Sophie Bennett
Hei Hei, the beloved village idiot chicken from Disney's Moana, is a source of comic relief in the film. With his oblivious nature and accident-prone personality, he often wanders aimlessly and gets into trouble, requiring rescue by the villagers. Despite his lack of intelligence, he plays a crucial role in Moana's journey, saving the heart of Te Fiti from being lost at sea. While the exact breed of Hei Hei is unknown, with suggestions ranging from a Red Junglefowl to a Welsummer, his colourful feathers, long legs, and red head crest make him a visually striking character.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei) |
| Species | Rooster |
| Breed | Red Junglefowl or Welsummer |
| Origin | Motunui |
| Personality | Bumbling, accident-prone, and unintelligent |
| Nickname | Village Idiot |
| Physical Appearance | Yellow, shimmery green, orange, and red feathers, long grey legs, black toes, yellow beak, red head crest, large eyes, blue-green body feathers, and yellow neck feathers |
| Purpose | Comic relief and an additional obstacle for Moana |
| Voice Actor | Alan Tudyk |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Hei Hei's role as comic relief
In Disney's 2016 animated feature film Moana, Hei Hei is a bumbling, accident-prone rooster regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui. He unintentionally joins Moana's voyage when he stows away on her canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her journey. Hei Hei's obliviousness and lack of intelligence often lead him into danger, requiring rescue by the villagers. For example, he almost falls into the ocean during a battle with Te Kā and has to be saved by Moana. His antics, such as eating rocks, provide comedic relief and amuse the villagers.
Hei Hei's role as a source of comedy is further emphasised by his simple characterisation. He is portrayed as unintelligent and absent-minded, creating a stark contrast with Moana's determined and courageous personality. This dichotomy sets up numerous humorous situations, such as when Moana talks to Hei Hei about her plan to defeat Te Kā, acknowledging that she is practically talking to herself due to his lack of comprehension.
The inclusion of Hei Hei in the film serves a specific narrative purpose. While he provides comedic relief, he also contributes to the narrative progression. His unintentional presence on Moana's canoe adds complications and creates an additional obstacle for Moana to overcome. Despite being a burden and a source of trouble, Hei Hei ultimately plays a vital role in Moana's journey by saving the heart of Te Fiti when it nearly falls into the sea during an attack by Te Kā.
Hei Hei's character also underwent a transformation during the development of the film. In earlier versions of the story, he was envisioned as Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick. However, the creators felt that this characterisation did not fit with the latter stages of the movie, so they changed him into a more independent character who is a burden and a source of comic relief.
Overall, Hei Hei's role as a source of comedy and his dynamic with Moana and the other characters contributed to the film's appeal and provided a unique take on the traditional animal sidekick trope.
Scoville Units: Dave's Hot Chicken's Spicy Secret
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hei Hei's character evolution
Hei Hei, the breakout star of Disney's Moana, underwent a significant character evolution from the early stages of the film's development to the final product. In the movie, Hei Hei is a bumbling, accident-prone rooster who is regarded as the ""village idiot" of Motunui. His obliviousness and lack of basic intelligence often lead him into danger, requiring rescue by the villagers.
Originally, however, Hei Hei was envisioned as a much smarter character. In fact, he was intended to be Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick, with aggressive, proud, and judgmental traits. This version of the character was present in early promotional materials for the film. However, the filmmakers felt that this characterisation didn't work with the shifting story, and there were even discussions about scrapping the character entirely.
Four months before animation was set to begin, the filmmakers reassembled to decide Hei Hei's fate. They made the decision to drastically change the character, opting to make him less intelligent and more comedic. According to co-director Ron Clements, this new version of Hei Hei might be "the stupidest character in the history of Disney Animation". This change in characterisation was a successful one, as Hei Hei quickly endeared himself to viewers, providing much-needed comic relief and advancing the plot through his unintentional actions.
Hei Hei's presence on Moana's canoe adds complications and provides an additional obstacle for Moana to overcome, giving the character a unique dynamic as a burden rather than a helper. Despite his lack of intelligence, Hei Hei still manages to play a key role in the narrative, even saving the heart of Te Fiti when it nearly falls into the sea. This combination of humour and narrative progression makes Hei Hei a vital part of the film, contributing to his popularity among audiences.
While the exact breed of chicken that Hei Hei is meant to be is never explicitly stated, suggestions range from a Red Junglefowl to a Welsummer, and there are even theories that he could be a demi-god due to his survivability. Regardless of his breed, Hei Hei's character evolution from a cranky sidekick to a lovable village idiot showcases the filmmakers' ability to adapt and create a character that resonates with audiences, ensuring his place as a memorable part of the Moana franchise.
