Mia Patel
Heihei, the chicken from Moana, is regarded as the village idiot of Motunui. The character was originally conceived as Chief Tui's sidekick, but a cranky and aggressive one, and the filmmakers felt this didn't fit the story. Almost cut from the film entirely, the character was instead reimagined as a bumbling, accident-prone rooster who unintentionally joins Moana's voyage. Some fans have theorized that Heihei is a demigod-chicken, sent by the gods to help Moana on her quest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Heihei (sometimes spelled Hei Hei) |
| Origin | Bantam in Java, Indonesia |
| Species | Rooster |
| Intelligence | Low |
| Personality | Bumbling, accident-prone, and oblivious |
| Role | Comic relief, companion to Moana, and a source of "dumb luck" |
| Voice actor | Alan Tudyk |
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What You'll Learn
- The character's name, Hei Hei, comes from the Māori word for chicken
- Hei Hei was originally intended to be a jerk with attitude
- Hei Hei is a demi-god tasked with helping Moana
- Hei Hei is an unlikely hero, saving the day by catching a green rock
- Hei Hei's voice actor, Alan Tudyk, had to express himself through chicken noises
The character's name, Hei Hei, comes from the Māori word for chicken
The character of Heihei in Moana is a bumbling, accident-prone rooster who is 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. Interestingly, the name "Hei Hei" has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken". The Māori people are indigenous Polynesian people who are mostly prominent in New Zealand, with a worldwide population of around one million. They have their own distinct culture and language, as well as representation in various fields, including politics, sports, and entertainment.
Heihei's character was almost cut from the film due to his original incarnation no longer fitting into the story. However, the filmmakers decided to salvage the character, giving him a new personality. Originally, Heihei 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 scrapped as it did not align with the shifting narrative. Instead, the filmmakers opted for a more comedic take on the character, making him incredibly foolish and incompetent.
In contrast to typical animal sidekicks in Disney films, who often exhibit human-like intelligence and mannerisms, Heihei is portrayed as pure detriment rather than a help to Moana. He acts as a burden and a source of comedic relief, providing a unique twist on the traditional animal companion. Despite his apparent lack of intelligence, Heihei does play a crucial role in the film's plot. At one point, he saves the day by catching the green rock in his mouth, demonstrating that even unlikely heroes can make a difference.
Some fan theories suggest that Heihei is more than just a chicken. One popular theory posits that he is a demi-god, a guardian sent by the gods to aid Moana on her quest. This theory highlights that Heihei was judged worthy based on his heart rather than his intelligence, and his survival throughout the film is seen as magical. Another interpretation suggests that Heihei represents "a bit of luck", embodying the idea that sometimes success comes from unexpected sources.
Overall, Heihei's character, named fittingly in Māori, adds a unique and entertaining element to the film Moana, contributing to its vibrant cast of characters.
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Hei Hei was originally intended to be a jerk with attitude
The character of Hei Hei in Disney's Moana was originally intended to be a lot smarter. In the earliest versions of the story, Hei Hei was Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster and sidekick. He was portrayed as aggressive, proud, and judgmental, with most of his comedy coming from these negative traits. Jared Bush, the writer of Moana, described Hei Hei as having gone through a "bit of a character evolution".
Hei Hei was originally conceived as a "kind of a jerk with attitude", with a personality that was almost entirely different from the one that made it to the final cut of the film. The filmmakers felt that this original version of the character did not fit with the shifting story, and there were major discussions about scrapping the character entirely.
The final version of Hei Hei is the exact opposite of the intelligent and capable animal sidekicks commonly seen in Disney movies, such as Abu in Aladdin. Instead, he is a source of comedy due to his obliviousness and accident-prone nature, acting as a pure detriment rather than a help to Moana. His antics, such as eating rocks, amuse the villagers, and he is regarded as the "village idiot". Despite his simplicity, Hei Hei provides viewers with a unique Disney character.
