Animator Buck Woodall has filed a lawsuit against Disney, accusing the entertainment giant of plagiarizing his screenplay for their blockbuster animated movie, Moana, and its sequel.
The complaint, lodged in California federal court last week, alleges that Disney borrowed elements from Woodall’s script for an animated film titled Bucky. The film portrays teenagers from an ancient Polynesian village who embark on adventures to save their home.
Woodall is seeking $10 billion, equivalent to 2.5% of Moana’s gross revenue. He claims to have shared the screenplay and trailer of his movie with Jenny Marchick, who previously served as the director of development at Mandeville Films and is now the head of development for features at DreamWorks Animation. According to the lawsuit, Disney developed Moana using nearly all the essential elements Woodall provided, a process reflecting more than 17 years of his inspiration and dedication to his project.
Moana 2' lawsuit accuses Disney of ripping off copyrighted screenplay https://t.co/snhLTaioFX pic.twitter.com/Bb8EZxJ2on
— Decider (@decider) January 12, 2025Claims of Unique Elements
The legal filing emphasizes similarities, noting that Moana and her crew encounter a perilous whirlpool-like oceanic portal. This dramatic and unique visual also appears in the plaintiff’s materials. The filing argues that such a distinctive feature could not have emerged by chance or without malicious intentions.
Woodall previously sued Disney over the original Moana film. However, a court ruling in November of the previous year dismissed the case, citing that Woodall had waited too long to file the suit. The sequel’s release, however, has allowed him to pursue claims anew.
Disney has been hit with a copyright lawsuit alleging substantial similarities between the intellectual property of an animator named Buck Woodall and the 'Moana' franchise. https://t.co/9tv4ReWX5d
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 13, 2025Disney’s Response
Disney has yet to comment on the latest lawsuit. Previously, Disney defended itself by stating that the creators of Moana had never seen Woodall’s materials. Director Ron Clements explicitly declared in a court document, “I learned of [Woodall] or his ‘Bucky’ project for the first time after this lawsuit was filed. Moana was neither inspired by nor based on his work.”
Moana 2‘s Success
Moana 2, released last year as a direct sequel to the 2016 hit, has grossed $964 million, making it the fourth-highest-grossing movie of 2024. The film’s success extends beyond box office earnings, with many industry insiders considering it a frontrunner for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at various award ceremonies in the 2024-2025 season.
