Glen Keane News & Discussion

[D82]

"Welcome to Lunaria" clip, link to listen to the soundtrack and karaoke versions of some of the songs:

- On the Moon Above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Po9DyM_0BQ
- Mooncakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PyF4LCcnrQ
- Rocket to the Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvRcb2Eu6Mw
- Ultraluminary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kReUOR7UreQ
- Hey Boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShLj0dC2_X8
- Wonderful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANzCVtNQKm0

[D82]

Glen Keane breaks down a scene from Over the Moon, another promotional video with Cathy Ang, and some behind-the-scenes footage in this French video about the movie.

Music videos for the versions of "Rocket to the Moon" for India, Latin America and Spain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MIFav2ouZQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddzY0-gfJLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRFROTUEQ8o

And some concept art made for the movie. I think the first four at least must be by Keane himself. More on these two links:
https://www.amazon.com/Over-Moon-Illumi ... 1789096510
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Wendy-Wan-L ... ref=sr_1_1

[Rumpelstiltskin]

That's a lot of links, and some artwork I haven't seen before. I have noticed how at least one of the previously released drawings have Fei Fei look much older than she is in the movie.

That's really interesting! It hadn't been revealed before, had it? I wish he had given us more details about the project in that interview.

Not that I'm aware of. It sounds like something that slipped, but maybe he will go further into details in the future, if some journalist asks him the question (assuming the journalist is aware that he worked on a Project before he left).

Finally got to see the movie:

It took some time before they went to the moon, but it required some background story to explain her journey. In Moana I felt the long intro before she sailed away would never end.

Keane mentioned in an interview that it would be unthinkable for a chinese child not to accept a gift from a future step-parent, but I believed that would be unthinkable in every culture all over the world.

I liked the sharp light on the lunar surface when they were away from Lunaria, and it would have been interesting to see some more of it. But also liked the architecture of the city itself.

It was a little weird that she couldn't tell Fei Fei what the gift was, but if she had, everything would probably have worked out differently. Another thing I didn't understand was why she is in such a hurry. After more than thousand years, why did suddenly every second count?

The moon was a reflection of Fei Fei's own life; the room of sorrow, the tears, moon cakes, the glowing lanterns and buildings, the bird and the goddess' clothes, the lions in front of the bridge, the lake around the city, the annoying Gobi/step brother and the frogs. Which made me suspect it may was all just in her imagination. And in the end when the space dog was eating a satellite or something, it looked even more like just imagination.

If it really happened, everything is fine. If it didn't, then what about her rabbit?

[D82]

16 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Over the Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E6B4hXOamk

[Farerb]

Have you seen the film, D82? What did you think about it?

[D82]

^I've seen it and I quite liked it. Here are my thoughts, which I was already writing before you asked me.

I saw the film and I enjoyed it, especially the heartfelt moments between Fei-Fei and Chang'e in the end, the beginning with Fei-Fei's mother was good and I also liked the overall message of letting other people in after you lost someone and how it connects both Fei-Fei and Chang'e.

I agree. The beginning and the end were also the best parts, in my opinion, and I liked the film's message too. And to me other of the film's strengths were the characters and the animation. The characters were all well developed and had a lot of personality, especially Fei Fei, who was my favorite, but also Chang'e or Chin. And the character's expressions and the animation overall were also really good. Glen's talent and experience in that area really shows there.

What I didn't like was all the things that happened from when Fei-Fei arrives at the moon till she gives Chang'e the gift. I don't mind "adventures" but the way it was implement here was juvenile and mostly for kids (it's fine just not really for me). It also felt more like padding rather than something integral for the story.

I agree with that as well. There were some parts in the middle, when they are on the Moon, that felt like filler and were a bit childish. However, for me the strong points of the film I mentioned before made up for that.

As for the music, I feel like the songs are mostly fine, they are better in the context of the film, but tbh I don't feel like they are that memorable on their own. When Disney releases a soundtrack I end up listening to it for days or weeks and that's not the case here for me. My favorite song is "Yours Forever (Reprise)", though I would have used "full version" to describe it rather than a reprise. My least favorite song is "Hey Boy" it's just dreadful, but less awful in the context of the film. Phillipa Soo is amazing.

Personally, I've listened to "Rocket to the Moon" and "Ultraluminary" a lot since they were released, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the rest of the songs and I haven't listen to them much either. They're fine, but not as good as those two, in my opinion. But, yes, "Yours Forever (Reprise)" wasn't bad. It's my favorite of the rest. Though I don't understand why they called it a reprise either. It doesn't seem to have the same melody (or lyrics) as any of the other songs. I also didn't expect the last song would have the same melody as "Rocket to the Moon". I thought it would be a completely new song.

