Disney Faces Lawsuit From Animator Alleging Screenplay Theft For Moana And Its Sequel

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Disney is being sued by animator Buck Woodall, who claims the studio stole ideas from his screenplay for an animated film titled Bucky to create the 2016 hit Moana and its upcoming sequel, Moana 2.

In a lawsuit filed on January 10 in a California federal court, Woodall alleges that both his screenplay and the Moana films share key elements. He asserts that both are set in a mythical Polynesian village and follow young protagonists striving to save their homes while encountering spirit animals.

This legal action follows a November court decision that dismissed a similar lawsuit by Woodall against Disney over the original Moana due to the statute of limitations. However, the development of Moana 2 has allowed Woodall to pursue new claims.

In the earlier case, the court determined that a jury should decide whether the similarities between Moana and Bucky are substantial and striking. It also found evidence suggesting someone at Disney Animation TV may have accessed Bucky’s copyrighted materials before Moana’s development began.

Woodall alleges that in 2003, he pitched Bucky to Jenny Marchick, then Director of Development at Mandeville Films, which had a first-look deal with Disney. According to Woodall, Marchick requested detailed materials, including production plans, character designs, and storyboards, and assured him she could greenlight the project.

The lawsuit highlights several parallels between Moana and Bucky, including the Polynesian belief that ancestors manifest as animals, protagonists whose journeys begin with a turtle, and significant symbolic necklaces. Additionally, both films feature a dramatic whirlpool-like oceanic portal, which Woodall claims was uniquely depicted in his materials.

Woodall is seeking $10 billion in damages, equivalent to 2.5% of Moana’s gross revenue, and a court order to prevent further infringement of his copyrights.

The case underscores ongoing debates about intellectual property in the entertainment industry and raises questions about the originality of some of Disney’s most successful projects.

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