Disney Faces $10B Lawsuit Over Moana 2

Animator Alleges Disney Copied His Work

Did you hear the news? Disney has been sued for $10 billion over Moana 2.

Both the original Moana and its sequel have proved to be quite profitable for Disney, bringing in billions. However, this commercial success is putting Disney in a far greater financial threat.

To find out more about the case, keep reading.

Background on “Bucky”

Bucky is a Polynesian-inspired animated story following a brave and curious teenager who embarks on a life-changing journey across the sea.

Similarly, Moana is accompanied by a loyal companion, and both of them set out on a quest to save their island from an upcoming ecological disaster.

Along their journey, they come into contact with mystical demigods, spirits of ancestors, and several other mythical creatures. The screenplay is centered around themes of courage, heritage, and deep connection between humanity and nature.

Initial Submission to Mandeville Films

In 2003, Buck Woodall submitted his screenplay, Bucky, along with relevant concept materials, to Jenny Marchick. Jenny, at the time, was serving as the director of development at Mandeville Films.

Mandeville was in an exclusive first-look agreement with Disney, meaning that any project submitted to Mandeville could be directly reviewed by Disney for potential production.

Buck Woodall submitted the character descriptions, plot outlines, and thematic elements, hoping for an ethical evaluation.

Alleged Unauthorized Use

According to Woodall, the material he submitted to Mandeville Films was shared with Disney without Woodall’s consent or knowledge. He further claims that Disney used Bucky’s key storyline, characters, and themes for Moana.

This alleged unauthorized use of Woodall’s work not only infringed the trust placed in the submission but also led to the infringement of his intellectual property right.

Similarities Between “Bucky” and “Moana”

According to the lawsuit, both Moana and Bucky are centered around “a teenager who defies parental warnings and embarks on a dangerous voyage.”

The complaint also points out the fact that both films utilize ancient Polynesian villages as a backdrop, the Polynesian belief in spiritual ancestors, and how the civilizations navigated the sea with the help of stars.

One standout similarity between the two movies is the encounter between the main character and a demigod who comes with a giant hook and tattoos. According to Woodall, these thematic similarities couldn’t have arisen due to pure coincidence.

Similarities With Moana 2

In his lawsuit, Woodall has further claimed that Moana 2 is heavily based on his screenplay. The lawsuit says, “Moana and her crew are sucked into a perilous whirlpool-like oceanic portal, another dramatic and unique device-imagery found in plaintiff’s materials that could not possibly have been developed by chance or without malicious intentions.”

These allegations are based on evidence rather than speculation.

Legal Action Timeline

Woodall’s initial lawsuit came shortly after the release of the original Moana in 2016. He claimed that everything Moana is based on was directly lifted from his screenplay.

However, the case was dismissed on the basis that Woodall “sued too late.” The release of Moana 2 allowed Woodall to file a lawsuit, and he did so on January 10, 2025.

Lawsuit Details

Woodall seeks damages “in the sum of at least $10 billion.” The lawsuit further claims that Woodall “has suffered substantial damages, including lost opportunities for financial gain, diminished value of his intellectual property, and profound reputational harm as a result of Defendants’ actions.”

Besides the $10 billion in damages, Woodall also wants 2.5 percent of the gross revenues appertaining or relating to Moana for at least $5 billion, along with an accounting of all revenues of any kind generated by the Defendants from each portion of the Moana franchise.

The Lawsuit Statement

The lawsuit has made direct allegations of infringement, stating that “Disney’s Moana was produced in the wake of Woodall’s delivery to the Defendants of virtually all constituent parts necessary for its development and production after more than 17 years of inspiration and work on his animated film project.”

Woodall has argued that Disney directly exploited his years of effort in developing the Polynesian-themed animated story.

Disney’s Response

Disney has not made any statement regarding Woodall’s $10 billion lawsuit. This silence can be attributed to the common practice of withholding comments during ongoing legal proceedings.

This approach is strategic, as any public response could influence perceptions of the case. Disney’s silence might be temporary, or might not be, only time will tell.

Industry Implications

Woodall’s lawsuit against Disney highlights the ongoing debate in Hollywood regarding intellectual property rights and the protection of creative works.

Even though most of the work produced by Hollywood is fresh, there are times when disputes arise over the originality of a project.

This case highlights the challenges independent creators have to go through to submit their work to major studios. This also raises questions about how ethically these submissions are handled.

Iconic Lawsuit Cases

This isn’t the first time a lawsuit has been filed in Hollywood, as it has seen its fair share of several high-profile lawsuits involving major intellectual property disputes. Sophia Stewart sued the creators of The Matrix , claiming that her screenplay The Third Eye was the basis of the film.

Similarly, Avatar also faced a lawsuit from the creators of the animated film Delgo . Another case included Isabella Tanikumi accusing Disney of copying her memoir for Frozen .

Ron Clement’s Reply

The director of Moana, Ron Clement, has straight-up denied the allegation regarding the infringement of intellectual property rights. At the time of the first lawsuit, Ron wrote a declaration to the court.

He stated, “Moana was not inspired by or based in any way on [Woodall] or his ‘Bucky’ project, which I learned of for the first time after this lawsuit was filed.”

Disney’s Submission

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has also submitted their part of the documents. These documents relate to the origin and development of Moana.

And they also include story ideas and pitch materials. Disney hasn’t made an official statement yet, but it’s also making the necessary moves to dispute the lawsuit claims.

Moana’s Success

Released in 2016, Moana became a massive success both critically and commercially. The film ended up earning over $600 million worldwide, making it one of Disney’s highest-grossing animated films.

2024 proved to be quite lucky for Disney as it reached a significant milestone during the year. Check out Disney Reaches $2B Domestic Box Office Milestone to find out more about this achievement.

Moana 2 – The Sequel

Moana 2 was released in November 2024 and has also been a massive box-office success, nearing a billion dollars. The sequel’s success was unparalleled as it went on to dethrone the family favorite Despicable Me 4.

Check out Moana 2 Nears $1B: Set to Dethrone Despicable Me 4 and get an insight into the movie’s box office success.

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