Academy Award-nominated animation legend Glen Keane has been tapped to direct Pearl Studio’s feature-length musical adventure Over the Moon, a world premiere animated film exclusively for Netflix. The announcement was made jointly by Pearl’s CCO Peilin Chou and Netflix VP of Kids & Family Melissa Cobb.
Over the Moon is a modern-day retelling of a classic Chinese myth, and will tell the story of a girl who builds a rocket ship and blasts off to the moon in hopes of meeting a legendary Moon Goddess. The project will be released in 2020, both theatrically in China and worldwide over Netflix. The film is written by Audrey Wells (Shall We Dance, Under the Tuscan Sun), produced by Gennie Rim (Dear Basketball, Duet), and executive produced by Janet Yang (Joy Luck Club, The People vs. Larry Flynt); it will feature original songs from Christopher Curtis (Chaplin: The Musical), Marjorie Duffield and Helen Park (KPOP!).
“I am powerfully drawn to characters who believe the impossible is possible,” said Keane. “Over the Moon has just such a heroine as its centerpiece. The compelling script by Audrey Wells has tremendous heart and humor that called to me and I had to respond. I’m honored to bring this story to life alongside my producer Gennie Rim. We are both looking forward to creating a wonderful film and partnership with Melissa Cobb at Netflix and Peilin Chou at Pearl Studio.”
“Glen Keane is one of the most beloved and respected animation talents in the world,” said Chou. “His contributions to the art form are legendary and as Pearl Studio launches our operations, I can not imagine a more exciting or important director to bring the enormous scope, truth and soul of Over the Moon to life. We are beyond thrilled to be partnering with Glen and Netflix on the creation of this beautiful and enchanting film.”
Keane most recently directed 2018 Academy Award nominee Dear Basketball, which just won Best Animated Short at the 45th Annie Awards. He is a multi-award-winning veteran of Walt Disney Feature Animation, who trained under the legendary Nine Old Men and has brought to life some of the studio’s most beloved characters such as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Aladdin, Tarzan, Beast in Beauty and the Beast, and Rapunzel in Tangled. He made his animator’s debut on The Rescuers (Bernard and Penny), animated Elliott in Pete’s Dragon and was responsible for the bear showdown in The Fox and the Hound. He left the studio in 2012 to form Glen Keane Productions to further his artistic explorations in animation, design and film.
“We are thrilled to partner with the brilliant Glen Keane, one of the most creative and visionary directors working in animation, and the team at Pearl Studio on the magical Over the Moon,” said Cobb. “Full of imagination and adventure, and set against a visually stunning backdrop that only Keane and writer Audrey Wells and their teams could create, we know Over the Moon will fascinate and inspire our Netflix members around the world.”
