making it clear from her very first scene that she wants to grow up to be exactly like Moana one day.
Fans have responded warmly to Simea specifically because of what she represents: the next generation of the Motunui line, and tangible proof of how much Moana's journey has already changed what is possible for the girls who come after her. She may have limited screen time, but she adds real emotional stakes to Moana's mission, giving the ocean-bound plot a grounded, family-centered reason to root for a safe return home.
Where to watch: Stream Moana 2 on Disney+.
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#9 — Sina
Voiced by Nicole Scherzinger, Sina is Moana's loving and endlessly supportive mother, and one of the quiet emotional anchors of both films. Where Chief Tui's fear of the ocean creates tension with Moana's calling, Sina serves as the gentle bridge between her husband's protective instincts and her daughter's boundless curiosity, understanding intuitively why Moana feels so pulled toward the water.
Sina never needs a big showdown or dramatic confrontation to make her presence felt. Her defining moments are small and deeply human: the reassuring look she gives Moana, the quiet support she offers without ever undermining Tui, and her refusal to let fear entirely define how her daughter is raised. Fans consistently point to Sina as one of the most nuanced, understated parental figures in the entire Disney Princess catalogue.
Where to watch: Stream Moana and Moana 2 on Disney+.
#8 — Chief Tui
Voiced by Temuera Morrison, Chief Tui is Moana's father and the leader of Motunui, and one of the most emotionally layered parental figures Disney has produced in years. His fierce, sometimes overbearing protectiveness toward Moana is not simply overprotective-parent trope filler; it stems directly from real trauma, having lost a close friend to a drowning accident during a storm at sea in his youth.
That backstory transforms every one of Tui's restrictions from an obstacle into a wound, and it is exactly why his arc lands so effectively by the film's end. Watching him shift from a father who forbids his daughter from ever going past the reef to one who stands proudly cheering her on as she sails home is one of the most quietly moving transformations in the franchise. Fans have specifically praised the emotional depth Tui brings to a role that, in a lesser film, could have simply been "strict dad."
Where to watch: Stream Moana and Moana 2 on Disney+.
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#7 — Pua and Heihei
Moana's animal companions may not carry dialogue in the traditional sense, but Pua the pig and Heihei the spectacularly dim-witted rooster (voiced in his squawks and grunts by Alan Tudyk) have become two of the most beloved supporting characters in the entire franchise. Pua, sadly left behind on Motunui for most of the first film, gets his moment to shine as a full member of the crew by Moana 2, complete with an adorable tiny tusk.
Heihei, meanwhile, has built an entire comedic identity around simply managing to survive things he by all logic should not survive. He provides light comic relief throughout Moana's ocean voyage, and the sheer, dumb luck of his continued existence has become a running gag fans genuinely look forward to in every installment. Neither character drives the plot, but both add warmth, humor, and a reminder of home that keeps the tone from becoming too heavy.
Where to watch: Stream Moana and Moana 2 on Disney+.
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#6 — Tamatoa
Voiced with glam-rock relish by Jemaine Clement, Tamatoa is the towering, treasure-obsessed coconut crab who rules the monstrous undersea realm of Lalotai. Driven by a deep insecurity about being considered a lowly "bottom feeder," Tamatoa has spent his existence hoarding shiny objects to compensate, which eventually puts him directly in conflict with Moana and Maui when he sets his sights on the Heart of Te Fiti.
What makes Tamatoa so enduringly popular is the layered nature of his villainy. He is genuinely funny, delivering some of the franchise's best one-liners and an entire showstopping musical number, "Shiny," that has become one of the most quoted songs in the soundtrack. But he is also, in his own strange way, a victim of circumstance — his hatred of Maui stems from the demigod literally tearing off one of his limbs, giving him a grievance that is at least understandable even if his methods are monstrous.
Where to watch: Stream Moana on Disney+.
#5 — Villagers of Motunui
The unnamed villagers of Motunui function as more than background scenery — they are the living, breathing embodiment of the culture Moana is fighting to protect. Through songs like "Where You Are," audiences get a genuinely rich glimpse into the traditions, dances, food, and daily rhythms of Motunui life, all rendered with a level of cultural specificity and care that set a new bar for authenticity in Disney animation.
The villagers' quiet trust in Tui and his family, and their instinct to look to Moana for guidance even before she formally takes on leadership, reinforces just how much is riding on her journey. Fans have praised the way these background figures add texture and gravity to the story without ever needing individual names or arcs — they make Motunui feel like a real place worth saving, not just a backdrop.
Where to watch: Stream Moana on Disney+.
#4 — Gramma Tala
Voiced by Rachel House in a performance the actress has described as deeply personal, Gramma Tala is Moana's free-spirited grandmother and the only person in the village who ever encourages her granddaughter's connection to the ocean. She is the one who reveals the truth about their people's forgotten history as voyagers, the one who gives Moana the Heart of Te Fiti, and the one who tells her, unequivocally, to go find Maui rather than stay behind to watch her die.
Tala's death early in the first film could have removed her from the story entirely, but instead she becomes a spiritual guide who returns at Moana's lowest moments throughout both films, offering the reassurance and courage her granddaughter needs most. Fans consistently rank her among the most important characters in the entire franchise — not because she is on screen the most, but because without her, none of Moana's journey happens at all.
Where to watch: Stream Moana and Moana 2 on Disney+.
