By Jada Seto
In Netflix’s original movie “Over the Moon,” the classic East Asian legend about the immortal goddess on the moon is retold through the modern story of a little girl Fei-Fei who finds greater meaning in the traditions practiced with her family. With beautiful visuals and animations that enhance the overall storyline, movie-goers are able to not only enjoy the entertaining movie itself but also appreciate a story that brings representation to the East Asian community.
“...'Over the Moon' was a great representation of East Asian culture because it did away with the stereotypes and realistically captured my Asian experience...”
The combination of the bright colors of the animations and the featured music makes for a great children's movie, but the cultural aspects of the film really stood out, whether in the food or the outfits. With a reputable cast of Asian actors and actresses such as Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, and Sandra Oh, the progression of using people of color to accurately portray cultural stories creates an environment that excites younger generations to look up to people with similar upbringings as these talented Asian Americans.
“As a child, I saw movies and television shows with actors and actresses that didn’t look like me. I felt like I didn’t have role models who I could relate to, but I am glad that future generations will be able to see that diversity I craved for,” said senior Sophia Lin.
By representing a culture still so foreign to many on this very popular platform, it paves a path for people, especially younger viewers, to desire an environment that values all cultures.
Line art by Sabeena Ramdarie, @jammin_with_jelly, and color by Shadia Zayer
Colorful graphics of cultural elements contributed to the Asian representation shown in the film.
“I think ‘Over the Moon’ was a great representation of East Asian culture because it did away with the stereotypes and realistically captured my Asian experience. The main character celebrates the same traditions as me and I think that really helped me relate and understand her journey,” said junior Laurence Lai.
Students are encouraged to learn and respect others with different backgrounds within the New Hyde Park community, and by creating stories, music, and movies that truly represent and respect people, peers are able to share a role in promoting a better, more inclusive future.