Someone Asked Why Disney Dumbed Down Moana’s Rooster And One Tumblr User Gave The Perfect Answer
It’s no secret that Disney animated movies are enjoyed not only by the younger audiences but by adults as well. While for children the films offer many teaching moments and entertainment, older crowds can see much broader themes and various cultural or historical clues within the colorful film. One of the most recent Disney wonders to grace the silver screens was Moana, a 2016 film focusing on Moana, the daughter of the Polynesian island Motunui’s chief Tui. The girl’s journey involves an ocean goddess, a demigod voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and many of her tribe’s traditions and prophecies.
People of Tumblr recently united to unveil why Moana’s sidekick Heihei appears to look completely different in promo posters and the actual movie
While Moana is not a typical Disney princess, compared to the likes of Aurora and Cinderella, she definitely has some similarities to the classic ladies. One of them is having a trusty sidekick by her side and while most of the original stories had helpful and intelligent creatures helping the princesses out, Moana is accompanied by a soft-minded rooster named Heihei. Some hated the poor creature, some adored his many rock-eating shenanigans, but what was shown on screen was only half of the animal’s story. Turns out, Heihei wasn’t always so… not-so-smart, he was originally a rather intelligent animal meant to be Moana’s watchdog and make sure she stays out of trouble. What made the creators change their mind? Well, Tumblr users discuss the issue in a lengthy thread, starting from Heihei’s development and ending up with commentary on his voice actor’s work.
Check out this video of Alan Tudyk’s performance as Heihei
Here’s how people reacted to the discussion
However, not everyone was happy with Disney’s decision
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Heihei is such a riot. I love him and wish I had him as a pet. I'd Have to keep him away from my cat, Freddie, though. That would be a challenge.
The entire movie I joked that Heihei was my spirit animal because I am literally as dumb as him
you shouldn't say something so mean about yourself!
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I was annoyed by the poor rooster being so stupid. I'm sorry he was changed. It would have been nice to see a rooster being macho yet caring, tough yet loving. I've met such roosters and they are amazing birds, scratching up treats for their hens and calling them over to eat while standing back and being proud of providing for them. Sitting on their human friends' laps and accepting cuddles and scratches on the back of their necks...
Same here. I'm very annoyed by characters who are too dumb and I hated that chicken.
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Alan Tudyk's best performance was as Wash for Firefly/Serenity. "I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar!."
I get that "less intelligent" shouldn't equal "more likable", but everyone will have a hei hei in their life and even though they make your life more difficult their innocent helplessness may inspire warm fuzzy feelings that you don't have for someone who can take care of them self.
IMHO it’s fun when there’s a funny, sweet, kinda stupid character as long as he’s not too major. THEN I see how it gets annoying.
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Disney, over the years, had made big changes on a movie to save it. The original "Kingdom in the Sun" was completely story-boarded and didn´t work ´cos of the serious tone. Instead of shuting it all down, they change the director, keep the art developement and re-write it, to make the most "Warner Broslesque" Disney movie of all time, "The Emperor´s New Groove". Ratatouille was in the same path (Pixar in this case) and they recall Brad Bird from his family vacation after The Incredibles to fix it completely. It´s a common thing in the animation industry. If something is not working, it´s out or changed to fix it.
If you visited Kuai and the annoying roosters who wake you at 6 a.m. and crow until 1 p. U will find Heihei completely fitting!
Another really cool bit of trivia I learned recently is that sailors would traditionally get a rooster and a pig tattooed on their legs, as neither of these animals could swim (actually pigs can, but that was the lore), so that in case of a shipwreck God would spare them. It's not a Hawaiian tradition per se, but given the role of tattoos in Hawaiian culture (and the role of Hawaii in tattoo culture) it's a fun little detail
My young niece nicknamed one of my cats Hei-Hei... Sadly, it fits perfectly.
But that's not how a rooster sounds. That's a hen who has just laid an egg, or is about to. They have a complex vocabulary.
