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Home , Glen Keane, Netflix Animation, Nick Park, Pearl Studio

Over the Moon

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ABOUT DISCUSSION & MEDIA LITERARY WHAT IS THE FILM » EXERCISES » RESOURCES» ? »

Watch Over the Moon on then join us for a Chinese culture and STEM , while also developing fun and educational Q&A to learn about the making their social emotional skills. This study guide is teaching of this visually stunning and moving animated intended to flexibly support educators and families musical adventure. Director will be alike. Please feel free to adapt and abridge the doing some live drawing that participants can content as necessary to meet your unique learning the film follow along with at home. objectives and circumstances. Taught in conjunction with this guide, the Recommended for ages 6 and up. film will encourage students to learn more about

Asian American Studies Social Emotional Development

subject English Language Arts Social Studies/History areas Peer/Youth Issues STEAM

Content written by Maddy Leonard. Designed by Paola Rojas, Amy Pitsker and Maddy Leonard. All SFFILM Education materials are developed in alignment with California educational standards for media literacy. SFFILM Education welcomes feedback and questions on all printed study materials.

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Directed by Glen Keane. musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and the power about (US 2020) English, 95 min of imagination. The film stars Cathy Ang (Fei Fei), Phillipa Soo (Chang’e), Robert G. Chiu Over the Moon on Netflix (Chin), Ken Jeong (Gobi), John Cho (Dad), Ruthie Ann Miles (Mom), Margaret Cho the film Fueled with determination and a passion for (Auntie Ling), Kimiko Glenn (Auntie Mei), Artt science, a bright young girl builds a rocket Butler (Uncle), Conrad Ricarmora (Hou-yi) and ship to the moon to prove the existence of a Sandra Oh (Mrs. Zhong). legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on an unexpected quest, and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures. Directed by animation legend Glen Keane, and produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou, Over the Moon is an exhilarating

Glen Keane, Director Gennie Rim, Producer Peilin Chou, Producer A 38-year veteran of Gennie Rim is an Emmy award- Peilin Chou is a Producer for Feature Animation, Glen Keane winning producer whose career in whose career in trained under Walt Disney’s Nine animation spans 20+ years. She content creation spans 20+ years Old Men. Keane went on to create has worked at and Disney on encompassing the realms of film, many beloved Disney characters various films such as , television, and theater. As Chief such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Cars, Ratatouille, and Up. After Creative Officer of , Peilin The Beast, Tarzan, and . In leaving Disney, she produced several produced Pearl Studio’s first original 2012, Keane departed Disney to begin independent and commercial film Abominable, a co-production Glen Keane Productions as a way projects including the Academy with DreamWorks Animation, which to further his artistic explorations in Award-winning animated short Dear opened at #1 at the U.S. box office animation, design, and film. He has Basketball with Glen Keane and the in 2019. Peilin started her career at since gone on to collaborate with late . the Walt Disney Studios where she Google, the Paris Ballet, and Kobe was part of the creative development Bryant. team that oversaw dozens of feature films projects.

More info at sffilm.org/education TEACHING THE FILM » ABOUT THE FILM » DISCUSSION & EXERCISES » WHAT IS ANIMATION? » discussion questions

Characters, Setting and Story

• Take note of the beginning of the Moon Festival film. What is the setting? What things My nai nai always do you observe in the setting that are important to Fei Fei? told me the circle of • Was this the first time you learned a mooncake is the about the Legend of Chang’e, or • Before Fei Fei met Chang’e on had you heard of it before? If you the moon, what did the goddess symbol of a family have heard it before, did you hear represent to her? Did her perception coming together. a different version of the legend? change after they met in person? If you hadn’t heard of it, have you learned about any other Chinese • Did Fei Fei’s relationship with myths or legends? mooncakes change after her mom passed? Why or why not? • Do you celebrate the Moon practice these traditions? What are Festival every year? What does some struggles or challenges that • How did Fei Fei feel around her your family do to celebrate? If you you encounter when practicing these have never celebrated the Moon family throughout the film? How did traditions? What makes them fun? her family change, and how did she Festival before, would you like to attend a celebration? react to the change? • Have you ever lost someone from your life that was really important to • Do you have any other traditions • The five stages of grief are denial, you? Was that experience difficult? anger, bargaining, depression, and or celebrations that are important How did you cope? What did you to your family and/or culture? acceptance. Do you think Fei Fei learn? went through all of those stages after she lost her Ma Ma? How • In the film, Mooncakes were • Do you have any traditions you or really important to Fei Fei and her did Fei Fei develop emotionally your family practice to honor the throughout the film? family. Does your family love to people you have lost? If yes, how do cook a specific food together? If these traditions make you feel? • How were Fei Fei and Chang’e the answer is yes, when do you cook this food? How does it make connection in this story? How were • Why do you think Fei Fei had such they similar? How did they help each you feel when you spend that a hard time accepting her new time cooking with family? other deal with their respective loss? stepmother and stepbrother at first? Do you have any stepparents or • Traditions are important in families, • Did you learn anything you didn’t siblings? What is your relationship already know about Chinese and in this film, one of the traditions with them like? is that Fei Fei and her mom make culture from the film? mooncakes together. Does your family have important traditions you practice together? Why do you

