Claire Thompson
Heihei, the rooster from Disney's Moana, is a memorable character who has endeared himself to viewers of all ages. With little to no dialogue, Heihei is regarded as the village idiot of Motunui due to his oblivious nature and lack of intelligence. However, he plays a key role in the narrative, providing comic relief and an additional obstacle for Moana to navigate. Heihei's name is derived from the Māori word for chicken, fitting the film's Polynesian setting. Originally intended to be a smarter and more antagonistic character, Heihei underwent a significant makeover, transforming into the beloved dumbwitted sidekick we know today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei) |
| Species | Rooster |
| Colour | Blue-green body feathers, yellow neck feathers, red comb |
| Intelligence | Low IQ, regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui |
| Personality | Bumbling, accident-prone, oblivious |
| Role in the story | Unintentionally joins Moana's voyage and becomes an important character |
| Special abilities | Does not age, survives dangerous situations |
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What You'll Learn
Heihei is a demi-god chicken
In Disney's Moana, Heihei is a rooster from Motunui who is regarded as the "village idiot" due to his lack of intelligence. Despite this, he is a key character in the film, providing comic relief and narrative progression. Interestingly, some fans have theorized that Heihei is more than just a chicken – they believe he is a demi-god chicken, sent by the gods to help Moana on her quest.
Heihei's status as a possible demi-god can be supported by several pieces of evidence. Firstly, he does not seem to age, appearing the same when Moana is an adult as he did when she was a baby. Secondly, he survives dangerous situations and seems to have fortune on his side, such as when he is not eaten by the starving village. Additionally, he is always with Moana, as if he is drawn to her, and he even saves the heart of Te Fiti from being lost at sea.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for Heihei's divine nature is his apparent immortality. As one fan points out, Heihei should have died of old age by the time Moana reaches adulthood, yet he remains by her side, unchanged. This could indicate that he is blessed with eternal life by the gods. Furthermore, Heihei's stupidity may be a blessing in disguise, as it is said that he was judged worthy by the gods based on his heart rather than his intelligence.
Heihei's role as a demi-god chicken is to assist Moana on her journey. Despite his lack of intelligence, he is always there to lend a helping hand, or wing. For example, when Moana and Maui are left to face Te Kā alone, Heihei saves the heart of Te Fiti from being lost at sea, ensuring the success of their mission. Additionally, his presence on Moana's canoe adds complications that advance the plot and create new challenges for Moana to overcome.
In conclusion, while Heihei may seem like just a bumbling, accident-prone rooster, there is a strong case to be made for his status as a demi-god chicken. Sent by the gods to guide and protect Moana, Heihei uses his heart and unwavering dedication to fulfil his divine purpose.
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He is the 'village idiot'
Heihei, the rooster from Disney's Moana, is regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui due to his oblivious nature and lack of basic intelligence. In the film, Moana acknowledges that she's practically talking to herself when explaining her plan to defeat Te Kā, given that Heihei is a chicken.
Heihei is a key character in the film, depicted as a clumsy rooster from Motunui. He 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 obliviousness and accident-prone nature often lead him into danger, requiring rescue by the villagers of Motunui. For example, he almost falls into the ocean during a battle with Te Kā.
Heihei's character was originally designed to be angry and antagonistic, serving as a watchdog to Chief Tui. However, his personality was changed to make him very unintelligent, with his entire character summed up as being simple and lacking in complexity. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Heihei has endeared himself to viewers, providing comic relief and becoming a breakout star of the film.
Heihei's name has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken," and the Māori people are indigenous Polynesians prominent in New Zealand. The character's name is sometimes spelled with a space as "Hei Hei."
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Heihei is a major character
Heihei's character was present in the earliest versions of the story, although with a vastly different personality. Originally, he was designed to be angry, aggressive, proud, and judgmental, serving as a watchdog to Chief Tui. However, filmmakers felt this version of the character didn't fit the narrative, and discussions about removing him from the film began. Eventually, his personality was changed to make him very unintelligent, and he became a comic relief character who provided an additional obstacle for Moana to navigate.
