Over the course of her youth, young Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) is told by her mother about the stories (Doramasmp4)  surrounding the moon goddess Chang'e (Phillipa Soo). (Ruthie Ann Miles). Afraid that her father (John Cho) will wed Mrs. Zhong (Sandra Oh) after her mother passes away from a terminal illness, Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon in an attempt to find the moon goddess Chang'e, but her soon-to-be stepbrother Chin (Robert G. Chiu) throws a monkey wrench into her plans and causes them to take an unexpected detour.

Following Klaus and The Willoughbys, Over the Moon is the third feature film co-production from Netflix's animation group. Although I didn't think The Willoughby's was in the same league as Klaus, which was definitely in my top 10 list for that year, I do respect the artistry and care that went into making it appear as good as or better than other movies that were given a theatrical release. I'm happy to say that Over the Moon, which Pearl Studio (Abominable) and I jointly produced, is more like the former than the latter.

John Kahrs, who directed the wonderful short Paperman, and Glen Keane, who directed the animated feature Dear Basketball, both have experience in the field dating back to the early years of the Disney Renaissance and Pixar. It goes without saying that they are bringing and delivering their best. This film features outstanding animation. The vigour and life of Fei Fei's hometown, as well as the dynamism the comic relief characters received (of which there maybe a few too many),  the vastness of space, and some scenes that will leave you in awe and astonishment. I won't give anything away other than to say that they are as imaginative as anything Winsor McCay came up with for his Little Nemo comic strips in the early 1900s.

The plot is fantastic, emphasising the value of family but simultaneously highlighting the danger of becoming mired in the past and unable to move on (with some unsettlingly effective visuals in the film's finale). The soundtrack that Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield, and Helen Park create for the musical film they are writing is as colourful and potent as the heights of the Disney Renaissance. The songs' range of more traditional melodies, more contemporary compositions, and occasionally blurring the borders and combining both enhances the notion of valuing the past while enabling acceptance of the present.

Fei Fei makes a likeable lead because we get to experience her emotional journey, which neatly follows the Chang'e legend as it is told in the movie. Fei Fei is brought to life by Cathy Ang's excellent voice acting, which hits all the right notes, as well as the film's excellent expressive animation. The rest of the voice cast does an excellent job and accurately portrays their roles. Fortunately, what irritation there is to the characters feels (mostly) genuine to life and is earned in proportion to the rest of the movie that surrounds them. Some of the comic relief does occasionally flirt with becoming unpleasant and overwhelming. There are a few lowbrow jokes as well, but fortunately they are utilised sparingly and never stick around for too long.

The excellent movie Over the Moon demonstrates that Netflix Animation and Pearl Studio are both deserving competitors in the congested animation industry. The film is able to get over the few minor flaws that prevent it from being ideal because to its amazing visuals, likeable characters, an upbeat musical composition, and a tale that hits the proper emotional notes. While some of the comic relief seems superfluous, it is countered by a well-balanced mixture of elements that results in an exquisite and moving animated visual feast. Doramasflix