Publix Sub: DIY Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hei Hei's breed and appearance
Hei Hei, the chicken from Moana, is a rooster. He is regarded as the ""village idiot" of Motunui due to his oblivious nature and lack of basic intelligence. Hei Hei's character was present in the earliest versions of the story, but with a different personality. Originally, he was meant to be cranky, aggressive, proud, and judgmental, serving as a watchdog to Chief Tui. However, the creators felt that this characterisation didn't fit with the story, so they changed him to be very unintelligent.
The type of rooster Hei Hei is has been the subject of debate, with suggestions ranging from a Red Junglefowl to a Welsummer. Hei Hei has yellow, shimmery green, orange, and red feathers, long grey legs with black toes, a yellow beak, and a red head crest. He also has blue-green feathers on his body and yellow neck feathers. Hei Hei's large eyes help him search for food, and his feet sometimes trip him up.
Hei Hei's role in the film is primarily for comic relief, and he provides an additional obstacle for Moana to overcome. Despite his simple characterisation, Hei Hei quickly endeared himself to viewers through his many funny moments. One memorable scene involves him pecking at a rock, demonstrating his lack of intelligence.
Hei Hei's name has a cultural foundation that fits the Polynesian setting of the film. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken". The Māori people are indigenous Polynesians prominent in New Zealand with their own distinct culture, language, and representation in various fields.
How a Heating Lamp Boosts Chicken Egg Production
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hei Hei's potential divinity
Hei Hei, the rooster from Disney's Moana, is a source of comedy due to his obliviousness and accident-prone nature. Despite being regarded as the ""village idiot" of Motunui, some fans have speculated about Hei Hei's potential divinity.
One theory suggests that Hei Hei is a demi-god, citing inconsistencies with his age and survivability throughout the film. This theory is supported by the character's resilience and ability to overcome obstacles, making him one of the strongest characters in the movie. Some fans believe that Hei Hei is a trickster god, similar to Prometheus, who helps Moana find her way. They argue that his presence in both movies and his ability to solve conflicts cannot be mere coincidences.
In the earliest versions of the story, Hei Hei was intended to be Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick. However, the creators changed his characterisation to a more comedic relief role, providing an additional obstacle for Moana to overcome. Despite his simple character, Hei Hei is vital to the film and has endeared himself to viewers through his funny moments.
Hei Hei's role in the film, regardless of his divinity, showcases a unique take on animal sidekicks, contributing to the narrative progression and adding complications that advance the plot. His obliviousness and clumsy nature often lead him into danger, requiring rescue by the villagers of Motunui, where he has resided since Moana's childhood.
Chicken Sharing Guide: Bone-In Portions for Seven People
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hei Hei's relationship with Moana
Hei Hei, the rooster from the film Moana, is a key character who contributes to the narrative progression. His obliviousness and accident-prone nature often lead him into danger, requiring rescue by the villagers of Motunui, where he has resided since Moana's childhood. He is regarded as the ""village idiot" of Motunui due to his oblivious nature and lack of basic intelligence. He often wanders aimlessly and gets into trouble, requiring rescue by the villagers. His actions, such as eating rocks, contribute to his reputation. Despite this, he is seen as a community member rather than a pet.
Hei Hei unintentionally joins Moana's voyage when he stows away on her canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her epic journey despite his lack of intelligence. He is a source of comedy due to his obliviousness and accident-prone nature. He unknowingly stows away on Moana's canoe and almost falls into the ocean during a battle with Te Ka. His antics in the village of Motunui, including aimlessly roaming and causing trouble, amuse the villagers. A memorable comedic scene involves Hei Hei pecking at a rock, demonstrating his lack of basic intelligence.
Hei Hei was originally meant to be cranky, very aggressive, judgmental, and most of all, proud. This is similar to Maximus, the horse from Tangled. The change in Hei Hei's characterization came about because the creators felt like a watchdog-type character wouldn't flow with the story as they got to the latter stages of the movie. He was present in the earliest versions of the story, though with an entirely different personality. Originally, he was assigned to join Moana's journey as an antagonistic watchdog, by orders of Chief Tui.
Despite his simple-mindedness, Hei Hei is incredibly loyal to Moana and is considered one of her best friends. He is always by her side, providing comic relief and support during her adventures. Moana loves him unconditionally and will always protect him, even though he often creates more challenges for her to overcome.
Sanitize Sponges: Chicken Safety Basics
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It is unclear what breed of chicken Hei Hei is, but suggestions include a Red Junglefowl or a Welsummer.
In Māori culture, "hei hei" means "chicken". The Māori people are indigenous Polynesians prominent in New Zealand.
Hei Hei is a source of comedy in the film, acting as the village idiot of Motunui. His obliviousness and accident-prone nature often land him in trouble, requiring rescue by the villagers.
Hei Hei has yellow neck feathers, blue-green body feathers, a flashy red comb, and long grey legs with black toes.
![Disney Princess Moana Doll Sing & Shimmer Toddler Doll, Sings How Far I'll Go [Amazon Exclusive], Blue](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ub88Vrx7L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
