Anger Over Maui God Portrayed As 'Half Hippo, Half Pig' In Moana

Maui was the powerful Polynesian demi-god who used the jaw-bone of his ancestor to fish very islands from the depths of the ocean.

But there’s growing disquiet over his portrayal in new Disney movie, ‘Moana’.

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The character, being voiced by Dwanye 'The Rock’ Johnson, himself of Polynesian lineage, was revealed last week in the first proper glimpse of the forthcoming animation (itself criticised because Disney decided to unveil the male character before the female of the title).

And now Jenny Salesa, an MP for the Labour Party in New Zealand, and of Tongan heritage, has posted a withering take-down of the Disney character’s portly physique.

The meme suggests the depiction is 'half pig, half hippo’, while she adds: “I agree. When we look at photos of Polynesian men & women from the last 100-200 years, most of our people were not overweight and this negative stereotype of Maui is just not acceptable - No thanks to Disney.”

She added One News Now: “What is really quite wrong with the imagery of Maui in this instance, if we look back in history… Polynesian people were not overweight or obese.

“When images and movies… like this come out, it will actually affect the image that children have.”

She’s not the only one who is unhappy.

Will Ilolahia of the Pacific Island Media Association told Waatea News: “He is depicted in the stories that’s been handed down, especially in my culture, as a person of strength, a person of magnitude and a person of a godly nature.

“This depiction of Maui being obese is typical American stereotyping. Obesity is a new phenomena because of the first world food that’s been stuffed down our throat.”

Samoan rugby player Eliota Fuimanono Sapolu added: “Maui looking like after he fished up the Islands, he deep fried em and and ate em.”

Not all commentators have aligned with them, however.

Isoa Kavakimotu, a Tongan living in New Zealand, took to YouTube to explain that it didn’t bother him at all.

“I am fine with it,” he said. “He doesn’t look fat to me, he looks a like a powerhouse who could do extraordinary labours.

“He is big for that reason. In the film they are sailing on a traditional waka, it is set before colonisation, I highly doubt a take-away store will pop up in the film. To me, he looks ready for action.”

The Auckland-based Samoan comic book artist Michael Mulipola also took to Twitter to discuss his take on matters, dissecting the way Maui appears.

“I’m not phased by the way Maui is designed in this film,” he added.

“In Polynesian mythology, Maui is the demi-god who inspired many myths and legends. In this film, he would of done a lot of those amazing feats but he’ll be a blow hard braggart who can be a bit of an idiot. There’s a reason the upcoming film is called Moana and not Maui.”

Image credits: Disney/Twitter/Bloody Samoan