{"id":687341,"date":"2026-07-12T08:21:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/687341\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T08:21:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:21:22","slug":"why-does-moana-have-a-different-name-in-italy-and-across-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/687341\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Moana Have A Different Name In Italy And Across Europe?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the past decade, Moana<\/a> has become one of Disney<\/a>\u2019s hottest properties, and its popularity with younger viewers means the film has become the most-streamed in movie history<\/a> (which probably won\u2019t come as a surprise to anyone with a child and a Disney+ account at home).<\/p>\n

Since its release 10 years ago, the animated musical has spawned a 2024 sequel (which received a lukewarm response<\/a>) and its own live-action remake (which was even less well-received<\/a>) \u2013 but it\u2019s the animated original that keeps audiences coming back time and time again,<\/p>\n

However, even if you\u2019ve heard How Far I\u2019ll Go and You\u2019re Welcome so many times that you\u2019re singing them in your sleep, there are still certain things about the modern Disney classic you\u2019re probably not aware of.<\/p>\n

Namely, what Moana gets called overseas.<\/p>\n

In the lead-up to Moana\u2019s release in 2016, it was revealed that the film would receive a very different title in Italy, where it\u2019s known as Oceania.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Moana herself is also renamed to Vaiana in Italy, and while Disney has never actually confirmed why, it\u2019s been widely speculated this was to avoid comparisons with the late Italian porn star and media personality Moana Pozzi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to Variety<\/a>, Disney Italy\u2019s head of theatrical marketing did say that the subject of Moana Pozzi had been an \u201cissue\u201d that the company was \u201cthinking about\u201d while considering the film\u2019s release in Italy.<\/p>\n

In other European countries \u2013 including France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands and across Scandinavia \u2013 the film is also known as Vaiana<\/a>, but this is mostly due to the fact that Moana is a registered trademark in many territories.<\/p>\n

Moana (or Vaiana, depending on who you ask) made her second voyage into cinemas in November last year, following an announcement about a sequel that was made just months earlier<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The project originally began life as a TV series, which was eventually switched to a feature-length film during production.<\/p>\n

Her live-action remake is now in cinemas, with newcomer Catherine Laga\u2019aia taking over as the title character<\/a>, and Dwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson<\/a> reprising the role of Maui.<\/p>\n