Over the Moon

As the celestial curtain rises on this poignant tale, we are introduced to Fei Fei, a wide-eyed young girl who finds solace in her Ma Ma's enchanting storytelling. With Ma Ma's (Ruthie Ann Miles) guidance, Fei Fei's imagination soars as she learns about the fabled giant space dog that devours the moon, revealing its enigmatic phases. But it is the legend of Chang'e, the celestial goddess who ascended to the moon with her lover Houyi (Conrad Ricamora), only to leave him mortal and heartbroken on Earth, that truly captures Fei Fei's fascination.

As Ma Ma's health begins to wane, she imparts a sense of wonder to her daughter by gifting her a tender little bunny named Bungee (Edie Ichioka). The bond between mother and daughter is palpable as they share in the joy of creating delectable mooncakes ("Mooncakes") that bring happiness to their community.

Tragedy strikes when Ma Ma's mortal form gives way, leaving Fei Fei shattered. Time passes, and our protagonist (now played by Cathy Ang) grows into a studious young woman who continues to help her father, Ba Ba (John Cho), manage their shop while harboring a deep longing for the moon.

As Fei Fei navigates her new reality, she discovers that Ba Ba's affections have shifted towards Mrs. Zhong (Sandra Oh), a kind-hearted woman with a son named Chin (Robert G. Chiu) who possesses an extraordinary ability to phase through walls, accompanied by his trusty pet frog Croak.

The arrival of Fei Fei's extended family - Aunties Ling (Margaret Cho) and Mei (Kimiko Glenn), Grandma (Irene Tsu), and Grandpa (Clem Cheung) - serves as a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of life. When the topic of the Moon Festival holiday arises, Fei Fei becomes increasingly distressed as her aunts dismiss Chang'e's legend, leading to a chaotic dinner scene where the Lazy Susan and dinner plates meet an untimely demise.

As Fei Fei's world begins to unravel, she clings to the notion that Chang'e remains on the moon, waiting for Houyi's return - a beacon of hope that her father might one day reunite with his beloved Ma Ma. However, Mrs. Zhong's unwavering commitment to their engagement and Chin's unwitting revelation about Ba Ba's plans only serve to deepen Fei Fei's despair, as she struggles to come to terms with the harsh realities of life, love, and loss.

As Bungee bursts forth from the window, Fei Fei follows suit, allowing herself to be swept up in the rabbit's whimsical adventure. Their escapade culminates in a chance encounter with a majestic crane - an iconic creature deeply rooted in Chang'e's mythological legacy. Inspired by this serendipitous meeting, Fei Fei gazes up at the moon, her imagination sparked into action. With a newfound determination, she sets out to build a rocket that will defy gravity and carry her to the celestial body's radiant surface, driven by a desire to prove to her father that even the most ardent longings can be satisfied with patience and perseverance - just as Chang'e waits eternally for Houyi.

Fei Fei's initial attempts at constructing a functional rocket are met with disappointment and failure. However, her curiosity is piqued when she witnesses the innovative MagLev train being built in her town, its magnetic levitation technology allowing it to glide effortlessly above the tracks. This encounter serves as the catalyst for Fei Fei's creative breakthrough, as she applies the principles of MagLev to design a rocket that will propel her to unprecedented heights, finally within reach of her lunar aspirations.

As Fei Fei's adventure reaches new heights, she's accompanied by Bungee as they soar into the lunar stratosphere. However, their rocketry revelry is abruptly halted when the engines sputter and they plummet back towards Earth. The culprit behind this unexpected descent? Chin's clandestine stowaway status, which wasn't accounted for in Fei Fei's calculations. A celestial beam swoops in to rescue them, but not before their spacecraft crashes onto the moon's surface with a resounding thud.

Enter the majestic flying lion creatures, who arrive on the scene with Bungee and Croak in tow, carrying the duo and their moonbound companions to the mystical realm of Lunaria. It is here that Fei Fei and Chin are introduced to Chang'e, the enigmatic goddess of the moon, whose dazzling entrance song "Ultraluminary" leaves the assembled Lunarians agog. Unfortunately for Fei Fei, this vaunted visitor turns out to be a far cry from the benevolent being she was led to believe in.

Chang'e's haughty demeanor is matched only by her insatiable vanity, which becomes apparent as she sets her sights on securing a gift that will supposedly allow her to reunite with Houyi. Fei Fei, however, remains oblivious to this coveted prize, and Chang'e seizes the opportunity to commandeer the girl's photo evidence, dangling it as a carrot if Fei Fei can deliver the goods.

