Moonbound (German: Peterchens Mondfahrt) is a 2021 animated fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi with story by Ahadi and Arne Nolting and based on the 1915 children's book Little Peter's Journey to the Moon by Gerdt von Bassewitz.
Contents
Plot
Years ago, Mr. Zoomzeman, a June bug with his wife lives in a birch tree filled with insects. One day, during a wedding ceremony, a boss arrives and seizes the tree. Zoomzeman goes to a creek at a full moon, where he is taken to a nightfairy, and shares about what's happening. The nightfairy arrives on Earth, and banishes the boss and the tree to the moon, leaving Zoomzeman homeless. The nightfairy informs him that the tree can be restored to its normal place if an animal-loving human accompanies him.
In the present, Peter is a space loving boy, who lives with his sister Annabelle. One day, Zoomzeman arrives at their home, where he enlists both kids to head to the moon. Both kids are separated; Peter meets a sandman. Meanwhile, Annabelle is abducted by the boss, who is now named the Moonman, who forces her to work for him. Peter, Zoomzeman, and the Sandman, determined to rescue Annabelle, visit the nightfairy at her palace, where Peter tells her about Annabelle's kidnapping. The nightfairy agrees to allow Peter to head to the moon.
Meanwhile, Annabelle and Ms. Zoomzeman discovers the Moonman's plan to fire a cannon at the nightfairy's palace at sunrise as revenge on her. Both are caught and imprisoned by the Moonman, but are rescued by Peter, Mr. Zoomzeman, and the Sandman. Ms. Zoomzeman reconciles with her husband, while Annabelle shares to Peter about the Moonman's plan.
Peter, Annabelle, the Zoomzemans, and the Sandman arrive and confront the Moonman who prepares the cannon. Peter is unable to stop the cannon in time. The nightfairy's palace survives the cannon's hit. The nightfairy arrives at the moon, banishes the Moonman to Mars, and brings the birch tree back to Earth. Peter and Annabelle return back home, while the Zoomzemans feel happy about their birch tree being back.
Production
The film is a German-Austrian co-production and is produced by Brave New Work in Cologne, Coop99 Filmproduktion in Vienna and Little Dream Entertainment in Hamburg. The animation was a split between Cologne-based Red Parrot Studios and D-Facto Motion in Cologne, Fish Blowing Bubbles in Munich, K-Effects in Vienna, ACHT.STUDIO in Frankfurt and Sophie Animation in Dalian. While the soundtrack was recorded by the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Reception
The film received negative reviews, with 17% score on Rotten Tomatoes according to 6 reviews.