Legal Storm: Disney Faces $10 Billion Lawsuit Over Moana Inspiration

 Disney has landed in legal trouble again, with animator Buck Woodall filing a $10 billion lawsuit alleging that the studio copied the concept for Moana and its sequel. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court last week, claims Disney replicated elements from a screenplay Woodall created for a project titled Bucky, which follows a similar theme of Polynesian teens embarking on adventures to save their homes.

Woodall is demanding 2.5% of Moana's gross revenue, asserting that he provided the screenplay and a trailer for his project to Jenny Marchick, a former development director at Mandeville Films, who is now head of development for features at DreamWorks Animation.

Allegations Against Disney

The complaint states that Disney’s Moana was produced using ideas from materials Woodall submitted to the defendants after 17 years of work and inspiration for his animated film project.

The lawsuit highlights specific similarities between Bucky and Moana, including unique imagery such as “a perilous whirlpool-like oceanic portal,” which Woodall argues could not have been developed without accessing his original materials.

Disney previously faced a similar lawsuit from Woodall over the first Moana film. However, a court ruling in November 2024 dismissed the claim, citing a delay in filing. The release of Moana 2 has now allowed Woodall to refile his claims.

Disney’s Response

While Disney has not issued a statement regarding the new lawsuit, the studio has previously denied any connection between Moana and Woodall’s Bucky project.

In a declaration submitted during the earlier case, director Ron Clements 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.”

Moana 2’s Commercial Success

Released in 2024, Moana 2 proved to be a massive hit, earning $964 million at the global box office and becoming the fourth-highest-grossing movie of the year. The sequel follows the life of Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) as she embarks on a new adventure with Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson).

Beyond box office success, the film has emerged as a frontrunner in award categories such as Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the 2024-2025 season.

Legal Battle Continues

The lawsuit’s outcome could have significant implications for Disney, which has faced similar accusations of copyright infringement in the past. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the allegations will affect the reputation of one of the most successful animated franchises in recent history.