Animator Buck Woodall has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, alleging that the studio stole his idea for its Moana franchise. Filed in a California federal court on Friday, the lawsuit accuses Disney of copying elements from Woodall’s screenplay, Bucky the Wave Warrior, without his consent.
Alleged Similarities Between Bucky And Moana
According to the lawsuit, both Bucky and Moana follow the journey of a teenager who defies parental warnings and undertakes a dangerous voyage. Woodall claims that his script was inspired by his “unique exposure” to Polynesian culture and accuses Disney of incorporating “breathtaking” similarities, such as protagonists navigating Polynesian waters to save endangered islands and ancient spirits manifesting as animals that guide and protect the living.
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The lawsuit also names Mandeville Films and Jenny Marchick, head of feature development at DreamWorks Animation, as defendants. Woodall alleges that he pitched his Polynesian-inspired film idea to Marchick and her then-employer Mandeville Films in 2003. He claims that Marchick shared his copyrighted materials with Disney, despite later denying it.
Damages Sought By The Animator
Woodall is demanding at least $10 billion in damages and 2.5% of Disney’s gross revenue from Moana 2 and related merchandise, which he estimates to total at least $5 billion. The lawsuit highlights that Woodall submitted the final draft of his Bucky script to Marchick in 2011, years before Moana’s 2016 release.
As of now, Disney has not issued a public statement addressing the allegations. The lawsuit has drawn significant attention, given the massive success of Moana and its upcoming sequel.
