The flashy crab from the hit Disney movie Moana is named Tamatoa. With his glamorous gold shell and over-the-top personality, Tamatoa makes an unforgettable impression despite limited screen time. Let’s take a closer look at Tamatoa and what makes this crustacean so memorable.
Who is Tamatoa?
In Moana Tamatoa is a giant coconut crab who lives in Lalotai the realm of monsters. He resides in an enormous seashell home situated in the darkest depths of the underworld. Tamatoa covets all things shiny and valuable and has adorned his shell with glittering treasure to elevate his status and appearance.
Underneath his glamorous exterior, Tamatoa has a sinister side. For centuries, he has plotted to take control of the heart of Te Fiti, the mother island. By stealing her heart, Tamatoa would gain the ultimate power of creation. He is also the arch-nemesis of the demigod Maui, who previously ripped off one of Tamatoa’s legs when they battled.
Tamatoa is unpredictable, sadistic, and suffers from mood swings He takes pleasure in verbally and physically abusing his enemies. Tamatoa also has a twisted sense of humor, seen when he nonchalantly mentions eating both his grandmother and grandfather.
Tamatoa’s Memorable Characteristics
Flamboyant Appearance
Tamatoa’s shining golden shell is encrusted with treasure, including gems, gold, and artifacts. He uses this glamorous exterior to project an image of beauty, wealth, and status. Tamatoa sings about his transformation from a “drab little crab” to his current flashy self in the song “Shiny.”
Menacing Abilities
Despite missing a leg, Tamatoa possesses incredible strength thanks to his massive size. He can expertly battle enemies of any size with agility. Tamatoa also utilizes camouflage, blending in with the gold of his shell to ambush prey. When threatened, he illuminates his form with bioluminescence, flashing in haunting pinks, blues, and greens.
Musical Talent
Tamatoa performs “Shiny,” one of the standout musical numbers in Moana. The glam rock-inspired song, sung by Jemaine Clement, showcases Tamatoa’s vocal talents and flashy persona. He boasts of his physical transformation while bragging about his invaluable shell treasures.
Humorous Personality
For a sinister villain, Tamatoa cracks plenty of jokes. He comically references being a “crab cake” and “beady-eyed bottom feeder” before his prideful transformation. Tamatoa also breaks the fourth wall by asking the audience for help during the post-credits scene.
Lust for Power
Tamatoa’s main motivation is claiming Te Fiti’s heart to acquire the ultimate power of creation for himself. He believes becoming an all-powerful entity will finally earn him the respect and status he craves. This hunger for power drives many of his villainous actions.
Why Does Tamatoa Stand Out?
For a relatively minor character, Tamatoa leaves a lasting impact on audiences. So what makes him so memorable?
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Tamatoa’s scene-stealing musical number “Shiny” showcases his flashy personality through melody and lyrics.
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The striking visuals of his glam shell and creepy bioluminescence create an unforgettable look.
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Clement’s eccentric voice performance gives Tamatoa amusing charm and attitude.
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As the only character to reject Moana’s message of inner beauty, Tamatoa stands out as the antithesis to the film’s themes.
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His limited but memorable scenes make audiences curious to see more of Moana’s blinged-out nemesis.
Though he only appears briefly, Tamatoa’s humor, horrifying habits, and dedication to glam help him shine as one of Disney’s most colorful crustacean villains. His greed for treasure and power drive the plot while also providing some fun. For these reasons and more, Tamatoa remains a fan-favorite character from the magical world of Moana.
Powers and abilities[]
- Immense Strength: With his massive size and body weight, Tamatoa possesses an incredible physical strength that eclipses the raw strength of a demigod. When Maui was stripped of his fish hooks power, Tamatoa was able to mercilessly attack the former with ease. Being a coconut crab, his claws are also extremely powerful, though the magnitude of what they can destroy had not been explored.
- Bioluminescence: When in pitch darkness, Tamatoa undergoes a physical transformation in the form of a trait called bioluminescence. This is found in real deep sea creatures (including some crustaceans) and allows Tamatoas body and the shiny objects hoarded on his shell to emit a neon, glowing light. His pupils, iris, and sclerae, meanwhile, can change color by alternating from vibrant and alarming pinks and blues.
