Disney is facing a significant lawsuit just as the 2025 Academy Award nominations loom, as animator Buck Woodall accuses the company of copying elements from his screenplay for Bucky, an animated film he wrote. Filed on January 10, 2025, in California federal court, Woodall’s lawsuit alleges that Disney’s Moana and its sequel, Moana 2, bear striking similarities to his original work. Both Moana and Bucky feature teenagers embarking on perilous journeys across ancient Polynesian landscapes to save their communities, with encounters involving spirits that manifest as animals.
This legal action comes after a previous lawsuit filed by Woodall regarding Moana was dismissed in November 2024 due to a statute of limitations issue. However, the release of Moana 2 over the 2024 holiday season provided Woodall with the opportunity to bring the case back to court. The lawsuit now seeks damages amounting to 2.5 percent of Moana’s gross revenue—roughly $10 billion—as well as a court injunction to prevent future infringement of his copyrights.
The screenplay for Bucky is protected by both the Writers Guild of America and the U.S. Copyright Office, which strengthens Woodall’s legal claim. Moana 2, which has already grossed $224.5 million at the box office, is also expected to be a contender for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, adding another layer of intensity to this ongoing dispute. The original Moana earned over $687 million worldwide, making the stakes even higher for Disney as the legal battle unfolds.