The title of Over the Moon may have multiple meanings for this film: It can be an expression of love or excitement, and it's also the place where Fei Fei travels to open up her heart again (production design was partially inspired by Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album cover). Who is Moon's mother WOF? Later on, she started getting weak for unclear reasons. The website's critics consensus reads: "Although many of Over the Moon's narrative ingredients will seem familiar, the film's absorbing animation offers colorful compensation. It has left her putting love on a pedestal she shouldn't, and she has to mature and experience this realization on her own. But we can see that multiple moon festivals happen . We cant visit extended family out-of-state, let alone travel out of the country. David Herman as Marshmallow on "Bob's Burgers". Mike Henry as Cleveland Brown on "Family Guy". She admires the Maglev train . as well as other partner offers and accept our. Granted Over the Moon may not be new when it comes to the storytelling or the pain we all experience when feeling grief but the colours alone make it a wild success and lest we forget the glorious tunes to boot which will make you cry, make you dance and make you smile. Change and Houyi reunite for a brief moment before he fades away. - A man and a woman hug and we hear about their love. It teaches us to champion heritage while evolving beyond the rules that hold us back. amy123444 . Points in favor of Bastian's mom also being named "Moon Child," for whatever reason, include this tweet by Tami Stronach, the actress who played the Childlike Empress in the first movie, posted upon being asked what Bastian's mother's name is: "Well, wonder no longer. I also write about music in terms of punk, indie, hardcore and emo because well, they rock! WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Over The Moon, now streaming on Netflix. Full review: Lots of death, a chamber of sadness. ". What customs and myths from China might you be inspired to learn more about after watching this movie? Read |What time does Move release on Netflix? Keeping up with their promise of no longer having white actors voice Black characters, "The Simpsons" announced that Shearer would no longer voice the Black doctor and that Kevin Michael Richardson would voice the character going forward. Just as Dorothy went to a dream world filled with larger-than-life personalities, some of whom resembled friends and neighbors, Fei Fei encounters other characters on the moon, who are voiced by family members. #OverTheMoonNetflix pic.twitter.com/BZcAz25HXe, well rewatching it now will hit differently pic.twitter.com/mLRPvygvKR, reasons to watch over the moon in netflix: change pic.twitter.com/GmR5jHnYkS, Please watch Over the Moon. Based on images from Nasa, Brown University, Rhode Island, published research in 2020 that claimed that while many speculate the moon is dead, recent images could show that the moon: "may still. Cho also voices Gretch, one of the Biker Chicks. Check Out The Filming Locations Of This Netflix Show. I'm a former Chemical Engineer. All Asian cast The moon goddess is said to have taken a magic potion that makes her immortal. Fei Fei doesn't know what she is talking about, and a frustrated Chang'e announces a competition to find her gift before the last of the moondust falls. Starring: Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong Watch all you want. | Written By Disha Kandpal Netflix's latest animated film Over the Moon arrived on the platform on October 23. According to her mother, she might be related to Houyi . It may not be easily noticeable initially, but the film has more in common with the 1939 film than you may have realized. Heres why: She gifted Fei Fei Bungee along with Ba Ba. over the moon mainly BRITISH, INFORMAL COMMON If you are over the moon about something that has happened, you are very happy about it. Here she enters an imaginary space kingdom made up of candy-colored "lunarian" creatures and a goddess (voiced by Hamilton's Soo) who appears unexpectedly as a kind of pop artist. [19], Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "Sometimes it's OK for an adventure to be just an adventure, and this one gets in the way of its own assets, while pointing to the potential of future journeys from the Netflix animation team."[20]. We miss being immersed in the hustle and bustle of dim sum rushes and watching our little one eat his weight in dumplings. The title also hints at Georges Melies' early film adventure, A Trip to the Moon, an image alluded to in the movie. Creator Loren Bouchard agreed to recast this Black transgender character after a Twitter user made the request in June. However, it is only enough for a single person. Marc hated his mother and felt guilty about it but Jake feels no guilt about anything. When gentrification occurred around him, he tied balloons to his house so it would float away and preserve his wife's memories. And yes, I've written sports for them too! Parents Need to Know. In the film, Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) travels to the moon in a rocket. In closing, let me remind you that the geek shall inherit the Earth. During our at-home, prescreening offered by Netflix one of the perks of having a writer mama my 7-year-old was enraptured from the opening scene. Garth Warren, who works for the Ada County Coroner's Office, told . Clem Cheung as Grandpa, Fei Fei's grandpa. Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. The film was dedicated in Audrey Wells' memory. Over the Moon. But that incident was the last time our only child was allowed on a scooter for months. Houyi misses his wife so much that he leaves out food for her every night, in hopes that it would make Changee feel less lonely. The film is currently availableon Netflix. Over the Moon is a 2020 computer-animated musical fantasy film directed by Glen Keane and co-directed by John Kahrs, from a screenplay by Audrey Wells with additional screenplay material by Alice Wu and Jennifer Yee McDevitt. Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide. Stephen is Marc's niave, wholesome persona but Jake is the ruthless, evil persona. It's also prophesiedthat Fei Fei will bring a gift toChang'ethat will help reunite her with Houyi. . From Jenny Slate on Big Mouth to Hank Azaria on The Simpsons. Young girl loses her mother to illness, struggles to overcome her grief. A woman wearing a costume that reveals her legs to the mid-thighs . Her rocket almost succeeds until she realizes that Chin snuck aboard her rocket and they begin to crash to Earth. The pain of losing a parent is devastating. Losing those you love can change you, and it's important to remember them but also to continue living your life and loving others. When the flying lions bring Fei Fei back to Earth, she is taken aback to see that there has been a time skip and her father is now married to Mrs Zhong. Watch Video: Animator Glen Keane Reaches for the Stars in Trailer for Netflix's 'Over the Moon', So far, so good; Keane and his animators switch from CGI animation to more traditional hand-drawn to depict the legend of Change; the opening songs turn out to be the highlight of the work by composing team Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield, and Helen Park; and the mooncakes and festival dinner are some of animations most mouth-watering culinary creations this side of the ham in Ponyo and the potato-chip fried rice in Weathering With You.. To top all this off, I've scribed short films and documentaries, conceptualizing stories and scripts from a human interest and social justice perspective. They wanted to go to Paradise Falls in South America, but life kept getting in the way, and eventually, Ellie fell ill and died. Friends and family members care for, defend each other. The kids display courage and determination, and they learn the expansiveness of love. At some point she married Ba Ba and gave birth to Fei Fei. Fei Fei believes that if she can prove Chang'e's existence to her dad, he'll be reminded that one true love can last for eternity. "I talked about the dream of going to Lunaria. Year old finish it without the 7 year old because it was just too much. Fei Fei takes a photo with Chang'e to prove she is real, but Chang'e takes the photo from Fei Fei and demands the gift. Over the Moon is a charming Chinese inspired animation that's both victim to that but also different to that and thankfully sets the bar quite high in animated filmmaking. Over the Moon is a 2020 computer-animated musical fantasy film directed by Glen Keane and co-directed by John Kahrs, from a screenplay by Audrey Wells with additional screenplay material by Alice Wu and Jennifer Yee McDevitt. Here are some examples of shows where this happened, from "Big Mouth" to "The Simpsons. This is a film that so blatantly cribs from other popular works that it never develops a personality of its own. On the geek side of things, I write about comics, cartoons, video games, television, movies and basically, all things nerdy. In Fei Fei's case, though, she suffers a lot more loneliness and despair asshe wasn't prepared for death and her dad didn't educate her properly on how to cope with the ensuing grief. YOLO. This kind of denial isn't easy and manifests in resentment towards Ms. Zhong and her son, Chin, to the point Fei Fei becomes a cruel, selfish bully. Animated Feature at Warner Bros. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, Animator Glen Keane Reaches for the Stars in Trailer for Netflix's 'Over the Moon', 'Wolfwalkers' Directors Say Medieval Irish Folklore Highlights Same Fear and Division Prevalent Today. Frustrated with the new additions to the family and missing her mother, Fei Fei decides to build a rocket to take her to the moon where she can meet the mythical moon goddess Chang'e (Phillipa Soo . There they encounter some threatening creatures and embark on adventures that put their lives in danger but also bring them closer together and help Fei Fei work through her grief. '", Keane then asked Wells if she believed Dorothy really went to the technicolor-filled world in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz." Our first glimpse of Lunaria, the neon-drenched moon kingdom ruled by the ancient goddess Change, might have been designed to trigger memories of Dorothys first glimpse of Oz: a trippy Technicolor overdose that makes clear weve left Kansas and China firmly behind. Read more opinion on CNN. 1 for 4 weeks, Aging beloved YA author Judy Blumes inevitable foil isnt so bad after all, Review: The entertaining Peter Pan & Wendy charts a familiar course to Neverland, Rihanna has Smurfs