Disney renames 'Moana' to 'Oceania' in Italy to avoid porn star association

Disney's animated film 'Moana' has been retitled 'Oceania' for its Italian release on December 22, 2016, one day after the US premiere. The name change avoids confusion with Italian porn star Moana Pozzi (born Anna Moana Rosa Pozzi in Genoa, 1961), who died in 1994 at age 33 under unclear circumstances. Pozzi became a cult figure for 30-40 year olds but is largely unknown to children. The film follows teenager Vaiana (the Italian name for the protagonist) on a mission to save her people across the Pacific Ocean, encountering demigod Maui. Pozzi's legacy includes animated shorts 'I remember Moana' and 'Moanaland' by Mario Verger, restored in 2004 for the 10th anniversary of her death. The latter features characters from Italy's First Republic, including Marco Pannella as the caterpillar and Giulio Andreotti as the White Rabbit. 'I remember Moana' received a special mention at the New York Erotic Film Festival but faced censorship in Italy. Journalist Marco Giusti wrote a book about Pozzi ('Moana', Mondadori, 2004).