Who Voiced Tamatoa, the Glittering Crab Villain in Disney’s Moana?

Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana featured some memorable characters, but one of the biggest standouts was Tamatoa, the eccentric and greedy crab villain. With his flashy shell, love of all things shiny, and penchant for singing, Tamatoa quickly became a fan favorite. But who provided the voice behind this crustacean character?

The talented actor and comedian Jemaine Clement brought Tamatoa to colorful life through his vocal performance. Clement is likely best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Bret McKenzie. However, he has an extensive career spanning music, stand-up comedy, and acting in both film and television. Providing the voice for Disney’s glammed-up crab villain allowed Clement to showcase his vocal talents and comedic flair on the big screen.

Jemaine Clement’s Background

Jemaine Clement was born in 1974 in Masterton, New Zealand. He is of Māori descent on his mother’s side and Pākehā descent on his father’s side. Clement became involved in performing arts while studying at Victoria University of Wellington, where he met Bret McKenzie.

Clement and McKenzie went on to form the musical comedy act Flight of the Conchords, releasing several albums and embarking on international tours. They also created, wrote, and starred in an HBO television series based on their act, which aired from 2007-2009.

Outside of Flight of the Conchords Clement has appeared in films like Gentlemen Broncos, Dinner for Schmucks, and Men in Black 3. He often takes on quirky eccentric roles that allow him to showcase his talents for physical comedy.

Voicing Tamatoa in Moana

In Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana, Clement voiced Tamatoa, a villainous giant coconut crab with a treasure-hoarding obsession. Tamatoa is colorful, flashy and flamboyant adorning himself with gleaming treasures from sunken ships.

The character was brought to life through computer animation, but Clement’s vocal performance gave Tamatoa his larger-than-life, diva-like personality. During the song “Shiny,” Tamatoa sings about his love of all things sparkly while dancing and showing off his treasure-encrusted shell.

Clement imbued the character with a sinister but humorous charm through his singing voice, eccentric line delivery, and apt ad-libs. His experience in musical comedy served him well for this over-the-top musical number.

In behind-the-scenes footage, Clement revealed that he imagined Tamatoa as the “David Bowie of crustaceans” and channeled Bowie’s voice and mannerisms to craft the character’s performance. Tamatoa’s flashy shell decorations, including a giant glam rock-style wig, further reinforce the Bowie inspiration.

Critical Reception for Tamatoa

Clement’s vocal performance as Tamatoa was widely praised by critics:

• Variety wrote that “Clement sings the character’s villain song, ‘Shiny,’ with exactly the right measure of Broadway razzmatazz.”

• IndieWire praised “Shiny” as “one of the best Disney songs in years” and described Clement’s voice work as “sublimely entertaining.”

• Entertainment Weekly highlighted Tamatoa’s “campy, self-referential villain song ‘Shiny'” as a standout sequence, remarking that “Clement almost steals the whole movie.”

Popularity and Legacy of Tamatoa

Thanks to the success of “Shiny,” Tamatoa became one of the most beloved and memorable characters from Moana. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and won Best Original Song at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

Tamatoa also spawned a popular internet meme using his quote “Did you like crabby snacks?” along with an image of the character. Disney even released Tamatoa toys and children’s costumes, allowing fans to recreate the character’s flashy style.

Clement’s portrayal as Tamatoa showcased his talent for bringing animated characters to life through his vocal theatricality and comedic skills. Though Tamatoa had limited screen time, the glittering crab left a big impression on audiences. Clement’s performance was key in creating an over-the-top villain who perfectly fit in Moana’s world.

So next time you find yourself singing along to “Shiny,” you can thank actor and comedian Jemaine Clement for bringing the South Pacific’s glitziest crab to catchy life. Clement’s flair for musical comedy turned Tamatoa into an animated diva who won’t soon be forgotten.