I don't always love the comic relief in Disney movies. Sometimes, they get under my skin and make me groan every time they come onto the screen. *cough*OLAF*cough* But Heihei is not one of those. Maybe it's because he can't really talk that makes him more endearing. And by the end of the movie, he does seem to get a little bit smarter. One of my favourite Disney sidekicks. Pua is adorable though, and wish he got more screen time.
Yeah, but they kind of sacrificed Pua instead and it's SO unfair on the squishy little puppiglet T^T
Let's see my cousin try to beat me when it comes to Disney knowledge now!
Not true. Many birds are actually incredibly intelligent. My family has had many birds and they have always been very smart. Many parrot and macaw species in particular exhibit incredible learning capabilities, but many birds are quite intelligent. If you’re interested in learning more about bird intelligence, there is a wonderful book called Alex & Me about an experiment that served as an awesome example of African Grey intelligence back when your views were common thought.
Load More Replies... Heihei is such a riot. I love him and wish I had him as a pet. I'd Have to keep him away from my cat, Freddie, though. That would be a challenge.
The entire movie I joked that Heihei was my spirit animal because I am literally as dumb as him
you shouldn't say something so mean about yourself!
Load More Replies... I was annoyed by the poor rooster being so stupid. I'm sorry he was changed. It would have been nice to see a rooster being macho yet caring, tough yet loving. I've met such roosters and they are amazing birds, scratching up treats for their hens and calling them over to eat while standing back and being proud of providing for them. Sitting on their human friends' laps and accepting cuddles and scratches on the back of their necks...
Same here. I'm very annoyed by characters who are too dumb and I hated that chicken.
Load More Replies... Alan Tudyk's best performance was as Wash for Firefly/Serenity. "I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar!."
I get that "less intelligent" shouldn't equal "more likable", but everyone will have a hei hei in their life and even though they make your life more difficult their innocent helplessness may inspire warm fuzzy feelings that you don't have for someone who can take care of them self.
IMHO it’s fun when there’s a funny, sweet, kinda stupid character as long as he’s not too major. THEN I see how it gets annoying.
Load More Replies... Disney, over the years, had made big changes on a movie to save it. The original "Kingdom in the Sun" was completely story-boarded and didn´t work ´cos of the serious tone. Instead of shuting it all down, they change the director, keep the art developement and re-write it, to make the most "Warner Broslesque" Disney movie of all time, "The Emperor´s New Groove". Ratatouille was in the same path (Pixar in this case) and they recall Brad Bird from his family vacation after The Incredibles to fix it completely. It´s a common thing in the animation industry. If something is not working, it´s out or changed to fix it.
If you visited Kuai and the annoying roosters who wake you at 6 a.m. and crow until 1 p. U will find Heihei completely fitting!
Another really cool bit of trivia I learned recently is that sailors would traditionally get a rooster and a pig tattooed on their legs, as neither of these animals could swim (actually pigs can, but that was the lore), so that in case of a shipwreck God would spare them. It's not a Hawaiian tradition per se, but given the role of tattoos in Hawaiian culture (and the role of Hawaii in tattoo culture) it's a fun little detail
My young niece nicknamed one of my cats Hei-Hei... Sadly, it fits perfectly.
But that's not how a rooster sounds. That's a hen who has just laid an egg, or is about to. They have a complex vocabulary.
I don't always love the comic relief in Disney movies. Sometimes, they get under my skin and make me groan every time they come onto the screen. *cough*OLAF*cough* But Heihei is not one of those. Maybe it's because he can't really talk that makes him more endearing. And by the end of the movie, he does seem to get a little bit smarter. One of my favourite Disney sidekicks. Pua is adorable though, and wish he got more screen time.
Yeah, but they kind of sacrificed Pua instead and it's SO unfair on the squishy little puppiglet T^T
Let's see my cousin try to beat me when it comes to Disney knowledge now!
Not true. Many birds are actually incredibly intelligent. My family has had many birds and they have always been very smart. Many parrot and macaw species in particular exhibit incredible learning capabilities, but many birds are quite intelligent. If you’re interested in learning more about bird intelligence, there is a wonderful book called Alex & Me about an experiment that served as an awesome example of African Grey intelligence back when your views were common thought.
Load More Replies...
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