‘Moana’ 2026 Gives More Credence To This Fun Fan Theory
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Moana (2026).
Moana (2026) has a lot in common with the original animated film of the same name—including giving clues that support a fun fan theory about the movie. In both Moana (2016) and the live-action remake, Hei Hei is Moana’s goofy pet chicken whose stupidity is only matched by his surprising endurance. Hei Hei offers a lot of comedic support throughout the films, providing plenty of gags when the plot becomes otherwise too intense or emotional. However, a fan theory argues that Hei Hei is far more important than anyone realizes.
The theory suggests that, beneath the surface-level goofy idiocy of the chicken, Hei Hei is actually a god or a demi-god of some sort. This is why the chicken is so crucial to the plot of both versions of Moana, as well as why he’s able to endure so much more punishment than a chicken realistically should be able to. It’s a fun theory that puts Hei Hei into a category with some of the other most powerful figures in the animated Disney canon, expanding the scope of Disney’s surprising pantheon and making Hei Hei one of the more important characters in the films.
The Best Moana Fan Theory Says Hei Hei Is a God
The theory surrounding Hei Hei being a deity actually makes a lot of minor sense in the first Moana. Introduced as a fully grown chicken even when Moana is a child, Hei Hei has not noticeably aged while Moana grew from a child into a young woman. Hei Hei survives plenty of injuries that would kill him, even considering the looser limitations of the animated medium. The ocean, shown to be a somewhat fickle mystical force in the film, takes extra care to make sure that Hei Hei is protected and kept on the boat.
Hei Hei even proves crucial to the mission to protect the Heart of Te Fiti, ensuring it doesn't fall into the hands of the Kakamora or fall overboard. Although there is never an overt reference to Hei Hei’s divinity in the original film, there are enough plot beats surrounding the character and enough strokes of divine luck to leave some fans wondering if there’s something more going on behind the beak. It’s likely just a goofy fan theory, and Hei Hei is most likely just a funny animal sidekick—but the live-action film actually offers some new clues that support that argument.
The Live-Action Moana Gives More Clues About Hei Hei’s Godhood
While the live-action Moana doesn’t do too much radically new within the plot, the film offers some fun new clues that hint at Hei Hei’s potential divinity. The chicken is now seen as a chick, growing up alongside Moana. However, given that the typical life span of a chicken is only five to ten years and Moana has aged that much in just the transition from the opening scenes, it only becomes more pronounced that Hei Hei survives so long.
During the new version of “You’re Welcome,” a bird that looks like Hei Hei can be spotted among Maui’s montage of deities and supernatural creatures. It also gives an extra reason why Maui doesn’t immediately recognize Hei Hei as a chicken, perhaps picking up that it’s something else. Hei Hei also now gives a triumphant “roar” when he helps save the Heart in the climax, suggesting a greater deal of intellect and awareness than in the original. These clues suggest there is something going on with Hei Hei beyond just surface-level.
It Is Great When Disney Characters Become Super Powerful
There’s actually a long history of animated Disney characters going beyond their initial forms to become something more powerful. Frozen II (2019) effectively turns Elsa into a living elemental, while Chernabog’s presence in Fantasia (1940) gave the animated franchise its own stand-in for the devil. Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989) is technically related to the titular hero of Hercules (1997) through the Olympian Pantheon, making her—and her mermaid family—demi-gods in a sense. Moana gets a demi-god power boost herself in Moana 2 (2024) when she’s resurrected by the spirits for her actions to restore the ocean. Animated Disney films are often so rooted in fairy tale and legend that seeing characters reach new levels of power is exciting.
In that sense, Hei Hei being a deity wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. He could be trapped in a chicken form or have chosen a nondescript appearance, allowing himself to move between the scenes without being bothered. Feigning ignorance of the world around him allows Hei Hei to avoid the responsibilities that come with being a deity, even if he’s willing to help when the situation calls for it. While it’s never formally confirmed in the film, the idea that Hei Hei is actually a god in Moana is a fun enough idea that the new film seems to quietly lean into for great subtle effect.