on the brain for her next movie: Hope this gives me cool points. Young boy tries to run through walls but only runs into them. A girl named Fei Fei is being told the legend of the Moon goddess Chang'e who took a potion for immortality, causing her to become a goddess and ascend to the Moon without her lover Houyi, and awaits for him there. As sad as Up was over 10 years ago, it's still not as heartbreaking as Netflix's newest animated movie, Over The Moon. Families often bond over food, and in Chinese culture, the circular mooncake can serve as a symbol of a family coming together. Covid-19 has inflamed racism against Asian-Americans. Over The Moon focuses on Fei Fei, a heartbroken young girl who can't cope with the loss of her mother. Though Im proud as ever to be Asian American, I do not want to give ammunition to racists while exposed in public and Im angry at myself for feeling afraid. [16] In January 2021, Netflix reported 43 million households had watched the film. #OvertheMoon pic.twitter.com/58yhiGam9P, Read |What time does Barbarians release on Netflix? She thinks about her mate, who is confirmed to be Morrowseer. YOLO. WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Over The Moon, now streaming on Netflix. Set in a picturesque canal city in China with carved stone bridges over waterways, the film offered a peek into the thrill of what it was like to revel in the festival before I emigrated. Change (voiced by Phillipa Soo) in the movie Over the Moon., Fei Fei (voiced by Cathy Ang) and her pet rabbit, Bungee, in the movie Over the Moon., Chin (voiced by Robert G. Chiu) in the movie Over the Moon., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jack Nicholson returns courtside to cheer beloved Lakers to playoff win, Beau Is Afraid explained: A disturbingly in-depth analysis of Ari Asters guilt trip to hell, Everything Everywhere All at Once explained: Hot dog hands, empathy challenges and meaning in the absurd, Super Mario Bros. Movie hits $1 billion, is No. Change has to move on after her husband passes away and Fei Fei has to move on after the loss of her mother. Moon Young's father Ko Dae Hwan time and again murmured that the "monster" aka Moon Young's . The scientifically-minded teen decides to travel to the moon so she can prove that Change is real, as a way to remind Fei Feis father to remain devoted to her mothers memory. People often consume what are known as mooncakes during this time. I cant recommend it enough. When also factoring in how Chang'e acted selfishly, taking immortality pills and simply hoping the mortal soul of Houyi comes to meet her, one can see how unhealthy this romanticization is for Fei Fei. Menu. Did you encounter any technical issues? What you willand won'tfind in this movie. Some of the greatest themes from the movie are learning to deal with grief and moving on in life. Upon her return, Fei Fei and her family begin celebrating the moon festival. "Over the Moon" is the final screenplay written by Audrey Wells ( "The Hate U Give" ), who died of cancer in 2018 a tragedy that ripples poignantly through the opening scenes of young Fei. The reason that Over the Moon looks a lot like a Walt Disney animation, even though it's not is because its director Keane, has served as an animator forWalt Disney Animation Studios. And yes, I've written sports for them too! Realizing that they both must move on from their tragedies, Chang'e and Fei Fei encourage each other to find the love all around them. Netflix's "Over the Moon" is the story of a girl who goes to the lunar surface and finds a Disney castle, a Disney princess, and even an Olaf character. Did you know you can flag iffy content? They crash-land after being beset by 2 friendly foo dogs, who then rescue them and take them to Lunaria. Ever since the film was released, fans on Twitter have been appreciating its heartwarming storyline and mesmerising animated sequences. That said, I'm on Twitter @RenaldoMatadeen. Short answer: Its about grief. Animated Feature at Warner Bros. Its great to have an animated female lead that does for science what Belle in Beauty and the Beast did for reading, but ultimately, Over the Moon wanes more than it waxes. With such dire statistics and rhetoric adding to my anxiety, I have struggled to protect my child physically and mentally. In Over the Moon, Fei Fei takes a bite out of the mooncake and finds the other half of the amulet, which is the gift she was looking for this entire time. Fei Fei is very intelligent and determined and doesn't like to give up. Hate as a rallying call is chilling, especially when you know its working, when you know children are listening. This was the exact question director Glen Keane brought up to the film's screenwriter, Audrey Wells, who died during the film's production after a battle with cancer. Watch The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in October, Watch Over The Moon: Ultraluminary (Lyric Video), Watch Over The Moon: Rocket To The Moon (Music Video), Watch Over The Moon: Rocket To The Moon (Lyric Video), Watch Over The Moon: Vorgestellt: Gobi (German Subtitled), Watch Over The Moon: Cena En Familia (Spanish/Spain Subtitled), Watch Over The Moon: Cena Familiar (Latin America Market Subtitled). Appearance She was a woman with long dark hair, she used to wear a Chang'e blanket as a scarf. Fei-Feis family