Overview
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.
Netflix’s latest animated offering is a charmingly engaging musical adventure with a Disney feel – albeit one that doesn’t shy away from a cinema release. Directed by Glen Keane, an ex Disney animator who worked on many of the output of the 80s and 90s, it tells of Fei Fei, a 14 year old girl who lost her mother a few years earlier, who believes the myth of Chang’e, the mythical moon goddess who seeks her true love, Houyi. When a potential step mother enters her life, along with an 8 year old boy who is excited to have a big sister, Fei Fei feels betrayal at the memory of her mother, and so sets about to prove the stories her mother told her about true love and the moon goddess were true. She build a rocket-ship and blasts off to the moon….
Animation is beautiful, and extremely colourfully charming. The songs are generally good, with a couple of standout songs within that, whilst not being as earworm as Let It Go, will stick in your head afterwards, and I won’t be surprised if an Oscar nod comes for one.
There are better animated movies out there, yes, but this is another example of how Netflix are building a reliable reputation in film of all genres, and this is a great family adventure film to pass the time.