Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear called Lin-Manuel Miranda for advice while working on the hit animated Disney sequel

Lin-Manuel Miranda was noticeably absent from Moana 2. Miranda, who received an Oscar nomination for the song “How Far I’ll Go” in Moana, did not work on the music for the sequel. Instead, Miranda was the composer and lyricist on Mufasa: The Lion King.

In a new interview, Lin-Manuel Miranda shared why he didn't return for the sequel, despite writing award-winning songs for Disney's 2016 animated hit.

He told PEOPLE that he's “really proud" of 'Moana 2' composers Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear

Amid the divisive audience response to the Moana 2 soundtrack, Lin-Manuel Miranda has now explained his absence from the sequel in a new interview.

Exclusive: Miranda tells ‘The Independent’ he was impressed by ‘how far’ star Auliʻi Cravalho’s voice has come

After his work on the first movie earned him Oscars attention, Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t return for Disney’s Moana 2, and he now explains why.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who received an Oscar nomination for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, opened up about why he didn’t return for its record-breaking sequel, Moana 2.