It was a little weird that she couldn't tell Fei Fei what the gift was, but if she had, everything would probably have worked out differently. Another thing I didn't understand was why she is in such a hurry. After more than thousand years, why did suddenly every second count?

I agree that it didn't make sense Chang'e couldn't tell Fei Fei what the gift was. If she wanted it so badly and so urgently, she should've made it easier for Fei Fei to find it. I didn't understand why she was in such a hurry either.

The moon was a reflection of Fei Fei's own life; the room of sorrow, the tears, moon cakes, the glowing lanterns and buildings, the bird and the goddess' clothes, the lions in front of the bridge, the lake around the city, the annoying Gobi/step brother and the frogs. Which made me suspect it may was all just in her imagination. And in the end when the space dog was eating a satellite or something, it looked even more like just imagination.

I had noticed some of these parallels between both places, but not all of them. You're right, that's definitely intentional.

If it really happened, everything is fine. If it didn't, then what about her rabbit?

Exactly. If it didn't happen that probably means the rocket crashed and the rabbit didn't survive the accident and that would be horrible. Also, as Sotiris predicted, they didn't address whether Chin also remembered the adventure or not. By the way, I didn't understand the scene with the bird at the end. Was it supposed to be Chang'e transformed into a bird or something?

That's really interesting! It hadn't been revealed before, had it? I wish he had given us more details about the project in that interview.

Not that I'm aware of. It sounds like something that slipped, but maybe he will go further into details in the future, if some journalist asks him the question (assuming the journalist is aware that he worked on a Project before he left).

I hope so.

[D82]

B-roll and interviews with Glen Keane and the cast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7d6zjl_rvA

[Farerb]

I'm glad both of you enjoyed the film.

By the way, D82, I think the called Yours Forever a reprise because Chang'e sang a small part of it before the "reprise", but that's why I said I would have described it as full version. But yes I agree that even "Yours Forever" alone is more suitable.

[D82]

I'm glad both of you enjoyed the film.

Same!

By the way, D82, I think the called Yours Forever a reprise because Chang'e sang a small part of it before the "reprise", but that's why I said I would have described it as full version. But yes I agree that even "Yours Forever" alone is more suitable.

Oh, you're right! I noticed she sang a short portion of the song earlier in the movie, but I didn't realize that's why the full version that comes later is called a reprise. The mystery has finally been solved! Well, then I agree with you. It should've been called "Yours Forever (Full Version)" or just "Yours Forever", but it doesn't make sense to call it a reprise on the soundtrack when they don't include the short version that comes first.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

I'm glad both of you enjoyed the film.

My favorite parts were actually on the moon. I wouldn't mind if they had gone even further, and made it more psychedelic and alien.

I agree that it didn't make sense Chang'e couldn't tell Fei Fei what the gift was. If she wanted it so badly and so urgently, she should've made it easier for Fei Fei to find it. I didn't understand why she was in such a hurry either.

And if she was in such a hurry, why not go searching for it herself? When she sent all those creatures away to find the gift, not only did she not tell them what it was, she didn't tell where to look for it either (in the rocket that crashed, and would have arrived right on her doorstop if the lions hadn't played with it). As mentioned, it would have been a much shorter movie if everything was done right, but that part still feels a bit strange.

As it's mentioned in a video; there are no walls in the castle. Except in the room for sorrow. The moral seems to be that the walls in your life are the ones you create yourself. When her stepbrother breaks through, she identifies so much with Chang'e that they are both in the same situation (her mother is floating away the same way that Houyi did). It is never explained why Chin believes he can run through walls, or it he continued to try after they returned.

Didn't Ms. Zhong say something about how her family was assumed to the descandants from Houyi or something? That could explain the gift, which has been passed on from one generation to the next. In that case, it's a very valuable piece of family treasure she gives Fei Fei. Wonder what she feels when it's gone.

I also wondered a little about the picture. When she goes looking for the treasure, she finds the picture with her mother, and she puts it the same place where she pulls out the picture with the moon goddess. If it was hot enough to be turned into ash, then why didn't anything happen to her clothes or hair? And we never saw them land.
Not sure if it would have changed that much if Chin had mentioned the journey to the moon. It could just be a story or fantasy they shared together. But just a tiny little evidence that may not have been evidence enough for their parents, but was evidence enough for Fei Fei, Chin and us, would have been enough. Instead she gets a new pet, a dog this time.
Must admit that I didn't get the ending completely either. Chang'e's collar looked like feathers, so there seems to be some reference there. Maybe that she is finally free as a bird, but that's just guessing. It could also be a reference to the old legend that a Western audience is not aware of.

[D82]

How to Draw Bungee with Glen Keane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCU9-m0SL_g

My favorite parts were actually on the moon. I wouldn't mind if they had gone even further, and made it more psychedelic and alien.

