Why is vaiana called moana

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: The film is called 'Moana' in most regions but 'Vaiana' in some European countries due to trademark conflicts. In Italy, France, Spain, and Germany, Disney changed the title to 'Vaiana' because 'Moana' was already trademarked by an Italian adult film actress. The film was released internationally in November 2016, with the title change affecting approximately 15 European markets. This decision was made to avoid legal issues while maintaining the film's Polynesian cultural themes.

Key Facts

The film was released internationally in November 2016
Title changed in approximately 15 European markets
Moana was trademarked by Italian adult film actress Moana Pozzi
Affected countries include Italy, France, Spain, and Germany
Disney chose 'Vaiana' to mean 'water cave' or 'ocean' in some Polynesian languages

Overview

The animated film 'Moana' (2016) tells the story of a Polynesian princess who sets sail across the Pacific Ocean. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the film features music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and earned over $690 million worldwide. Disney faced a trademark issue when they discovered 'Moana' was already registered by Italian adult film actress Moana Pozzi (1961-1994), whose estate owned the trademark in Europe. To avoid legal conflicts in approximately 15 European markets, Disney changed the title to 'Vaiana' - a name created by combining Polynesian words meaning 'water cave' or 'ocean.' This affected countries including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and others where Pozzi's trademark was valid. The film maintains the same storyline and characters regardless of title, with the protagonist still named Moana in all versions.

How It Works

Disney's legal team conducts thorough trademark searches before finalizing film titles globally. When they discovered the existing 'Moana' trademark in Europe, they had two options: negotiate with the trademark holder or change the title. Since Moana Pozzi's estate controlled the trademark, Disney opted for a title change to avoid potential lawsuits and delays. The new title 'Vaiana' was created by Disney's localization team using elements from Polynesian languages - 'vai' meaning water and 'ana' meaning cave. This process involved linguistic consultants to ensure cultural appropriateness. Disney then registered 'Vaiana' as a trademark in the affected markets and coordinated with distributors to update all marketing materials, trailers, and merchandise. The voice actors recorded both title versions where necessary, though the character's name remained Moana in all language versions.

Why It Matters

This case demonstrates how international trademark laws impact global media distribution. Disney's quick adaptation prevented legal battles that could have delayed the film's European release or resulted in costly settlements. The title change shows Disney's commitment to cultural authenticity while navigating commercial realities - they preserved the Polynesian essence while avoiding legal issues. For audiences, it created minor confusion but didn't affect the film's success, as 'Moana/Vaiana' became one of Disney's most acclaimed animated features. The situation highlights the importance of comprehensive trademark research in global entertainment and how companies must balance creative vision with practical legal considerations across different jurisdictions.