You’ll Be ‘Over the Moon’ with Netflix’s New Movie

Oct 19, 2020 | China, NEWS, POP, US

Netflix’s upcoming flick Over the Moon is set to be released just in time for the famous Chinese Festival Autumn Moon. The animated musical is based on the ancient Chinese Moon Goddess fable.

There have been so many tough events this year that everyone just needs a feel-good movie to life their moods up. Thankfully, luck is on your side because Netflix will be releasing its newest animated musical feature, Over the Moon, on October 23. 

The film tells the story of a smart and courageous young girl who builds a rocket ship in hopes of traveling to the moon and meeting the legendary Moon Goddess to prove her existence. Upon arrival, she discovers a whimsical place filled with fantastic creatures. Netflix describes the film as “an exhilarating musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and the power of imagination.”

About the Film

Over the Moon is a joint production between Netflix and Shanghai-headquartered Pearl Studio, who previously worked with DreamWorks for the film Abominable in 2019. It is directed by Glen Keane. 

Keane is not a new name to Disney fans. He brought to life some of the most iconic Disney characters such as Beast, Ariel, Tarzan, and Aladdin in his 38 years at Disney. He bagged the Academy Award for his short film Dear Basketball, together with composer John Williams and Kobe Bryant. Keane even showcased his 2d animation in the film with the scarf Fei Fei wears. 

While this is his directorial debut, expectations are high because of his experience in making out of this world tales. The score was done by another Academy Award winner, Steven Price, who is famous for his work in Gravity. Some of the original songs in the movie are performed by Helen Park, Christopher Curtis, and Marjorie Duffield. 

Keane is not the only Disney animator in this movie. John Kahrs, who directed the short film Paperman, also co-directed Over the Moon. Kahrs also took part in Pixar movies such as The Incredibles, A Bug’s Life, and Toy Story 2. The Two visionaries first worked together in 2010 for the blockbuster film Tangled. 

The film features Cathy Ang as Fei Fei, Phillipa Soo as Chang’e, Robert G. Chiu as Chin, Ken Jeong as Gobi, John Cho as Dad, and Ruthie Ann Miles as Mom. Other stars in the film are Margaret Cho, Kimiko Glenn, Artt Butler, and Sandra Oh.

The Inspiration of The Film

Every year, China celebrates the Autumn Moon Festival, and during this time, the tale of the Moon Goddess, Chang’e, is told countless times. According to the legend, there used to be 10 suns around the earth.

Chang’e was married to Houyi, an archer, who shot down nine of the suns so it wouldn’t burn the planet, and as a reward for his service, he was given pills that would bring him immortality.

Houyi’s apprentice tried to steal the pills but Chang’e took them and refused to hand them over. As a result, she flew to the moon to wait until she is reunited with her one true love. In the film, Chang’e drinks a potion that sends her to the moon.

In Over the Moon, Fei Fei’s parents would delight her with stories about Chang’e. Years after her mother passed away, her dad has moved on. Fei Fei has a hard time adjusting to her dad’s new life, and the addition of her stepbrother and stepmother. This drives her to build the rocket ship to search for the goddess her mom used to tell her about.

A Movie You’ll Definitely Enjoy

In a time that’s lacking major kid’s movie releases, streaming services such as Netflix have stolen the limelight. Due to the number of kids stuck at home this pandemic, Over the Moon is expected to be a hit. But although this high-profile film is geared towards children, it will surely be enjoyed by everyone in the family, including those that are kids at heart.