Heihei is shown at the beginning of the film when Moana is a baby, and he appears to be the same age when she is an adult, indicating that he does not age. He survives dangerous situations and always seems to have fortune on his side, such as when he narrowly escapes being eaten by the village. These unusual characteristics have led to fan theories that Heihei is more than just a chicken. Some believe he is a demi-god-chicken, sent by the gods to help Moana on her quest, judged worthy based on his heart rather than intelligence.
Throughout the film, Heihei unintentionally joins Moana and Maui on their journey across the ocean. He accidentally stows away on Moana's canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her epic quest. Despite his lack of intelligence, he plays a crucial role in saving the heart of Te Fiti when it nearly rolls into the sea during a battle with Te Kā. After the boat is destroyed, Heihei is lost at sea, but he is eventually brought back to shore by the ocean, along with Maui.
Heihei is last seen standing atop Pua's head as Moana and her family voyage across the sea, returning to Motunui. His presence as a major character in the film is evident through his impact on the plot, his memorable personality, and his enduring popularity with audiences.
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He saves the heart of Te Fiti
The name of the chicken in Disney's Moana is Heihei. Heihei is a key character in the film, depicted as a clumsy rooster from Motunui. He is regarded as the "village idiot" due to his oblivious nature and lack of basic intelligence. Despite this, he is seen as a community member rather than a pet.
Heihei plays an important role in Moana's journey to return the heart of Te Fiti to its rightful place. After Moana discovers him stowed away on her canoe, he unintentionally joins her voyage and becomes an unwitting participant in her mission. During a battle with Te Kā, the heart nearly falls into the ocean, but Heihei saves it and brings it back to Moana. This demonstrates that, despite his apparent lack of intelligence, he understands the importance of the heart to Moana and is willing to risk his life to help her.
After the battle, Moana and Heihei are left to face Te Kā alone. Moana explains her plan to defeat Te Kā to Heihei, although she acknowledges that she is practically talking to herself since he is a chicken. Nonetheless, Heihei remains by her side as she sails to Te Fiti. When their boat is destroyed, Heihei is lost at sea, but he is eventually brought to shore by the ocean, along with Maui. With the mission complete, Maui bids farewell to Moana and Heihei, and they return to Motunui.
Heihei's role in saving the heart of Te Fiti highlights his unexpected heroism and loyalty to Moana. Despite his comical and bumbling nature, he proves to be a valuable companion on Moana's journey. His presence adds a layer of comedy and warmth to the story, making him a beloved character in the film.
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The name has a cultural foundation
The name of the chicken in Moana is Heihei, sometimes spelled Hei Hei. The name has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting. 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. They have their own distinct culture, language, and representation in various fields, including politics, sports, and entertainment. Notable individuals of Māori descent include Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, Manu Bennett, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and Cliff Curtis. Temuera Morrison, for instance, voices the role of Chief Tui, Moana's father, in the film.
Heihei is a key character in the film, depicted as a bumbling, accident-prone rooster who is regarded as the ""village idiot" of Motunui. Despite his lack of intelligence, he is seen as a community member rather than a pet. Heihei unintentionally joins Moana's voyage when he stows away on her canoe, becoming an unwitting participant in her journey. He provides comic relief and serves as an additional obstacle for Moana to navigate, as his oblivious and accident-prone nature often leads him into dangerous situations from which he requires rescuing. Interestingly, Heihei's character design underwent a significant change during the film's development. Initially, he was conceived as an aggressive, proud, and judgmental watchdog to Chief Tui, tasked with ensuring Moana did not sail away. However, this version of the character was scrapped, and his personality was reworked to be the opposite of his original traits.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the chicken in Moana is Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei).
In Māori, "hei hei" means "chicken".
Heihei is a key character in Moana, regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui due to his oblivious nature and lack of basic intelligence. He contributes to the narrative progression by unintentionally joining Moana's voyage and adding complications that advance the plot.
No, Heihei's character went through a significant evolution. In the earliest versions of the story, he was designed to be angry, aggressive, proud, and judgmental, serving as a watchdog to Chief Tui. However, filmmakers felt this version didn't fit the story, and they considered scrapping the character entirely. Eventually, they decided to change his personality drastically, and Heihei became the "village idiot" known for his comedic relief and unintentional heroism.
