Animator Sues Disney Over Alleged Moana 2 Copyright Infringement

Moana 2 has been a pretty big hit for Disney, with earnings of $989.8 million at the global box office so far. However, a dark cloud has been cast over the franchise as the studio has been accused of copyright infringement.

Animator Buck Woodall filed a lawsuit against Disney on Jan. 10, claiming that both Moana films were copied from his screenplay without his consent. Per Entertainment Weekly, the legal filing alleges that “former Mandeville Films development director Jenny Marchick violated his copyright by secretly passing to Disney materials he produced confidentially for her two decades ago.”

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Although the filing includes several claims about 2016’s Moana, it mostly focuses on the sequel. The lawsuit describes Disney as a “fraudulent enterprise that encompassed the theft, misappropriation, and extensive exploitation of Woodall’s copyrighted materials.” The document also claims that between 2003 and 2008, the animator gave Marchick “extremely large quantities of intellectual property and trade secrets” about a project called “Bucky” or “Bucky the Wave Warrior.”

The material included a screenplay, character illustrations, budgets, a fully animated concept trailer, storyboards, and background image references. Woodall also points out that he secured copyright protection for his work in 2004, with an update in 2014. Although “Bucky” was never developed, Woodall alleges that Marchick shared his work with Disney by taking advantage of legal loopholes within the “tapestry of confusion” that defines Disney’s complex corporate structure.

Woodall Is Claiming Damages

As a result, Woodall claims that “Bucky” was eventually turned into Moana and served as the foundation for Moana 2. The lawsuit also lists several similarities between Woodall’s script and both Moana movies. Like “Bucky,” the first film tells the story of a teenager traveling across Polynesian waters in an outrigger canoe to save their homeland. The story features Polynesian traditions, like spiritual ancestors appearing as animal guides, along with a symbolic necklace, star-based navigation, and more.

There are also several similarities between Woodall’s work and Moana 2 such as a curse that needs breaking, a whirlpool that is actually a portal, and a run-in with the Kakamora warrior tribe. Despite Woodall claiming that Disney failed to provide requested documents, the studio had furnished the court with Moana story ideas, various drafts of the screenplay, along with notes, research and more. Woodall is currently seeking damages of $10 billion and a court order confirming his copyright.

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“Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers,” the official synopsis reads. “After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.” The voice cast also includes Awhimai Fraser, Temeura Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudy, and Rachel House as Tala.

Director Dana Ledoux Miller recently talked about the film’s success and hinted at future installments. “I think that the fact that so many people have come out to see this movie means that there’s a lot of love for Moana,” the filmmaker said. “In a year and a half I have another film coming out, it’s the live-action Moana, so there’s a lot of Moana love to go around. And who knows what else is next.”

Moana 2 is currently playing in theaters worldwide.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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Moana 2

Moana returns to the open seas on a new adventure that takes her far beyond the horizon. Facing new challenges and meeting unfamiliar allies, she seeks to restore balance to her island after discovering an ancient threat. Alongside her loyal friends and the demigod Maui, Moana must navigate treacherous waters and mystical realms.