Animator files $10B lawsuit against Disney, claims ‘Moana’ film idea was stolen

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Animator Buck Woodall is suing Disney for $10 billion after he said he shared film materials with the company in 2003 while working on a development deal.

Woodall filed the lawsuit on Friday, Jan. 10, 2024, claiming that Disney stole elements of his screenplay “Bucky” to create the “Moana” and “Moana 2″ movies.

The lawsuit references similarities between the materials Woodall shared with Disney, including the Polynesian belief of ancestors manifested as animals, the protagonist’s journey starting with a turtle, and a demigod with a giant hook and tattoos.

This is the second lawsuit Woodall has filed against Disney in connection with the “Moana” movies. Disney said that no one involved in the creation of “Moana” saw Woodall’s materials.

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