MovieChat Forums > Moana (2016) Discussion > So *beep* annoyed by the obligatory SJW ...

So *beep* annoyed by the obligatory SJW title change for Europe


Moana is now known across Europe as "VAIANA"

There seem to be several reasons for this change, and I couldn't be bothered to look up all of them. One of them, apparently, is that there is a European porn actress going by the name of Moana. Whatever. Never heard of her, and I'm sure there's not one kid out there who would associate the name "Moana" with an adult film actress for that matter - and any kid who would, should report its' parental guidance figures...

Anyway, the same idiotic title change happened for Zootopia (translated to Zootropolis). Really, from a eutopia to a metropolis...?

The only time Disney Europe got its title changes RIGHT, was when they translated Frozen to LA REINE DES NEIGES (The Snow Queen).

But the change from Moana to Vaiana annoys me, still. Why, just why???

reply

I hadn't heard any of the reasons, but here's a thought about it: If there's a porn star, I could see how it might be a problem when parents and children google "Moana" to learn more about the movie and are hit with images of a porn star. Maybe it's also a marketing thing because if adults are aware of the name, they might have an association that would prejudice them against the movie because porn and kiddies are not things most parents want associated with each other.

reply

What does the title have to do with social justice? They thought parents wouldn't want to take their kids if they hadn't seen a trailer so they changed the name.

reply

Oh please, because of the possible link to a 50th-rate porn star somewhere out there they just had to change the title to something that would be at first glance more acceptable.... And yes, I do mean at first glance because really, seriously, do you not see it...? Vaiana...? = ...

reply

Wow.....if you had done a little research before you typed such a long winded post, you would know why they changed the name. You obviously had the time.

So here are the reasons....

There is a company in Europe named Moana. Disney didn't want to fight a possible trademark war, so they called the movie Vaiana in most of the continent. It's obvious cheaper to change the title instead of litigate a court battle.

As to Italy, Moana Pozzi (known simply as Moana) was more that a 50th rate porn star. She was a huge celebrity who crossed over to the mainstream. So what if you'd never heard of her. She was huge in Italy. If the movie was originally called "Jenna Jameson", do you think Disney would have kept the name?

Lastly, why do you friggin' care? How does it affect you?

reply

LOL, here in Australia we had a a girl winning australian idol by tha name of Casey Donovan, problem was there is also a male pornstar with that name, so when Young kids searched "Casey Donovan" they got pornsites. So I can see why Disney thought to stop that Before it happend.

Where does Michael Jackson keeps his porn?
In his pedo-filing cabinet!

reply

What does the title have to do with social justice? They thought parents wouldn't want to take their kids if they hadn't seen a trailer so they changed the name.


I'm pretty sure no halfway responsible parent in the world would or would not take their kid to any movie just based on the title without looking up at least the synopsis first.

More likely something to do with IP issues over the name I'd imagine.

reply

Does the porn star have any copyright or licensing on the name? That could be the main reason why.

reply

She'd dead for quite some time already, and her name is a common one {Moana} that cannot be copyrighted, like I could never copyright my first name (Stefano).

reply

This is an obvious troll post lmao none of this has to do with "social justice" you just want to find any excuse to complain about complete non-issues lol

reply

In what possible way does a movie being called something different in a different country affect you?

reply

Never heard of her, and I'm sure there's not one kid out there who would associate the name "Moana" with an adult film actress for that matter - and any kid who would, should report its' parental guidance figures...


I don't know if you've heard, but there is such a thing called "the internet" and "search engine" and it changes depending on the setting of your browser and your country. An Italian kid searching for "Moana" could be suprised a bit, maybe?

Who cares about the changes in the title anyway? Does it make a movie better? The most important thing is the dubbing and how they translate the songs, and Disney has been mostly great in that aspect. I love all French versions (I think the French version of "Part of your world" in "The Little Mermaid" blows away the English version) except for the closing line in "Wreck-it Ralph", where they couldn't come with a good rhyme like the one in English and it killed the emotion for me. However, Disney is a great company in terms of translations and dubbing, and they put a lot of care into it.

Titles however are for the most part very basics, taking the name of the main character, one defining word or the name of the fairy tale, nothing really to be upset about except if you're an angry purist. Even translating "Frozen" to "La Reine des Neiges" is just giving back the name of the fairy tale to the movie, nothing ground-breaking.

reply

Even translating "Frozen" to "La Reine des Neiges" is just giving back the name of the fairy tale to the movie, nothing ground-breaking.


Well, the movie didn't even share the basic premise with that fairytale, let alone any characters or plot points, so it's somewhat disingenuous to name it after that story!

reply

"Frozen" - "Givré" means "Wacky" in figurative french language. They can't use it, even if could be a proof of intellectual honesty considering the goofy characters.

reply

Well, the movie didn't even share the basic premise with that fairytale, let alone any characters or plot points, so it's somewhat disingenuous to name it after that story!


Yeah, but Disney movies usually aren't very in line with the fairy tale they're based on, because the fairy tales are too dark. Either way, Frozen is still based, however loosely, on the Snow Queen tale.

reply

Which Little Mermaid dub? The Claire Guyot or the Marie Galey one? 

reply

No contest, there is only one right answer, and that's of course the one with Claire Guyot.  I'm so glad that we got her version on the Blu-Ray, despite the fact that we didn't get the original for "Histoire Éternelle" in "Beauty and the Beast" with Lucie Dolène, which is a shame but less painful than the complete change of tone in "The Little Mermaid". I guess when you heard the Marie Galey version first, you can find it nice, but it's piercing my ears a little because it's way too high-pitched compared to Claire Guyot.

reply

Thanks. Lucie will be ever missed. They wanted to the two French dub actresses (!) to imitate Angela Lansbury mannerisms, and it's just painful to listen. 😱

reply

Triggered

reply

At least it's still called Moana here in the UK. I hate name changes. Even Fate of the Furious is being renamed to Fast and Furious 8 over here, as if we're too stupid to understand that it's a possible sequel to Furious 7.

reply