A Poster of the Disney movie Moana 2. Buck Woodall is suing Disney for $10 billion, alleging that Moana and Moana 2 copied his animated project Bucky.
A filmmaker has initiated legal action against Disney, alleging that the Moana franchise was derived from an original concept he created years earlier. Buck Woodall, a writer, producer, and artist, filed the lawsuit on Friday, January 10, accusing The Walt Disney Company, independent production studio Mandeville Films, and Jenny Marchick, currently the head of feature development at DreamWorks Animation, of using his creative ideas to develop Moana. The legal action comes in the wake of the release of Moana 2, which premiered in theaters in November 2024.
In the lawsuit, Woodall is seeking damages of at least $10 billion, along with 2.5% of gross revenue generated by Moana 2 and its related merchandise, which he estimates to exceed $5 billion.
Allegations of Idea Theft and Striking Similarities
According to the legal filing, Woodall claims that Disney’s Moana films are heavily based on his original project, Bucky the Wave Warrior (or simply Bucky), which he says was inspired by his personal experiences with Polynesian culture. He alleges that the films share numerous "breathtaking" parallels to his work, including:
- A narrative centered on a young hero embarking on a perilous journey to save a Polynesian island.
- Depictions of Polynesian ancestors as animal spirits.
- A symbolic necklace pivotal to the storyline.
- The presence of a demigod character wielding a large hook and adorned with tattoos.
Woodall asserts that these elements were part of his original concept, which he began sharing in 2003 with Jenny Marchick during her tenure as director of development at Mandeville Films. According to Woodall, Marchick expressed interest in the project, noting that Mandeville Films had a "first look" agreement with Disney, granting the studio priority access to potential projects. Over several years, Woodall provided Marchick with materials, including an animated trailer, storyboards, and a script draft.
However, he claims that Marchick later told him, on the verge of Moana's release, that she was unsure if his materials "made it beyond her desk." Woodall contends that his work had already reached Disney by 2011, serving as the foundation for the first Moana film.
Box Office Success Amid Controversy
The original Moana, released in 2016, became a global sensation, following the story of Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), a teenager determined to save her people with the help of Maui (Dwayne Johnson), a demigod who guides her on a daring voyage. The sequel, Moana 2, continues their adventure as Moana answers a mysterious ancestral call. The second film opened to massive success, earning $221 million during its five-day domestic debut, setting a record for the largest Thanksgiving weekend box office in history.
Legal Protections and Ongoing Dispute
Woodall claims to have registered his Bucky assets, including a trailer, with the Writers Guild of America in 2004, securing federal copyright protections that were updated in 2014. He is now pursuing a jury trial to address his allegations and seek compensation.
Neither The Walt Disney Company nor NBCUniversal, which owns DreamWorks Animation, has responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
As the case unfolds, questions surrounding intellectual property, creative ownership, and industry practices are likely to take center stage.
