Disney Animator Defends ‘Moana’ Origins in Federal Court Amid Copyright Lawsuit

A longtime animation director at The Walt Disney Co. recently testified in a California federal court, asserting that the acclaimed animated film “Moana” was a product of inspiration drawn from Polynesian mythology and a comprehensive study of the region’s cultural heritage. He emphasized that the film was not influenced by the work of the artist currently pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit against him. This revelation was part of the director’s efforts to defend the originality of “Moana” amid the ongoing legal proceedings. For more details on the court hearing and the legal arguments presented, refer to the report from Law360.