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The Legend of Chang’e activities No one is certain of all the details of the Chang’e legend, but the story goes something like this: Read The Legend of Chang’e Learn About the Moon’s Phases How is this version of the legend Have you ever wondered why the Chang’e was a beautiful young girl working in different than the one portrayed in moon seems to be a different shape the Jade Emperor’s palace in heaven, where the film? How do you think different every night? This NASA classroom immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, versions of these legends form over activity will help you understand why! she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live time? on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could Build a Magnetic Levitation Rocket return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable Make Moon Cakes You can build a minature magnetic service on earth. A fun and delicious way to experience levitation rocket just like Fei Fei used the Moon Festival! Spend some to get to the moon! This science Chang’e was transformed into a member of a time with your family or your class project takes less than a day to create poor farming family. When she was 18, a young making your own mooncakes from and $20-$50 to construct! hunter named Hou Yi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became scratch. Here is a helpful and creative friends. instructional video. Read “Women in Science” Do you dream of working in STEM One day, a strange phenomenon occurred -- 10 Make Chinese Paper Lanterns some day? Get curious about the field! suns arose in the sky instead one, blazing the Lanterns are an important part of “Women in Science” highlights the earth. Hou Yi, an expert archer, stepped forward decorating for the Moon Festival, contributions of fifty notable women to try to save the earth. He successfully shot and guess what, you can make them from STEM fields, from the ancient to down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang’e. yourself! the modern world. Here’s what you will need: But Hou Yi grew to become a despot. He sought • Lantern template Create a Memory Box immortality by ordering an elixir be created to • Printer Memory boxes are a great way to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single • 8.5 x 11″ printer paper or card honor someone special that you pill was almost ready when Chang’e came upon stock lost from your life. Create special it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Hou Yi, who went • Tape collections of items that remind you after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the • Cotton twine string of the treasured memories that you • Optional: stickers, gold paint pen, window of a chamber at the top of palace -- and, created with your loved one. Viewing instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward decorative washi tape (eg, sparkly, the items in the memory box at a later the moon. assorted) time can help you cope with any grief Find more details and instructions you may be feeling. King Hou Yi tried to shoot her down with arrows, here. but without success. Once on the moon, Chang’e Start a Journal became a three-legged toad, as punishment from Read “Thanking the Moon” the Queen Mother, according to one version of See if therapeutic writing can help the legend. Her companion, a rabbit, is constantly “Thanking the Moon” by Grace Lin you with grief or loss. Journaling pounding the elixir of immortality in a large follows a Chinese American family as can be beneficial for loosening up mortar. they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon painful emotions. If done regularly Festival. After diving into this beautiful when anxiety or sadness appears, it Meanwhile, King Hou Yi ascended to the sun and book, read Grace’s blog about the can also keep us from acting out in built a palace. So Chang’e and Hou Yi came to Chinese Moon Festival! harmful or hurtful ways. represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun.

