Disney's Moana: 10 Facts You Didn't Know About Hei Hei The Rooster (2024)

Hei Hei the rooster is perhaps the simplest and least complex character in any Disney movie ever. The entire character of the fowl star of Disney's Moana can be summed up by saying that he, to put it politely, isn't smart. His character's whole purpose was to be a comic relief character while providing an additional obstacle for Moana to overcome by giving her yet another variable to look out for.

Strangely, Hei Hei was as vital to the film as the rest of the main cast, despite putting himself in harm's way any chance he got and just being a big dummy. Despite this, Hei Hei quickly endeared himself to viewers, mostly from his many funny moments. Even though Hei Hei doesn't have any spoken lines, there's more than meets the eye. Even those who loved this rooster might be surprised by Hei Hei's background whether in-universe or outside of it.

Updated on April 12, 2024, by Michael Colwander: With Moana 2 set to release this November, it's time to revisit everyone's favorite chicken from Moana, Hei Hei. More Hei Hei fun facts have been added. This list has also been updated to reflect current stylistic standards.

10 What Breed Of Rooster Is Hei Hei?

The type of rooster Hei Hei is has long been the subject of debate. Suggestions range from a Red Junglefowl to a Welsummer. There are even debates and theories about whether or not Hei Hei is actually a demi-god, citing inconsistency with his age and his survivability. This would ironically make Hei Hei one of the strongest Disney characters.

According to The Art of Moana by Jessica Julius and Maggie Malone, which features a behind-the-scenes look and concept art from the movie, Hei Hei is a Bantam Rooster. A Bantam Rooster is a common type of fowl that's known for their smaller size compared to traditional fowl. Its name comes from the port town of Bantam in Java, Indonesia.

9 Hei Hei Means Chicken In Māori

The name Hei Hei has a cultural foundation that fits Moana's Polynesian setting. In Māori culture, "hei hei" simply means "chicken." So not a traditional name, but rather just stating what Hei Hei is.

The Māori people are indigenous Polynesian people that are mostly prominent in New Zealand with a total worldwide population approaching one million people. The Māori have their own culture and language as well as representation in politics, sports, and entertainment. Some notable Māori people include Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, Manu Bennett, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and Cliff Curtis. Morrison voices the role of Chief Tui, the father of Moana, in Moana.

8 It Was One Of Alan Tudyk's Most Enjoyable Roles

Alan Tudyk has been a prominent fixture both with Disney and voice acting in general. In joining Moana, Tudyk loved the challenge of having to express himself through chicken noises rather than more human verbalization. Similar to Vin Diesel as Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, both actors had to find a way to show emotions with a very limited wheelhouse to work with. Somehow, some way, they both managed to do it.

What's most interesting about this role is how he lays out the description he gets before the scenes. Tudyk is quoted in an interview with The A.V. Club: “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. Go.”

7 Hei Hei Solidified Alan Tudyk As Disney's Good Luck Charm

Tudyk's been a mainstay in Disney films since Wreck-It Ralph, finding a way into some of their biggest movies and becoming their lucky rabbit's foot. Tudyk's prominence in animated Disney films has led Disney fans to believe he'll always have a role, and will actively try to pick out his character when watching for the first time.

Starting in 2012 with Wreck-It Ralph he's starred in both Frozen films, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, Wish, Rogue One, and the live-action version of Aladdin as Iago. Many of these Disney films were commercial and critical successes and beloved movies in their own ways. Safe to say, Tudyk is a Disney legend.

6 He's The Inversion Of The Usual Animal Sidekick Trope

What makes Hei Hei such an interesting character is that he subverts expectations. Animal sidekicks in Disney movies are often incredibly intelligent and capable of human mannerisms, even when used for comedic purposes. Abu in Aladdin, for example, was smarter than some of the human characters in the movie, and the same goes for Sven in Frozen. They were all guides to the main character and an important part of who they are.

Hei Hei is the exact opposite of that, acting as a pure detriment rather than a help to Moana. He's not guiding her, at least not anywhere she'd like to go. A complete burden. It's a very unique take on animal sidekicks, one future Disney movies should consider following to keep things fresh.

5 He Almost Had A Different Personality

Originally Hei Hei was going to be Chief Tui's sidekick more than Moana's, acting as his watchdog on the journey rather than Moana's companion. Hei Hei was originally meant to be loyal to the chief no matter what, acting as a true pet in that regard. He was going 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 of character wouldn't flow with the story as they got to the latter stages of the movie. They are right in that regard, smartly changing him into a different type of detriment to Moana and company. This also prevented Chief Tui from becoming an antagonist, intentional or otherwise, as opposed to a loving and caring father.

4 He Was Almost Removed From The Movie

With the realization that his original incarnation would no longer fit into the movie, Hei Hei was very close to being cut out completely. Moana fans were close to living in a world where Hei Hei didn't exist. It's possible Hei Hei may have never made it had David Derrick not come down with an illness, allowing the staff to focus solely on what to do with the character.

Very few creations in the Disney mythos come even close to Hei Hei's level of idiocy. Many suffer from incompetence, but never to this degree. It's great that Hei Hei's character was salvaged, providing viewers with a unique Disney character despite his simplicity.

3 The Crew Celebrated Hei Hei Staying By Eating Fried Chicken

When Hei Hei was saved, the crew jokingly celebrated by eating fried chicken. While certainly funny, it shows how much the character mattered to the crew. They all wanted to keep Hei Hei in the movie, no matter what. It's hard to think of many characters who would be the cause of such a celebration.

It's understandable why despite not being a main character in the traditional sense, Hei Hei played a huge part in the film. If he weren't there, there's no telling if the story they wanted to tell would have flowed as well as it did or if it would've been nearly as charming or funny. His idiotic behavior was needed, acting almost like glue to the other characters.

2 Many Of His Actions Are Symbolic

Hei Hei is much deeper than he seems. He, maybe more than even Moana, represents the story at large. He represents the scared people that Moana will soon lead while the rock he's constantly trying to eat in the movie, is the island itself. He keeps pecking away at it, unable to stop. That's very much like the islanders who would continue to deplete the resources of the island until there was nothing left, swallowing it whole as Hei Hei did.

This moment is not the only example of Hei Hei as a symbolic figure, either. The fact he always wore the pot on his head is an example of the islanders being blind to what's around them, refusing to see what was right in front of their face. It's these little things that make Disney movies as beloved as they are by fans. They understand symbolism like no other.

1 Hei Hei Has Since Made Numerous Disney Cameos

Movies and Television shows Hei Hei has cameoed in:

• Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
• Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2023)
• Wish (2023)

It's tradition for both Disney and Pixar to include Easter eggs and cameos. Hei Hei himself has already made numerous cameo appearances since starring in Moana. Hei Hei appeared in Ralph Breaks the Internet, pecking at food at a catering table along with other Disney characters such as Tinkerbell. Hei Hei also makes a cameo in Raya and the Last Dragon, with a bowl over his head, as well as the latest Disney Animated Musical Wish.

It's not just movies Hei Hei has cameoed in. He cameos in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder as the rooster who crows at dawn to wake up everyone in Suga Mama's neighborhood.

Moana

PG

In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.

Director

John Musker , Ron Clements , Chris Williams , Don Hall

Release Date

November 23, 2016

Studio

Disney

Cast

Auli'i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Jermaine Clement , Alan Tudyk , Nicole Scherzinger

Runtime

107 minutes