feasts on delectable dishes with boisterous relatives squeezed around a round table, under a full moon. I was taught since childhood that suffering is a venerable requisite in life, that there is honor in embracing ones bitter fate. Business-wise, I make big cheddar (not really) as a copywriter and digital strategist working with some of the top brands in the Latin America region. Starring: Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong. The film grossed $860,000 worldwide; it earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Since the pandemic began, I havent been able to bring myself to wear my favorite Its an honor just to be Asian T-shirt quoting Sandra Oh. I'm a former Chemical Engineer. Long-time Disney artist (and son of the "Family Circus" comic panel Bil Keane) Glen Keane brings his experience on films like "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," and "Tangled" to his first film as a director, and we can see the Disney influence in the strong, big-eyed female leads and the Broadway musical-style "I Want" and other character-revealing songs. I expected the car to slow, but instead, it sped up. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). This charming film combines magical locations, impressive animation, memorable musical numbers, sweet characters, and positive life lessons in a fairy tale about the boundless love of family. Over the Moon follows 12-year-old Fei Fei during the Mid-Autumn Festival as she struggles to cope with the loss of her mother. Along with the added physical safety measures, I have an increased and urgent desire to cultivate my childs pride in his Chinese heritage. Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess. This finding is unsurprising when the President and other leaders continue to blame China for the coronavirus, using hateful rhetoric that rings like playground taunts. The moon goddess is pining for her lost love. There are other characters too, namely Mrs. Zhongs son, Chin (Robert G. Chiu), a likably rambunctious tag-along whose narrative function is to wear down his sister-to-bes defenses. Houyi soon realises that if he becomes immortal, his wife would not be with him for eternity and he will have to spend most of his life alone. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide. It's all a bit disconcerting, and can feel at first like you've stumbled into an entirely different movie. Solaria The Monster Carver Explained! This is due to what happens to Chang'e, who goes through her own journey on the dark side of the moon. Carl boxed himself up, but in Ba Ba's case, this damages Fei Fei more as the legends they told her about Chang'e being soulmates with Houyi, waiting for him on the moon, made her believe true love never dies. Robert G. Chiu as Chin, Mrs. Zhong's 8-year-old son and Fei Fei's stepbrother. Ma Ma was Fei Fei's mother and Ba Ba's former wife. The country, which has the world's second most deadly outbreak after Italy, recorded 838 deaths from the pandemic yesterday, its third straight daily record for coronavirus deaths. Furthermore, the movies title, Over the Moon has a double meaning. She is also a worker at her family's bakery, the specialty being mooncakes. The score was composed by Steven Price and recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna. If the three Biker Chickens felt a bit random in the film, they make more sense when you know they're voiced by the same actors (Margaret Cho, Kimiko Glenn, and Artt Butle) who play some of Fei Fei's aunts and uncles. If they're standing over there, I think they're all over there. suggesting a diversity update. Even its most surreal flights of fancy are tethered to a ploddingly diagrammed story whose indisputable lessons cherish the ones you love, and also make room for more of them are driven home with dispiriting obviousness. 2. RELATED:Kipo And The Age Of Wonderbeasts Bosses Talk Potential Movie Spinoffs, Sequels. Hence, moving on is one of Over the Moons major themes. By Jennifer Green, See details about Move release time & date here. The plot follows an adventurous girl named Fei Fei, who builds a rocket ship to meet a mythical goddess on the moon. For him, that was animating light. Her fathers new girlfriend, Mrs. Zhong (Sandra Oh), gently asks if they can use dates from her familys garden and is swiftly rebuffed. Chang'e cries in despair that she will never see Houyi again. Kids handling death is pretty heavy and it's even tougher as she finds her dad moving on, wanting to marry Ms. Zhong. While studios like Disney and Pixar have become known to use groups of people known as the Braintrust and Story Trust to help with the script, Keane said that "Creative decisions here arent made by committee". Inspired by Pink Floyd's album cover for "The Dark Side of the Moon," the entire atmosphere of Lunaria is equally vibrant and luminescent. The Times is committed to reviewing theatrical film releases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Don't you think so? I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide. Fei Feis beloved mom, whose bakery makes the towns most delicious mooncakes, passes away after falling ill. A few years later, Fei Feis dad (John Cho) plans to marry again (his fiance, the widowed Mrs. Zhong, is voiced by Sandra Oh), which makes Fei Fei upset. Early in the lockdown, my 6-year-old