Disney is facing a lawsuit over allegations of plagiarism related to the film “Moana 2”. Animator Buck Woodall has filed a lawsuit in federal court in California, claiming that Disney copied elements of his script for a project entitled “Bucky”.
Woodall claims that, in 2003, he provided materials for “Bucky” to the then development director of Mandeville Films, Jenny Marchick, who at the time had an agreement with Disney. He claims that these materials included character designs, production plans and storyboards. According to the animator, “Moana” and its sequel bear significant similarities to his project, such as the setting in a Polynesian village, teenage protagonists who defy their parents and embark on journeys to save their communities, as well as encounters with spirits manifested as animals.
In November 2024, Woodall’s previous lawsuit against the first “Moana” film was dismissed because he had missed the deadline for filing the petition. With the release of “Moana 2”, he had the opportunity to start a new legal action. Woodall is seeking compensation equivalent to 2.5% of “Moana’s” gross revenue, or US$10 billion, as well as a court order preventing further infringements of his copyright.
So far, Disney has not officially commented on the lawsuit. “Moana 2” is still in theaters and has already grossed more than US$ 960 million at the worldwide box office, surpassing the first film’s total of US$ 643.3 million.