Well, though I had more problems with that part of the movie, I actually enjoyed many things from it, like how imaginative many things were. Speaking of that, after seeing the movie, I don't have any problem with the design of the city of Lunaria. I didn't completely liked it in the trailers because it reminded me of the style of animation of some low-budget preschool show, but now I think it's actually quite a cool idea that everything had its own inner light and the city itself is rather beautiful.

And if she was in such a hurry, why not go searching for it herself? When she sent all those creatures away to find the gift, not only did she not tell them what it was, she didn't tell where to look for it either (in the rocket that crashed, and would have arrived right on her doorstop if the lions hadn't played with it). As mentioned, it would have been a much shorter movie if everything was done right, but that part still feels a bit strange.

I agree, that part doesn't make much sense. They should've found a better excuse for having that contest in the film.

As it's mentioned in a video; there are no walls in the castle. Except in the room for sorrow. The moral seems to be that the walls in your life are the ones you create yourself.

I also found it interesting that there are no walls in the castle. I hadn't thought about it, but you must be right about its meaning.

Didn't Ms. Zhong say something about how her family was assumed to the descandants from Houyi or something? That could explain the gift, which has been passed on from one generation to the next. In that case, it's a very valuable piece of family treasure she gives Fei Fei. Wonder what she feels when it's gone.

Yes, she says at the beginning that she may be related to Houyi, so that could explain the gift. What I didn't understand is why she hides it in the mooncake (Fei Fei could've broken a tooth!), or why Fei Fei takes it with her on her journey if she didn't want anything from her. And actually, Ms. Zhong is shown wearing the complete pendant at the end (or one identical to it). I wonder what that means.

I also wondered a little about the picture. When she goes looking for the treasure, she finds the picture with her mother, and she puts it the same place where she pulls out the picture with the moon goddess. If it was hot enough to be turned into ash, then why didn't anything happen to her clothes or hair?

Yeah, that doesn't make sense either. Though, it's a small detail, in my opinion. And maybe it does have an explanation. I could be Chang'e's magic, for example.

Not sure if it would have changed that much if Chin had mentioned the journey to the moon. It could just be a story or fantasy they shared together. But just a tiny little evidence that may not have been evidence enough for their parents, but was evidence enough for Fei Fei, Chin and us, would have been enough.

To me, it would've made a big difference if Chin also had the same memories as Fei Fei because two people can't have the exact same dream, so that would prove (at least to us) that it was all real. But, as Glen Keane explains again and in more detail in this article, he didn't want to confirm whether it's all a dream or not, but make both options seem possible so the audience can decide what to believe.

Chang'e's collar looked like feathers, so there seems to be some reference there. Maybe that she is finally free as a bird, but that's just guessing. It could also be a reference to the old legend that a Western audience is not aware of.

Yes, and she also had birds embroidered on her dress, so I think it probably has something to do with Chang'e. I also had the thought while I was watching it that it could be related to Fei Fei's mother given that the bird appears near the water in the same place where the family used to go when the mother was alive.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Yes, she says at the beginning that she may be related to Houyi, so that could explain the gift. What I didn't understand is why she hides it in the mooncake (Fei Fei could've broken a tooth!), or why Fei Fei takes it with her on her journey if she didn't want anything from her. And actually, Ms. Zhong is shown wearing the complete pendant at the end (or one identical to it). I wonder what that means.

Maybe as a double surprise; she already knows what the gift is, and then she finds something she hadn't expected, as her future stepmother knows how obsessed she was with the legend. Not sure how grateful she would have been if she had ended up at the dentist (and I don't remember how long time that passed between her getting the gift and her eating it). It could be that Fei Fei feels obligated to eat it, even if it doesn't explain why she brought it with her to the moon. Why her stepmother is wearing a complete pendant at the end could be to show that her life and family has become whole again, or that two halves have fused. They seem to have added it for a reason.

The point with the picture is that if it was all in the imagination, then the picture of her mother and the picture of the goddess was the same. And it being destroyed meant she let go of her past. If it was real, then it was strange that only the picture was affected by the heat. Can't see why it should be destroyed by magic.

I also had the thought while I was watching it that it could be related to Fei Fei's mother given that the bird appears near the water in the same place where the family used to go when the mother was alive.

Maybe. The bird does appear to join other birds that fly away in the end. It's Fei Fei's reaction that makes me unsure who the bird is supposed to be.

[D82]

Maybe as a double surprise; she already knows what the gift is, and then she finds something she hadn't expected, as her future stepmother knows how obsessed she was with the legend.

That makes sense. It hadn't occurred to me she could know what the gift was and could've given it to Fei Fei as a present because she knew of her love for the legend.

Not sure how grateful she would have been if she had ended up at the dentist (and I don't remember how long time that passed between her getting the gift and her eating it). It could be that Fei Fei feels obligated to eat it, even if it doesn't explain why she brought it with her to the moon.