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screening with five core characteristics will be equipped to 1.2.M Identify a variety of nonviolent understand the incentives at work behind ways to respond when angry or upset. meaning media messages, as well as their potential 1.3.M Identify qualities that contribute consequences. Media literacy education to a positive self-image. empowers students to become responsible We live in a world where technology consumers, active citizens and critical 1.4.M Describe how emotions change mediates a large portion of human thinkers. during adolescence. interaction and the exchange of information. 1.5.M Recognize diversity among Every projected image, every word published people, including disability, gender, race, on a page or a website, and every sound sexual orientation, and body size. from a speaker reaches its audience through media literacy 1.7.M Describe the benefits of having the medium, through the language of the positive relationships with trusted adults. device. The ability to parse the vast array resources of media messages is an essential skill for 5.3.M Describe healthy ways to young people, particularly in a mainstream express caring, friendship, affection, and commercial culture that targets youth as For information about media literacy love. standards: a vulnerable, impressionable segment of 5.4.M Describe situations for which the American marketplace. Most students MediaLiteracy.com Resources for someone would seek help with stress, already have a keen understanding of the Advancing Media Education loss, an unrealistic body image, or languages different media use and the California Department of Education’s depression techniques they employ to inspire particular Media Literacy Resources emotions or reactions, but they often lack 7.1.M Demonstrate effective coping the skill or awareness to fully deconstruct the Frank W Baker’s guide to State Standards for mechanisms and strategies for messages they continuously receive. Media Literacy managing stress. Analysis of a media message—or any 7.2.M Practice respect for individual piece of mass media content—can best be differences and diverse backgrounds. accomplished by first identifying its principal mental, 8.1.M Promote a positive and characteristics: respectful school environment. (1) Medium: the physical means by which it emotional, and is contained and/or delivered (2) Author: the person(s) responsible for its social health common creation and dissemination (3) Content: the information, emotions, core state values or ideas it conveys standards (4) Audience: the target audience to whom it Health Education Content Standards for standards is delivered California Public Schools - K-12 (5) Purpose: the objectives of its authors and Kindergarden 1.1.M Explain positive social behaviors the effects of its dissemination. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1 (e.g., helping others, being respectful to Students who can readily identify these others, cooperation, consideration). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6 4th Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1 1st Grade common CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1 5th Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1 core state 2nd Grade 6th-8th Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.9 standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2 3rd Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1

tools for analyzing media

MEDIUM All Media Is Constructed. viewer and evoke a response? • What expectations do you have of the content, given its author(s) • What is the message, how is it delivered and in what format? PURPOSE All Media Messages Are Constructed for a Reason. AUDIENCE • What technologies are used to present the message? • Why was the message constructed? All Media Messages Reach an Audience. • What visual and auditory elements comprise the • Who receives the message? media content? • Who benefits from dissemination of the message? How? • For whom is the message intended? • What expectations do you bring to the content, given its medium and format? • To what extent does the message achieve its purpose? • What is the public reaction to the media content and/ • What effect does the message have on the audience it or its message? CONTENT reaches, if any? • What is your reaction to the media content and/or its Media Is A Language For Information. message? • What is the subject of the media message? AUTHOR • How might others perceive this message differently? All Media Is Constructed by Someone. • What information, values, emotions or ideas are Why? conveyed by the media content? • Who is delivering the message? • What tools does the author employ to engage the • Who originally constructed the message?

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Animation is a process used to television cartoons, for example, create motion pictures through the are , and are made up what is combination of still images (e.g., of thousands of still images (drawn digital graphics, photographs of by hand or on a computer) that are drawings, photographs of objects, played sequentially, along with a etc.) which, when played in sequence, soundtrack, to tell a story. animation? create the illusion of movement. All

• Classic animation (e.g., Disney’s The • Stereoscopic 3D (e.g., Avatar) Lion King, most TV • Cut-out / Silhouette animation (e.g., types of cartoons) South Park) • Rotoscope (e.g., Star Wars • Claymation (e.g., ’s Wallace lightsabers) and Gromit) • Flip books • Puppet animation (e.g., ’s animation • 3D animation (e.g., Pixar’s , The Nightmare Before Christmas, Wall-E, Up) Coraline)

The world’s most famous animator, The success of television cartoons Walt Disney, began making short led to the virtual disappearance history of animated cartoons based on of animated shorts produced for children’s stories in 1923. In 1928 theatrical release. Animated featurelength films, he introduced Mickey Mouse in however, flourished, the first animated sound cartoon, especially after the release of Disney’s animation Steamboat Willie, which became an The Little Mermaid (1989), regarded immediate sensation. Throughout the by many as the studio’s best animated next decade, Disney would add such feature in decades. Other Disney elements as carefully synchronized blockbusters followed, including music (The Skeleton Dance, 1929), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin Technicolor (Flowers and Trees, (1992), (1994) and Lilo 1932), and the illusion of depth with & Stitch (2002). his multi-plane camera (The Old The development of computer Mill, 1937), a device that allowed for animation was another great animated cells to be photographed advancement in the form and against a three-dimensional resulted in feature films of background. Although not the first astounding visual sumptuousness. animated feature, Disney’s Snow In 1995, Toy Story was the first film White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to use only computer generated was the first to use up-to-the-minute imagery (CGI). In 2001 the Academy techniques and the first to receive of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences widespread release. The film’s success added a new Academy Award for can be attributed in part to Disney’s Best Animated Feature Film. The first willingness to use animation to create recipient of the award was history of (2001). a profound dramatic experience. He strove for photographic realism in films such as Pinocchio (1940), (1941) and (1942).

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