With just over a week to go before Oscar nominations are announced, Disney has been sued for copying the idea for its new film. Moana And its sequel.
Animation by Buck Woodall, V The lawsuit was filed Friday A federal court in California alleged that Disney ripped off elements of a screenplay he wrote for an animated film called “Bucky.” Both works, set against the backdrop of an ancient Polynesian village, follow teenagers who defy their parents by embarking on dangerous journeys to save their homes while encountering spirits that manifest as animals along the way.
Friday’s filing of the lawsuit follows a court ruling in November that Disney does not have to face a similar copyright lawsuit brought by Woodall over… Moana Because he filed a lawsuit too late. release Moana 2 It allowed him to initiate further legal proceedings.
In that case, the court found that a jury should decide whether the acts in question were substantially similar if the statute of limitations had not run. It also concluded that an individual at Disney Animation TV may have viewed copyrighted material for “Bucky” before the film’s development began. Moanawhich was released in 2016.
“There is a disputed issue of fact as to the substantial similarity and striking similarity between the parties’ actions,” U.S. District Judge Consuelo Marshall wrote in the order.
Moana 2which may be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, debuted with $224.2 million at the box office, breaking several records on its way to the biggest five-day opening in history. The original film grossed at least $687 million worldwide.
Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Starting in 2003, Woodall says he pitched the script and trailer for “Bucky” to former Mandeville Films development director Jenny Marchek, who is currently head of feature development at DreamWorks Animation. She allegedly asked about providing more material — including character designs, production plans and storyboards — by assuring him she could greenlight the film. At the time, Mandeville had a preliminary deal with Disney and had offices at its Burbank facility, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit points out the similarities between Moana And “Bucky.” One example: They both celebrate a recurring theme: the Polynesian belief in spiritual ancestors who manifest in animals. Other similarities include the protagonist’s journey that begins with a turtle, a plot involving a symbolic necklace, a main character encountering a demigod adorned with a giant hook and tattoos, and a giant creature hiding inside a mountain.
“Disney Moana “It was produced following Woodall’s delivery to Defendants of all component parts necessary to develop and produce it after more than 17 years of inspiration and work on his animated film project,” the complaint states.
There are also alleged overlaps between “Bucky” and Moana 2. Both works, for example, show the protagonist searching for an ancient island and undertaking quests to break the curse. “Moana and her crew are trapped in a perilous, vortex-like ocean portal, another dramatic and unique image found in Plaintiffs’ materials that could not have been developed by accident or without malicious intent,” the lawsuit adds.
Woodall is seeking damages equal to 2.5 percent of MoanaHis total revenue, or $10 billion, plus a court order preventing further infringement of his copyright.
At summary judgment in the other suit filed by Woodall, Disney disputed claims that the works were similar and that no one involved in the creation of Moana had seen Woodall’s materials. “Moana It was not inspired by or based in any way on [Woodall] “Or his ‘Bucky’ project, which I first became aware of after this lawsuit was filed,” director Ron Clements wrote in a statement to the court.
To support arguments that it created the film on its own, Disney has also provided documentation regarding the origin and development of the film Moanaincluding story ideas, promotional materials, written research, travel journals, and scripts.
The screenplay for “Bucky” has been registered with the Writers Guild of America, where the US Copyright Office has granted protection to the material.