Come to think of it, maybe she just needed to bring something with her to eat and couldn't find anything else at the moment. And it's true; it seems several days had passed since Mrs. Zhong gave her the mooncake, so it probably wasn't very fresh when she ate it.

Why her stepmother is wearing a complete pendant at the end could be to show that her life and family has become whole again, or that two halves have fused. They seem to have added it for a reason.

I think you're right about its meaning, but I still wonder how it's possible that Fei Fei's stepmother has the pendant at the end when Fei Fei gave it to Chang'e (from the point of view that the adventure was real) and how it's now complete.

The point with the picture is that if it was all in the imagination, then the picture of her mother and the picture of the goddess was the same. And it being destroyed meant she let go of her past. If it was real, then it was strange that only the picture was affected by the heat. Can't see why it should be destroyed by magic.

I guess you're right; that detail doesn't seem to work if the adventure was real.

I also had the thought while I was watching it that it could be related to Fei Fei's mother given that the bird appears near the water in the same place where the family used to go when the mother was alive.

Maybe. The bird does appear to join other birds that fly away in the end. It's Fei Fei's reaction that makes me unsure who the bird is supposed to be.

I've watched that part again and now I'm more convinced the bird is indeed meant to be the mother. The way the bird seems to care about Fei Fei signalling her to put her scarf on or how it caresses her hair with its wings makes me think so. How it joins other birds after leaving her, as you said, and the fact that the movie ends with that scene also seem to indicate that.

[D82]

Netflix has released a cover of the reprise of "Rocket to the Moon" by AJ Rafael (the video also includes the clip from the movie where the reprise is sung after the cover) and a version made with toys of the music video for "Ultraluminary".

Here are also some more articles:

The Possibility of the Impossible
https://keyframemagazine.org/2020/08/25 ... mpossible/

Disney Legend Glen Keane Still Thinks About the Failure of Treasure Planet
https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/disney- ... lanet.html

With Over the Moon, a Disney legend directs his first movie
https://ew.com/movies/over-the-moon-glen-keane/

Why The Over The Moon Soundtrack May Remind You Of Hamilton
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/al ... mated-film

How a Chinese myth inspired Phillipa Soo’s pop star in Netflix’s ‘Over the Moon’
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-a ... soo-change

How Phillipa Soo Channeled Beyonce & More 'Diva Queens' for Netflix Animated Feature 'Over the Moon'
https://www.billboard.com/articles/colu ... interview/

[Rumpelstiltskin]

I think you're right about its meaning, but I still wonder how it's possible that Fei Fei's stepmother has the pendant at the end when Fei Fei gave it to Chang'e (from the point of view that the adventure was real) and how it's now complete.

Should several days have passed, then Mrs. Zhong must have realized that Fei Fei hadn't eaten the cake yet, since she didn't thank for the gift. And later wondered what had happened to it if it stayed on the moon. Assuming the adventure was real.

If her experiences were real, the pendant her stepmother has is probably a replica. It is probably possible to buy replicas of objects from legends and mythologies, like a copy of Thor's hammer in the shape of a necklace.

[D82]

^ It didn't occur to me the pendant the stepmother wears at the end could be a replica. Yes, that would explain everything.

[D82]

The Legend of Chang'e with Over the Moon's Phillipa Soo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtEjnfH9inU

Composer Steven Price on Scoring David Attenborough’s Plea to Humanity & Glen Keane’s “Over the Moon”
https://www.motionpictures.org/2020/10/ ... -the-moon/

After Designing Rihanna’s 2015 Met Gala Dress, Guo Pei Turned Her Talents to ‘Over the Moon’s’ Goddess
https://variety.com/2020/artisans/produ ... 234817190/

[D82]

"Rocket to the Moon" in 31 Languages, music videos for the Polish and Filipino versions of "Rocket to the Moon", and new articles:

Glen Keane’s ‘Over the Moon’ Artfully Illustrates Healing from Grief Through Play
https://www.awn.com/animationworld/glen ... rough-play

How Netflix translated ‘Over the Moon’ for a Chinese
https://www.goldthread2.com/culture/how ... le/3107605

How Netflix made ‘Over the Moon’ culturally authentic
https://www.goldthread2.com/culture/how ... le/3106679

[Farerb]

"Rocket to the Moon" in 31 Languages, music videos for the Polish and Filipino versions of "Rocket to the Moon", and new articles:

It's refreshing to see Hebrew among the languages, it usually never happens. Though I know that Disney released the hebrew version of Loyal Brave True in their main account for some reason (?) and it's ironic cause the film was technically not available in Israel.

[D82]

Though I know that Disney released the hebrew version of Loyal Brave True in their main account for some reason (?) and it's ironic cause the film was technically not available in Israel.

That's weird, though Disney Spain also does things that don't make sense every once in a while.