- Camouflage: By using the hoard of gold upon his shell, Tamatoa can perfectly disguise himself to appear as an inanimate mountain of treasures until he chooses to reveal himself. He mainly uses his shiny shell as a hunting tactic, luring unsuspecting fish from the surrounding ocean straight into his mouth, among other prey. When bioluminescent, Tamatoa can perform counter-illumination, meaning he can manipulate the neon light of his body to match the darkness of his lair, completely camouflaging his form. Only Tamatoas teeth and eyes can be seen in this form, when grinning and when theyre open, respectively.
- Eternal Youth: Tamatoa is more than a thousand years old at the height of the film, as he knew Maui before his exile. He shows no signs of aging and proves to be in excellent shape.
- Fourth Wall Awareness: Possibly due to his state of mind, Tamatoa is seemingly aware he lives in a fictional world. While beating down Maui, he asks the audience to look up the definition of a “decapod,” then later asks them for help while comparing himself to Sebastian from The Little Mermaid.
History[]
Tamatoa is a gargantuan coconut crab that hails from Lalotai, a realm inhabited by monsters. Living in a giant seashell within the realms depths, Tamatoa is known as a “beady-eyed bottom feeder”, a social reputation he greatly despises. He covers his shell in gold, rare artifacts and treasures as a means to elevate his status, and this overcompensation eventually became a crazed love for all things shiny. An avid collector and hoarder, Tamatoas materialistic obsession has driven him into madness over time.
A shiny shell isnt enough for Tamatoa, however. For centuries he has plotted to steal and control the heart of the island goddess Te Fiti. In doing so, Tamatoa would possess the ultimate power of creation, thus ennobling him to a supreme and preeminent entity.
Tamatoa is also the longstanding arch-nemesis of acclaimed demigod Maui. The two appear to know each other extremely well, with Tamatoa even having knowledge of Mauis near-tragic beginnings. During one of their battles, Maui ripped off one of Tamatoas legs which, according to Maui, plays a part in the giant crabs hatred for him. Despite his own physical prowess, Tamatoa fears Maui when the latter is equipped with his magical fish hook.
Jemaine Clement – Shiny (from Moana) (Official Video)
FAQ
Does the crab from Moana have a name?
Tamatoa, the giant crab from Moana, is a villainous character known for his obsession with shiny treasures, which he proudly displays on his golden shell.
What does the name Tamatoa mean?
When traced to its Tahitian and Maori roots, Tamatoa means “warrior child,” deriving from the elements tama, meaning “child,” and toa, meaning “warrior.” You might also recognize this name as belonging to the gregarious, jewel-encrusted giant coconut crab in the Disney movie Moana.
What is the name of the crab that sings shiny?
In the film, Clement plays a villainous crab named Tamatoa, who’s keen on preventing protagonists Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) from obtaining a key piece of equipment for their quest to save Moana’s people. “Shiny” is Tamatoa’s explanation, in song form, about why he refuses…
Who plays the giant coconut crab in Moana?
Jemaine Clement, a New Zealand actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker, voices the giant coconut crab, Tamatoa in Disney’s Moana. Is the crab from Moana a villain?
How does Moana attract a crab?
Moana is sent in as bait, covering herself in shiny objects to attract the crab. Tamatoa soon awakens, and examines the human that has entered his shell. Meanwhile, Maui reaches in to grab his hook. Although Tamatoa nearly notices, Moana is able to distract the crab by getting him to talk about himself through his song.
Who is Tamatoa in Moana?
Tamatoa is the secondary antagonist of Disney’s 2016 animated feature film Moana. He is a villainous giant crab who covets all things shiny and valuable. In an effort to exude beauty and superiority, Tamatoa displays his collected treasures atop his golden shell. Tamatoa is a gargantuan coconut
How does Tamatoa eat Moana?
Although Tamatoa nearly notices, Moana is able to distract the crab by getting him to talk about himself through his song. After Tamatoa brags about his shell and explains his love for all things shiny, he tries to eat Moana, only to pause when Maui reveals himself with his fishhook in hand.
Who voices Tamatoa in ‘Moana’?
Tamatoa, a character in Disney’s Moana, is voiced by Jemaine Clement. Clement has also played roles in films and shows like Rio, The BFG, What We Do In The Shadows, Men in Black 3, and Rick and Morty. His portrayal of Tamatoa was influenced by David Bowie, with the song ‘Shiny’ in the film intended to mirror Bowie’s musical style.
Why does Tamatoa have a Golden Shell in Moana?
Tamatoa, the antagonist crab in Moana, showcases his superiority through his collection of shiny treasures. He adorns himself with these objects, including a golden shell, to project beauty and dominance. This shiny exterior also serves a practical purpose, attracting fish for him to eat.