Jake Harper
In Disney's Moana, Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei) is a major character who is a bumbling, accident-prone rooster regarded as the village idiot of Motunui. The name Hei Hei has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting; in Māori, it simply means chicken. The Māori people are indigenous Polynesians who are mostly prominent in New Zealand, and have their own culture and language as well as representation in politics, sports, and entertainment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei) |
| Species | Rooster |
| Personality | Dumb, accident-prone, oblivious, clueless, dim-witted |
| Role | Comic relief, companion to Moana, plot device |
| Appearance | Red comb, large eyes, yellow neck feathers, blue-green body feathers |
| Origin | Based on co-director John Musker, meant to be a caricature of co-director Ron Clements |
| Name Meaning | "Chicken" in Māori and Hawaiian |
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What You'll Learn
The name 'Hei Hei' means 'chicken' in Māori
The name Hei Hei, given to the chicken in the Disney movie Moana, has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting. In Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people prominent in New Zealand, "'hei hei" simply means "chicken". Thus, the name is not a traditional one but rather a statement of what Hei Hei is.
Hei Hei is a major character in Moana and its sequel. He is a bumbling, accident-prone rooster regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui. He is depicted as a clumsy rooster that unintentionally joins Moana's voyage when he stows away on her canoe. Moana, who is on a mission to find Maui and return the heart of Te Fiti, discovers him the next day.
Hei Hei's character was present in the earliest versions of the story, but with a different personality. Originally, he was to be Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick, portrayed as aggressive, proud, and judgmental. However, the filmmakers felt this version of the character did not fit the story, and there were discussions about scrapping the character entirely. Fortunately, the filmmakers decided to rework Hei Hei's character to preserve his place in the movie.
Hei Hei's new character is a semi-mindless animal, unaware of his surroundings, which leads to comical situations and complications in Moana's journey. Despite his obliviousness and accident-prone nature, he is seen as a community member and becomes an unwitting participant in Moana's epic journey.
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Hei Hei is a source of comedy in the film
In the film Moana, Hei Hei is a source of comedy due to his obliviousness and accident-prone nature. The name "Hei Hei" is derived from the Māori word for "chicken", reflecting the character's nature as a bumbling, accident-prone rooster.
Hei Hei is regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui due to his lack of basic intelligence. He often wanders aimlessly, gets lost, and requires rescue by the villagers. For example, he accidentally stows away on Moana's canoe and becomes an unwitting participant in her journey, adding an element of complication and humour to the plot. His actions, such as eating rocks, contribute to his reputation as a comical character. Despite his lack of intelligence, he is seen as a community member and a friend by Moana, who loves him unconditionally.
Hei Hei's character underwent a significant transformation during the film's development. Initially, he was conceived as Chief Tui's loyal and cranky sidekick, with most of his comedy stemming from negative traits such as aggression, pride, and judgmental behaviour. However, the filmmakers felt that this version of the character didn't fit the story's tone and considered scrapping him entirely. Fortunately, the team found a way to rework his character, transforming him into a source of comic relief rather than antagonism.
Hei Hei's dim-witted and oblivious nature leads him into dangerous situations, creating additional challenges for Moana to overcome. For instance, during a battle with Te Kā, he almost falls into the ocean. Despite his apparent lack of awareness, Hei Hei occasionally displays a surprising level of awareness. Moreover, he proves his worth by saving the heart of Te Fiti from being lost at sea.
Overall, Hei Hei's simplicity and comedic relief endeared him to viewers, making him a standout character in the film despite his limited intelligence. His presence adds a layer of humour and complexity to Moana's journey, showcasing how even seemingly insignificant characters can have a significant impact on the story's progression and the audience's enjoyment.
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The character was nearly scrapped
The character of Heihei, Moana's dim-witted companion, was almost scrapped from the film entirely. In the earliest versions of the story, Heihei was a loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick to Chief Tui. He was portrayed as aggressive, proud, and judgmental, with most of his attempted comedy coming from these negative traits. However, as the story evolved, the filmmakers felt that this version of the character no longer fit with the narrative.
