‘Over the Moon’: a breathtaking celebration of Asian culture
We all grow up and become different people but, regardless, one thing remains the same: we all loved animated kids’ movies. I don’t care how old you are or how tough you try to be, the genre harbors a piece of lost innocence and never fails to make us nostalgic for simpler times. They are, simply, the best and can be enjoyed under any circumstance.
For the most part, animated kids’ movies follow a simple formula: a heroic protagonist with a quirky sidekick learns a valuable life lesson while on an adventure. Along the way, they sing a few songs that will be stuck in your head for the rest of your life, and they live happily ever after.
It’s not a hard formula to follow and has been done so many times. But in order to make it worthwhile in such a way that will define childhoods, it needs purpose, heart, spirit and talent.
It is these very things that set apart Netflix’s new animated adventure, “Over the Moon,” as a film about the rest.
“Over the Moon” follows a young Chinese girl, Fei Fei, who grows up hearing her mother recount the story of Chang’e, the goddess of Chinese mythology who waits for her true love on the moon. When her mother dies, Fei Fei clings to these stories and refuses to give them up, despite her family telling her to.
As she struggles to accept her father moving on with another woman, she devises a plan to prove Chang’e’s existence once and for all. She believes if she can, her father will remember his love for her mother and not remarry. A resourceful lover of science, Fei Fei builds a rocket-powered by festival fireworks and sets off for the moon with her trusty bunny, Bungee, her stow-away step-brother, Chin, and his frog, Croak. Their improbable journey succeeds beyond all odds with a little help from Chang’e herself and they soon reach her magical kingdom, Lunaria.
Although luminary and ethereal as Fei Fei expected, Chang’e is not nearly as kind as the myths said. She is running out of time to reunite with her long lost love, Hou Yi, and believes Fei Fei holds the gift, the mysterious last ingredient of the needed spell. She refuses to help the kids get home until the gift is found, the spell cast, and her love once again in her arms. This leads to a colorful race across the moon as time ticks away.
Full of laughter and tears, “Over the Moon” is a celebration of Asian culture and mythology while touching on deeper messages of grief, love, determination and the power of dreams.
I will be completely honest. At first, the only reason I pressed play was because my favorite broadway actress, Phillipa Soo, was voicing the moon goddess and I was curious to hear her voice acting. I didn’t even take the first half of the film all that seriously. But, before I knew it, I was swept away by the charming story, light-hearted characters and otherworldly vocals. It even got to the point I had to pause it mid-climax to compose myself so I didn’t break down crying.
I loved this film so much more than I would have ever expected. I have since rewatched a large portion of it, listened to the soundtrack almost repeatedly and researched the mythology it’s based on.
I now not only have a deep love for “Over the Moon” but an appreciation for it as well.
“Over the Moon” is special for many reasons.
This is the feature-length directorial debut of Disney alumni Glen Keane, known for his animation work on “Beauty and the Beast,” “Tangled,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Tarzan” and “Pocahontas.” This is also the last script written by award-winning Audrey Wells, writer of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” “A Dog’s Purpose” and “The Hate U Give,” before her death in 2018. The film is in loving memory of her.
More importantly, this is an all-Asian voice cast with a predominantly Asian production team telling an Asian story. Filled with the vocal talents of Ken Jeong (“The Hangover”), Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”), John Cho (“Star Trek”) and Phillipa Soo (“Hamilton”); allusions to Chinese folklore; and all-Asian characters, it brings the same empowerment to children “Crazy Rich Asians” brought to adults.
It is everything a socially, racially-woke audience is looking for.
Legendary Chinese fashion designer, Guo Pei, creator of Rihanna’s iconic yellow dress at the 2015 Met Gala, hand drew the costume designs for goddess Chang’e. They are stunning, to say the least, with incredible attention to detail.
Chang’e’s royal gown outfit (pictured above) is a work of art in itself beyond its pleasing color scheme. The numerous symbols and designs on the fabric pay homage to the moon goddess’ myth, something the film does on a much larger scale.
As with any myth, Chang’e’s legend has shifted over the years until now. Some range from incredibly romantic to alarmingly mercenary and “Over the Moon” manages to capture pieces of various renditions while adding its own spin.
Across all versions lies the same main plot in which Chang’e took a magical potion that gave her immortality. It separated her from her husband, Hou Yi, and floated her to the moon where she remains for all eternity. This storyline is addressed in the film’s opening song, “On the Moon Above.”
In some versions, Chang’e is attended by a jade rabbit servant on the moon, as seen in the film. Even Fei Fei’s pet, Bungee, is a nod to the goddess’ connection to the animal. In other versions, she was changed into a toad for her greed. This is alluded to through Chin’s pet frog, Croak. 
As for Chang’e herself, she is by far the most complex and compelling character. She is both ethereal and menacing. When she is first introduced, her desperation to be reunited with Hou Yi makes her almost hostile. For a while, it’s unclear whether she is the film’s antagonist. By the end though, she takes on an overwhelmingly maternal and kind side.
For me, her complexity was wonderfully refreshing and a highlight of the overall movie experience.
She embodies everything wonderful about it: she connects a modern audience to classical Asian roots. The film’s creators made her every bit a modern idol as well as a traditional goddess of mythology. She wears traditional Chinese gowns while singing Mandarin love ballads while also performing upbeat pop songs in stylish diva dresses and sleek athletic suits.
As for the other characters, Fei Fei’s determination is nothing new for an animated protagonist but is still satisfying. She and Chin are beyond loveable. The talented voice acting and impeccable animated bring a lot of amusing expressions.
“Over the Moon” certainly follows the time-tested formula for animated movies and there are a few sequences that can’t help but make an older audience cringe, but the clear effort of its design leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. The animation is stunning, the music catchy. While not perfect, it captures enough originality and sparks to be one for the books. Its climactic scene is heartbreakingly beautiful and will leave your emotions in shambles.
So, the next time you’re looking to forget adulthood woes and regain a piece of childhood, allow this film to rocket you to a luminary place waiting on the dark side of the moon.
“Over the Moon” is available to stream on Netflix.
Dara Lusk was born and raised in northern Virginia outside of Washington, DC. She is majoring in English with an emphasis in Technical/Professional Writing and a minor in Anthropology. When not writing she loves reading and annotating classic literature.
@dara_marie_