was on his scooter zipping away in front of me on our quiet Seattle neighborhood street when I sensed a car coming from behind. She is shown as number 1 in her class, although when she was researching her rocket, she wasn't doing very good. In preparation for the annual Moon Festival, Fei Fei and her family make mooncakes for the village. See production, box office & company info, AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: Tiana's Splashing Palace. South Korean singer Moon Bin of Astro at a Chanel event in Seoul on January 26, 2023. Photographed Mother (voice) James Taku Leung . It's likely that Netflix will go to the Oscars with this but whether they'll get the prize is a different story. Rated: PG, for some thematic elements and mild actionRunning time: 1 hour, 39 minutesPlaying: In limited release where theaters are open; available Oct. 23 on Netflix. But suddenly, you can feel the pivot into cribbing from contemporary animated hits. Stories of a goddess on the moon who fought off demons and took an immortality potion to await reunion with her loved one, not knowing he had already died on earth. Fei Fei doesnt much like the woman who might be her future stepmom; if the young girl had it her way, there would be no dates of any kind in her dads future. They end up rescuing the bird and a dog, Dug, from the madman Muntz, and as Carl becomes a grandfather to Russell, it brings the theme of family full-circle. A report on Travel China, reveals that Over the Moon is based on a popular Chinese myth which goes like this, there are ten suns in the sky and it is always very hot. Up has become iconic for its opening sequence where young Carl met Ellie and they fall in love. While Chin is trapped in a chamber by Chang'e, Bungee follows the Jade Rabbit into his workplace. Furthemore, the amulet Fei Fei's mother gave her is the final piece needed for the ritual. This allows the two to accept their loved ones' deaths, restoring light to Lunaria. Lovely film. - Spain confirmed another 812 deaths in 24 hours from the coronavirus today, a slight decline on the previous day's toll, bringing the total number of deaths to 7,340. Oh, FYI, I'd love to write the Gargoyles movie for Disney. Zhong is Chin 's mother, Ba Ba 's second wife and Fei Fei 's step-mother. Main character Fei Fei (voiced by Cathy Ang) comes from a loving Admittedly, seeing Ba Ba struggling and afraid to tell Fei Fei he's found another love is a tough pill to swallow, especially since it's so relatable. : SC seeks report from UP govt on killing of Atiq & Ashraf Ahmed, 'Over the Moon' Ending Explained: Here is Chinese myth the film is based on. So she really did go, and really did meet Chang'e, and all of that really happened. Fei-Fei builds a rocket to the moon to prove the existence of the Moon Goddess to her father. Houyi is very angry at Changes selfish actions but still misses her. Fei Fei is one of the main characters of the movie Over the Moon, who builds a rocket to the moon so she can prove that the goddess of the moon, Chang'e is real. Read about the historical drama set in 9AD. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The problem with Over the Moon isnt that it doesnt make enough sense; if anything, it makes far too much. She fights to hold tight to the stories and memories of her mother, who died four years earlier. Fei Fei's parents hug and show plenty of affection. Over the Moon 2020 | Maturity Rating: 7+ | 1h 40m | Animation Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess. Parents need to know that the fantasy violence in Over the Moon is only mildly scary, and the sadder scenarios -- a dying mother, a "Chamber of Exquisite Sadness" for the grief stricken -- ultimately lead to positive lessons and personal growth. Parents need to know that the fantasy violence in Over the Moon is only mildly scary, and the sadder scenarios -- a dying mother, a "Chamber of Exquisite Sadness" for the grief stricken -- ultimately lead to positive lessons and personal growth. ", Hank Azaria as Apu and Carl on "The Simpsons". Twelve-year-old Fei Fei (voiced by Cathy Ang) insists on following her late mothers recipe and using melon seeds. Netflix StreamFest Makes Service Free for 48 Hours, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts Bosses Talk Potential Movie Spinoffs, Sequels, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts' Series Finale, Explained. RELATED: Netflix StreamFest Makes Service Free for 48 Hours. The film was produced by Pearl Studio and Netflix Animation, and animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks. She then cried randomly for weeks after to the point, even school spoke to me about it. So holler. Chang'e challenges Chin to a game of ping pong to learn the location of the gift, but Chin wins, further upsetting Chang'e. Luckily for us, the car stopped in time, but it was far too close for comfort. Fei Fei and Chin bid farewell to the Lunarians and return home, where Fei Fei accepts her father and Mrs. Zhong's marriage and Chin as her brother. She also excels at science and puts her gifts to use to build a rocket. Business-wise, I make big cheddar (not really) as a copywriter and digital strategist working with some of the top brands in the Latin America region. It broke Carl because it was their dream to be explorers, causing him to hole up in their home.