Walt Disney has renamed its upcoming animated feature Moana in Italy, calling it Oceania.
The change has most in Italy believing that one of the country’s most beloved porn stars, the late Moana Pozzi, was the reason behind the change. Disney Italia has not yet responded to a query about the name change.
Moana Pozzi
A Disney source in California said only “the studio frequently changes titles in foreign territories for a wide variety of reasons.” Secondhand sources claim the film’s directors confirmed the late porn star’s influence at this year’s Annecy Festival.
“On a mystic island in Polynesia, the 16-year-old strong-willed daughter of the chief of the tribe, Moana from Motunui Island, is chosen by the ocean itself to reunite the Heart of Te Fiti,” according to a plot description of the film. “She sets sail in search of Maui, a legendary demigod and hopes to save her people.”
The film will be released as Oceania in Italy on Dec. 22, referring to the region of islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Elsewhere in Europe, the film has the title Vaiana, or “water cave.” Disney Spain confirmed that the name change was the result of Moana being a registered brand in Spain and other European countries. The title character throughout Europe has the name “Vaiana” instead of “Moana.”