Major discussions about removing Heihei from the film began, and John Lasseter assembled the team to decide the character's fate. One of the film's key story artists, David Derrick, got sick, giving the team an unexpected break to focus on reworking Heihei's character. They recognised that Heihei's original incarnation as a watchdog-type character wouldn't flow with the story, particularly in the latter stages of the movie.
The filmmakers wanted to preserve the character while also ensuring he didn't become an antagonist. They drastically changed Heihei's personality, transforming him into a bumbling, accident-prone rooster who is regarded as the \"village idiot\" of Motunui. This new characterisation served as a source of comedy and added complications to Moana's journey, making him vital to the film's plot.
Heihei's new role was enthusiastically received, and he ultimately became a beloved character in the movie, despite his lack of intelligence. The name "Heihei" fits the film's Polynesian setting, as it means "chicken" in Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people prominent in New Zealand.
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Hei Hei is a 'dumb' rooster
The name Hei Hei has a cultural foundation that fits the Polynesian setting of the film Moana. In Māori culture, "hei hei" means "chicken". The Māori people are indigenous Polynesian people who are mostly prominent in New Zealand, with a total worldwide population of around one million.
Hei Hei is a major character in Moana, depicted as a clumsy rooster from Motunui. 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 accidentally stows away on her canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her journey despite his lack of intelligence. His unintentional presence on Moana's canoe adds complications that advance the plot. He is a source of comedy due to his obliviousness and accident-prone nature. For example, he almost falls into the ocean during a battle with Te Kā.
Hei Hei's character was present in the earliest versions of the story, but with a different personality. Originally, he was meant to be Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick. He was portrayed as aggressive, proud, and judgmental, with most of his attempted comedy coming from these negative traits. However, the filmmakers felt this version of the character didn't work for the story, and there were discussions about scrapping the character entirely. Eventually, they decided to change his personality, turning him into a comic relief character and an additional obstacle for Moana to overcome.
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He is Moana's companion
Heihei, the chicken from Moana, is a key character in the film and its sequel. He is a bumbling, accident-prone rooster regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui due to his oblivious nature and lack of basic intelligence. Despite his limited cognitive abilities, he is considered a community member of Motunui rather than a pet. Heihei plays a pivotal role in Moana's journey, as he unintentionally joins her voyage when he stows away on her canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her quest.
Heihei's presence on Moana's canoe adds a layer of complication and serves as a source of comedy throughout the film. His obliviousness and clumsiness often land him in dangerous situations, requiring rescue by Moana and the other villagers. Despite his apparent lack of awareness, Heihei demonstrates a certain level of awareness on rare occasions, showcasing a more nuanced side to his character.
As Moana's companion, Heihei provides both comedic relief and an additional obstacle for Moana to navigate. His dim-witted antics create new variables for Moana to manage, testing her problem-solving skills and resilience. Despite his initial role as an antagonistic watchdog, the filmmakers ultimately decided to reshape Heihei's character, transforming him into a source of levity and a beloved member of the cast.
Throughout the film, Heihei forms an inseparable bond with Moana, who loves him unconditionally. Their relationship highlights Moana's protective nature and unwavering dedication to those she cares about. Together, they face challenges and embark on a transformative journey that shapes their lives in ways they never imagined.
Heihei's name itself has a cultural foundation that aligns with the film's Polynesian setting. In Māori culture, ""hei hei" simply means "chicken". This choice of name reflects the filmmakers' attention to cultural authenticity and their desire to honour the indigenous Polynesian people, specifically the Māori, who are prominent in New Zealand and known for their rich culture, language, and representation in various fields.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the chicken in Moana is Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei) and it means "chicken" in Māori.
The name has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting. The Māori are indigenous Polynesian people who are mostly prominent in New Zealand.
Heihei is a source of comedy in the film due to his oblivious and accident-prone nature. He also unintentionally joins Moana on her voyage when he stows away on her canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her journey.