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#3 — Te Fiti / Te Kā
Te Fiti is the island goddess whose stolen heart sets the entire plot of Moana in motion — and Te Kā, the terrifying lava demon who nearly destroys Moana and Maui in the film's climax, is revealed to be the very same being, transformed into a vengeful, destructive force the moment Maui took her heart away. The reveal that Te Kā is not a separate villain to defeat, but Te Fiti herself in profound pain and imbalance, remains one of the most beautifully executed twists in modern Disney animation.
Moana's decision to approach Te Kā not with a weapon but with compassion — offering to return what was stolen rather than fighting to destroy her — reframes the entire climax around empathy instead of combat. Fans have repeatedly cited this moment as one of the franchise's most powerful, and Te Fiti's peaceful restoration afterward is one of the most visually stunning sequences in the film.
Where to watch: Stream Moana on Disney+.
#2 — Maui
Voiced by Dwayne Johnson, Maui the shapeshifting demigod is, for many fans, the single most beloved character in the entire franchise outside of Moana herself. Introduced as an arrogant, self-absorbed figure more concerned with his own legend than with helping anyone else, Maui's journey across both films transforms him into Moana's most trustworthy ally and something close to an older brother figure — a demigod who would sacrifice his own magical hook for her without hesitation.
Johnson's performance is a masterclass in balancing bravado with real vulnerability underneath, and the character's introspective musical number "You're Welcome" remains one of the soundtrack's most iconic tracks. Mini Maui, the small, silent, animated tattoo who serves as Maui's conscience and occasionally physically argues with him, adds an extra layer of charm and visual comedy that fans consistently point to as one of the film's cleverest touches. By Moana 2, the mutual respect between Maui and Moana has fully replaced his old condescension, making their dynamic one of the most satisfying friendships in the Disney canon.
Where to watch: Stream Moana and Moana 2 on Disney+.
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#1 — Moana
Voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, Moana Waialiki is, without any real competition, the greatest character this franchise has ever produced — and one of the most genuinely inspiring protagonists in the entire history of Disney animation. From her very first scene as a toddler drawn instinctively toward the ocean, Moana is established as someone chosen for something greater than herself, and everything that follows across two films only deepens that sense of purpose.
What makes Moana so enduringly beloved is the specificity of her heroism. She does not need rescuing. She does not need a romantic subplot to complete her arc. Her love is for her people, her island, and her own sense of identity, and her signature song "How Far I'll Go" remains one of the most powerful "I Want" songs in the modern Disney songbook precisely because it is about self-discovery rather than romantic longing. By the end of Moana 2, having sacrificed herself to reconnect the islands of Oceania and been reborn as a demigoddess with her own tattoos, Moana has completed one of the most satisfying hero's journeys Disney has ever told — earning her place, unanimously, at the top of this list.
Where to watch: Stream Moana and Moana 2 on Disney+.
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Conclusion
From a grumpy farmer more interested in his vegetables than glory, to a demigoddess who reconnected an entire ocean of islands, the Moana franchise has built one of the richest, most emotionally resonant casts in modern Disney animation. Every character on this list — no matter how large or small their role — adds something essential to the story of a girl who was always meant to find her way back to the sea.
Whichever character you love most, one thing is certain: this crew is not done sailing yet.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the most popular Moana character according to fans? Moana herself is overwhelmingly the most beloved character in the franchise, with Maui a close second. Fans consistently praise Moana for her independence, leadership, and the fact that her heroism never depends on romance.
2. Who voices Maui in Moana? Maui is voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in both Moana and Moana 2, and he will also portray the character in live-action in the upcoming Moana remake.
3. Is Te Kā the same character as Te Fiti? Yes. Te Kā is revealed to be Te Fiti transformed into a destructive lava demon after Maui stole her heart. Restoring the heart returns her to her original, peaceful form.
4. What new characters were introduced in Moana 2? Moana 2 introduced Simea (Moana's baby sister), Loto (a boat builder), Moni (a Maui superfan and historian), Kele (a grumpy elder farmer), Matangi (an enforcer for the storm god Nalo), and Nalo himself as the film's main antagonist.
5. Why is Tamatoa such a popular character despite being a villain? Tamatoa combines genuine menace with sharp comedy and one of the franchise's best musical numbers, "Shiny." His backstory as a "victim of circumstance" who lost a limb to Maui also gives him more depth than a typical one-dimensional antagonist.
6. Does Gramma Tala appear in Moana 2 even though she dies in the first film? Yes. Gramma Tala continues to appear as a spiritual guide throughout Moana 2, offering wisdom and encouragement to Moana at key moments, just as she did after her death in the original film.
7. What happens to Moana at the end of Moana 2? Moana sacrifices herself to touch the sunken island of Motufetu and reconnect the ocean, and is revived by her ancestors alongside Maui, emerging as a demigoddess with new tattoos.
8. Who are Pua and Heihei? Pua is Moana's pet pig, and Heihei is her exceptionally dim-witted pet rooster, voiced in performance (though not traditional dialogue) by Alan Tudyk. Both serve as comic relief and loyal companions throughout the franchise.
9. Is Moana considered an official Disney Princess? While the film itself notably avoids calling Moana a "princess," she is officially included in Disney's Princess merchandise lineup alongside characters like Belle, Mulan, and Rapunzel.
10. Will there be a Moana 3? As of 2026, Disney has not confirmed a third animated Moana film, though the franchise's continued box office success and the upcoming live-action remake suggest the story is far from over.
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