As Lunaria erupts into chaos, its inhabitants racing to find the fabled gift, Chin seeks to prove his worth by attempting to retrieve the prized photograph from Chang'e's clutches. Despite her best efforts to deter him with an impromptu game of ping pong ("Hey Boy"), Chin emerges victorious, having called out Chang'e's selfishness for taking the immortality pills and condemning herself to a lonely eternity.

Despite this triumph, Chin is thwarted in his quest for the photo by Chang'e's cunning barrier, leaving Fei Fei to navigate the lunar landscape in search of the elusive gift, accompanied by her feathered friends, the moon chickens.

As Fei Fei and her feathered friends finally arrive at the crash site, they're met with an unexpected surprise: a small, lunar canine named Gobi (Ken Jeong), who once called Chang'e's palace home before being exiled for his melodious talents. In her excitement, Fei Fei mistakes a doll of Chang'e given to her by her mother as the gift, only to have it snatched away by the chickens. The two sets out in hot pursuit, but their chase is soon derailed by an encounter with gargantuan moon frogs that threaten to devour them. Fei Fei's quick thinking and Gobi's stretchy tongue enable her to lasso a frog, which they then ride back to Lunaria like bucking broncos.

Back at the palace, Chang'e's despair grows as she's comforted by the Lunettes, who reveal the profound connection between her tears and the moon's inhabitants. As her emotions reach a boiling point, her tears become sentient, imbuing the Lunarians with life. The stakes are further raised when it becomes apparent that her feelings can also conjure devastating events, such as meteor showers. Meanwhile, Bungee stumbles upon Jade Rabbit's potion-making endeavors and decides to take a taste, gaining an unexpected boost in power. A budding romance between Bungee and Jade Rabbit also begins to blossom.

Fei Fei's pursuit of the chickens ultimately leads her to Lunaria, where she engages in a fierce battle for possession of the doll. Although she eventually claims it, the doll is destroyed by a beam of light, leaving her feeling bereft. However, a bite of Mrs. Zhong's mooncake reveals a hidden piece of an amulet, which Fei Fei soon discovers is the actual gift. With renewed purpose, she and Gobi hasten to the palace, driven by their determination to present Chang'e with the symbol of unity and love.

As the mystical barrier dissipates, Chin (character name not provided) successfully breaches it just in time for Fei Fei (actress name not provided) and Gobi (actor/actress name not provided) to enter the celestial realm. The Lunettes' harmonious resonance enables them to reach Chang'e (actress name not provided), who, with the aid of the reunited amulet halves and Jade's (actress name not provided) potion, is able to reunite with her beloved Houyi ("Yours Forever") (actor/actress name not provided). However, due to the time constraint, their reunion is brief, and Houyi must return to his own realm. Before departing, he imparts words of wisdom upon Chang'e, urging her to move on from him, a notion that fills her with profound sadness as darkness engulfs Lunaria.

Chang'e, overcome by despair, traps herself within a realm of shadows, where only Fei Fei is able to penetrate. There, she confronts the haunting specter of losing her mother once more, prompting her tears to flow. Upon noticing Fei Fei's sorrow, Chang'e offers words of solace, reminding her that her mother's spirit endures ("Love Someone New") and gestures toward Chin, suggesting she can find happiness in new relationships. Fei Fei convinces Chang'e to let go of Houyi, and the two share a heartfelt moment as the Lunarians and Gobi rush to envelop Chang'e, restoring light to their kingdom.

The Lunarians rejoice at Chang'e's newfound peace, and she prepares to send Fei Fei and Chin back home. Fei Fei notices Bungee (actor/actress name not provided) struggling with the impending departure from Jade, allowing the rabbit to remain by his side. Chang'e thanks Fei Fei, acknowledging that she was the true gift, before presenting her with a cherished memento: the photo.

As the lions carry the children back to Earth, the photo is consumed by flames as it enters the atmosphere, yet Fei Fei seems unfazed. Fei Fei returns, bearing Chin on her back. Outside the shop, Ba Ba (actor/actress name not provided) sits in contemplation, observing Fei Fei's growing affinity for a new family.

In time, Ba Ba marries Mrs. Zhong (actress name not provided), and their new family celebrates the Moon Festival together. Amidst the festivities, outside the shop, Fei Fei catches sight of a majestic crane, believed to be Chang'e's ethereal visitation, as she gazes at Fei Fei with an air of warmth. Fei Fei responds with a radiant smile, and Chin approaches, prompting them to venture off together into a world filled with possibility and joy.