CinemaMoana 2: Disney faces lawsuit for alleged plagiarism related to the franchiseAnimator Buck Woodall accuses studio of reusing ideas from a project submitted in 2003By Editorial Staff

THE Disneyis being processed by the animator Buck Woodallwhich claims that elements of the films Moana and Moana 2 were plagiarized from a script called Buckywhich he submitted to the studio in 2003. The process was registered last Friday (10) in the California Federal Court and highlights similarities between the works.

According to Woodall, the script for Bucky was sent to Jenny Marchickformer director of development at Mandeville Films, which at the time had a deal with Disney. He claims he was asked to provide additional materials, including character designs, storyboards and production plans, with the promise that the film would be produced. Currently, Marchick is head of feature film development at DreamWorks Animation.

Moanafrom Disney, was produced after Woodall delivered to defendants virtually all of the constituent parts necessary for its development and production, after more than 17 years of inspiration and work on his animated film project,” the complaint states (via THR).

Similarities between Bucky and Moana

The animator points out several similarities between the projects. Both stories are set in Polynesian villages and follow protagonists who defy their parents, embark on journeys to save their communities, and interact with ancestral spirits represented as animals. Other parallels include the use of a turtle to begin the journey, a symbolic necklace, a demigod with tattoos and a giant hook, and a giant creature hidden in a mountain.

Furthermore, Woodall states that Moana 2 also presents elements taken from Buckysuch as the search for an ancestral island and a mission to break a curse. A specific scene involves the protagonist being sucked into an oceanic whirlpool, which, according to the process, is also present in the original script for Bucky.

Legal history

This isn’t Woodall’s first lawsuit against Disney. In November 2024, a similar action involving the first Moana was dropped because the indictment was considered late. However, the launch of Moana 2 allowed the animator to renew his demands. Woodall seeks 2.5% of the franchise’s gross revenue, equivalent to US$10 billion, in addition to the suspension of any further use of his material.

Disney denies the allegations and maintains that the films were developed independently. Documents presented by the studio include original ideas, research materials, and development records. Moana. Director Ron Clements stated that Moana was not inspired by Bucky and that Woodall’s project only became known after the court case.

At the moment, Moana 2 continues to be shown in theaters and has grossed more than US$700 million at the global box office. The studio is also working on a live-action adaptation of the first film, scheduled for release in 2026.