Disney Sued by Animator Who Claims Studio Stole His Screenplay for Moana and Its Blockbuster Sequel

The lawsuit was filed in California federal court on January 10, with Woodall alleging that Disney copied elements of his work without permission.

He claims that both his screenplay and the animated film are set in a legendary Polynesian village and focus on young adults trying to save their homes while encountering spirit animals on their journey.

The lawsuit follows a November court ruling that dismissed a similar case by Woodall regarding the first Moana film, citing that he had waited too long to file his claim, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

However, the release of Moana 2 allowed him to pursue legal action once more. In the initial case, the court ruled that a jury should determine whether the two projects share significant similarities and also suggested that someone at Disney Animation TV might have seen Bucky’s copyrighted materials before work on Moana started.

Per THR, US District Judge Consuelo Marshall wrote in the order, ‘There is a disputed issue of genuine fact regarding substantial similarity and striking similarity between the parties.’

Woodall claims that back in 2003, he presented the screenplay and a trailer for Bucky to Jenny Marchick, who was then the Director of Development at Mandeville Films.

According to Woodall, Marchick, now Head of Development for Features at DreamWorks Animation, requested additional materials such as production plans, character designs, and storyboards. He recalls that Marchick assured him she could greenlight the film.

The lawsuit highlights that Mandeville Films had a first-look deal with Disney and had offices at its Burbank studio. Woodall points out several similarities between Moana and Bucky, particularly the shared theme of Polynesian belief in ancestors manifesting as animals.

Additionally, both screenplays feature protagonists whose stories begin with a turtle and include a significant, symbolic necklace in the plot.

According to the complaint: ‘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.’

It goes on to claim that ‘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.’

Woodall is seeking damages amounting to $10 billion, or 2.5 percent of Moana’s gross revenue, along with a court order to prevent further infringement of his copyrights.