Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney’s “Moana” has captured hearts worldwide. The adventurous journey of Moana, portrayed by Auli’i Cravalho, and the trickster demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, not only led to box office success in 2016 but also made “Moana” the most streamed movie ever in the U.S., available on Disney+. This success has led to the creation of sequels and with the upcoming release of “Moana 2”, with improvements on the original’s best features, and a live-action “Moana” movie slated for July 10, 2026, the beloved animation is transitioning into an extensive movie franchise.
However, a peculiar detail about “Moana” is its varying titles worldwide. If you have engaged in online discussions about the movie with international fans, you might have noticed that the film isn’t universally known as “Moana”. In several European countries, both the movie and its lead character are referred to as “Vaiana”. In Italy, Disney has made a more drastic change – the character is called Vaiana, but the film is titled “Oceania”.
The rationale behind these changes is straightforward: business. In the countries where “Moana” is not the title, the name was not feasible as it was already trademarked for other uses. Italy presents a more peculiar case. Moana Pozzi, one of the country’s most renowned pornographic performers, shares the name, leading to a comprehensible name alteration.
The success of Moana despite the unusual naming situation
Walt Disney Animation Studios
The different titles for “Moana” across various countries have not hampered its success. Contrarily, the film flourished despite the confusing international titles, grossing over $248 million in the U.S. market and a staggering $643 million internationally. The forthcoming sequel, also localized, promises to continue this trend, with its preview screenings on November 26 alone earning a record $13.8 million (according to Deadline), the second-largest earnings for an animated film after “Incredibles 2”.
Disney’s serious approach to title localization has undoubtedly played a role in the movie’s success. The name “Moana” aptly translates to “Ocean” in several major Polynesian languages, while “Vaiana” comes from the word “vai,” meaning water. Both names adeptly reflect the character’s cultural roots, seafaring persona, and strong bond with the ocean. As for Italy’s choice to use “Oceania,” it seems Disney took an additional step to avoid confusion with the adult-oriented career of Ms. Pozzi.
As of now, “Moana 2” is playing in theaters.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
