LOS ANGELES — A federal jury in Los Angeles ruled in favor of Disney, concluding that the animated film Moana was not plagiarized from a separate story about a young surfer in Hawaii.
The lawsuit, filed by writer and animator Buck Woodall in 2020, claimed that Disney had used his story about a surfer boy as the basis for the 2016 film.
Woodall alleged that Moana, which centers on a Polynesian heroine’s oceanic adventure, shared significant similarities with his narrative.
However, the jury found no evidence to support these claims, determining that the creators of Moana had not accessed Woodall’s work.
Woodall sought compensation for what he described as the unauthorized use of his intellectual property.
His legal challenge gained attention due to the commercial success of Moana, which grossed nearly $700 million worldwide.
Woodall argued that his story, set in Hawaii with a young male protagonist, inspired key themes and character elements in the film.
The court examined the creative development of Moana, including testimony from those involved in the production.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the film’s inspiration came from ancient Polynesian culture and mythology.
Disney defended its creation process, stating that Moana was developed through extensive research and consultation with cultural experts and historians to ensure an accurate and respectful portrayal of Polynesian traditions.