It’s time to adventure Over The Moon
As Netflix’s new animated film OverThe Moon takes flight, Danielle de Wolfe speaks to the film’s cast and creators.
NETFLIX’S latest animated offering OverTheMoon has film fans talking for all the right reasons.
Up until now, the representation of Chinese culture in Western cinema has been limited at best, however, the platform’s latest out-of-this-world adventure aims to change all that.
Directed by Walt Disney Studios animation star Glen Keane, whose credits include TheLittleMermaid, Aladdin and Tangled to name but a few, OverTheMoon is a musical adventure that’s set to capture the imaginations of children (and adults) alike.
Written by screenwriter Audrey Wells, who lost her battle with cancer aged 58 shortly before the film saw completion, the script tells the tale of Fei Fei, a young science-loving girl who sets out to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.
“When people put their heart and soul into what they are creating, it shines through,” explains Keane, 66.
“You know when somebody is writing with every ounce of passion they have – and Audrey knew that she would not live to see this movie, but it was really a message to her daughter about how you deal with loss – how do you move forward?
“I was taught by my mentors, ‘Glen, don’t animate what the character’s doing, animate what the character’s thinking and feeling’ and with Fei Fei, I realised this was the ultimate challenge; for an animator to really animate the thought, ‘What’s going on behind those eyes?’ It was a real joy.”
Following Fei Fei on her mission to build a rocket ship and travel to the moon, the film sees her discover all manner of dreamlike creatures as part of her adventure.
It’s a journey that celebrates the unexpected, embraces the power of imagination and highlights the need for humans to progress and move forward.
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“It’s in every character that she wrote about and reading the script, I connect so much with the main character,” Keane continues.
“For me, in my career, it’s always been about the main character; do I believe them? And Fei Fei was just the most wonderful combination of her mother and father – her father’s science. And her mother – her faith, heart, imagination.”
From intrinsic characters like Fei Fei to the Jade Rabbit that accompanies her on her mission, OverTheMoon combines the tradition and magic of a Disney animation with an altogether different edge.
“For me, you still have to animate from the heart and the soul and there’s principles of Disney animation that will travel on for as long as animation goes,” says Keane, “it’s all in the word sincerity.
“There was something in [the drawings] that I felt needed to be fresher and our designer said, ‘It just feels so Disney’, because that’s in my DNA.
“I was looking online and there was this illustration of Ariel from PartOf YourWorld – but I didn’t do it. At first I thought I did but then I thought, ‘No, it looks better!’ There was something different about it.”
After lengthy research, Keane tracked down the artwork’s creator, illustrator Brittany Myers. He was instantly given the go-ahead to bring Myers onboard the project, adding a fresh, new dynamic to the team.
“I just loved her way, it was the proportion and design, and I thought this was really cool… I have to tell you, what I really enjoyed on this film, just as an artist, is something I call reverse mentorship.
“I surrounded myself with younger people who I could learn from – and I would share my experience too – but working with Brittany was one of those brilliant reverse mentorship moments.”
Produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou and featuring a cast list that includes KillingEve star Sandra Oh as the voice of Mrs Zhong, Cathy Ang as Fei Fei, and Hamilton star Phillipa Soo as goddess Chang’e, it’s easy to see why this project was always destined for greatness.