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Hei Hei is a demi-god tasked with helping Moana
In Disney's 2016 animated feature film Moana, Hei Hei the rooster is a major character. In the film, Moana, a 16-year-old Pacific Island teen, embarks on a journey across the ocean with Hei Hei, who unintentionally joins her voyage after stowing away on her canoe.
Hei Hei's character almost didn't make it into the film, as his original incarnation as a smart and cranky sidekick to Chief Tui didn't fit the shifting story. However, the filmmakers decided to keep him in the film, reworking him into a bumbling and accident-prone character who acts as a pure detriment to Moana rather than a help. This unique take on animal sidekicks adds a fresh element to the film and provides viewers with a memorable and lovable character.
Hei Hei's name has a cultural foundation that fits the film's Polynesian setting. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken". The Māori people are indigenous Polynesians prominent in New Zealand with a worldwide population of around one million. They have their own distinct culture, language, and representation in various fields, including politics, sports, and entertainment.
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Hei Hei is an unlikely hero, saving the day by catching a green rock
Hei Hei, the bumbling, accident-prone rooster from Disney's Moana, is an unlikely hero. In the film, he plays the role of the village idiot of Motunui, often wandering aimlessly, pecking at rocks, and causing trouble that amuses the villagers. Despite his lack of basic intelligence, he unintentionally joins Moana's voyage when he stows away on her canoe, becoming an integral part of her journey.
Hei Hei's character was almost cut from the film due to his original incarnation no longer fitting into the movie. The filmmakers also considered scrapping him when they decided to change his personality from Chief Tui's loyal and cranky pet rooster to a dumb and incompetent sidekick. However, they ultimately kept him in the film, providing viewers with a unique and comedic character.
One of the most notable moments for Hei Hei in the film is when he saves the day by catching a green rock in his mouth. This moment showcases his significance in the story and how even the most unlikely of heroes can make a difference. Hei Hei's role as a source of comic relief and his unexpected heroism add to the charm and entertainment value of the movie.
Hei Hei's name has a cultural foundation that fits the Polynesian setting of Moana. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken," reflecting the indigenous Polynesian people's own culture and language. The Māori people are predominantly found in New Zealand, with a worldwide population of approximately one million.
Overall, Hei Hei's character, with his obliviousness and accident-prone nature, brings a unique dynamic to the film. His unintentional presence on Moana's canoe adds complications that advance the plot and showcase how sometimes, a little bit of luck and dumb courage can save the day.
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Hei Hei's voice actor, Alan Tudyk, had to express himself through chicken noises
The character of Heihei in Moana underwent several changes before the film's release. Originally, Heihei 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 did not fit the shifting story, and they considered scrapping the character entirely. Fortunately, they decided to salvage the character by dropping his IQ and making him a pure detriment rather than a help to Moana. This new version of Heihei 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.
Heihei's voice actor, Alan Tudyk, embraced the challenge of expressing himself through chicken noises rather than human verbalization. Similar to Vin Diesel as Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tudyk had to find a way to convey emotions with very limited means. In an interview with The A.V. Club, Tudyk described the process of laying out the description he received before each scene:
> "You're on the boat. You didn't expect to be here. You just climbed in a boat to maybe sleep. You don't even know why you climbed in the boat. You're really that dumb. Every three minutes is a new world to you, so you see that you're trapped on this boat, and you freak out."
Tudyk's performance as Heihei added to the character's comedic relief role in the film, providing audiences with a unique and unexpected take on the traditional animal sidekick in Disney movies.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the chicken in Moana is Heihei.
Heihei is regarded as the "village idiot" of Motunui. He is a source of comic relief in the movie due to his oblivious and accident-prone nature.
Heihei is a Bantam Rooster, a common type of fowl known for their smaller size.
No, in the original script, Heihei was meant to be a smart animal and the sidekick of Chief Tui. However, his character was changed to a "dumbwitted" chicken to better fit the story.
Some fans have theorised that Heihei is a demigod-chicken, sent by the gods to help Moana on her quest. Others believe he represents "a bit of luck" in the movie.
