Animator Buck Woodall has filed a lawsuit against Disney, claiming the company copied elements of his copyrighted screenplay, Bucky, for its hit film Moana.
Woodall is seeking $10 billion, or 2.5% of the film’s gross revenue, as compensation. Additionally, he is requesting a court order to prevent further infringement of his intellectual property.
The dispute began in 2016 when Woodall first tried to sue Disney following the release of the original Moana. However, the timing of the suit resulted in the case being dismissed. With the sequel slated for release in 2025, Woodall has renewed his efforts, filing the case in a California federal court last Friday.
Woodall alleges significant similarities between Bucky, a screenplay copyrighted in 2003, and Moana. Both stories are set in Polynesian villages and feature teenage protagonists embarking on transformative journeys.
Each narrative includes interactions with spirit animals, magical demigods wielding signature hooks, and mysterious creatures hidden within mountains.
Striking parallels have also been noted in specific scenes. Both films open with sequences involving turtles and depict characters traveling through whirlpool ocean portals.
In 2003, Woodall shared Bucky materials with Jenny Marchick, a director of development at Mandeville Films, which had a first-look deal with Disney.
According to the suit, he provided extensive intellectual property, including character designs, production plans, storyboards, and a trailer. Marchick allegedly assured Woodall that his film would be greenlit, but no further developments occurred.
In response, Disney has firmly denied all allegations of copying, on a previous summary judgment, the company claimed no one involved in the creation of Moana had seen or used materials from Bucky. Moana co-director Ron Clements stated in court that he only became aware of Bucky after the lawsuit was filed.
Disney has presented extensive documentation outlining the development of Moana, it includes original story ideas, pitch materials, travel journals, and scripts.
The lawsuit also accuses Disney of operating a “fraudulent enterprise” aimed at exploiting Woodall’s intellectual property. The animator claims he obtained copyright protection for Bucky in 2004, later updating it in 2014, with the new lawsuit, Woodall hopes to convince a jury that the two works are “substantially similar.”
Meanwhile, Disney continues to promote its upcoming Moana sequel, which will debut on Disney Plus on March 12, 2025. Viewers can stream it alongside other Disney classics for £4.99 per month.
