(Minor Spoilers)
On March 12th 2022 Pixar and Disney released a new movie known as Turning Red.
The movie is available on Disney Plus and is rated PG coming-of-age movie. It has mild language and more mature content including puberty.
It is also one of the first Pixar movies where the leadership roles are filled by women.
Directed by Domee Shi, The Movie is set in Toronto, Canada in 2002. The protagonist is about a Chinese Canadian girl named Mei. She is thirteen years old and in middle school who has everything “together.” She had straight A's, great friends, and has a great relationship with her parents. But everything changes when Mei finds out she can turn into a giant red panda. The Red Panda at first glance Mei is horrified, after all this will completely change her life. She is covered in fur, smells awful, and doesn’t know how to “control” this new body. As the movie progresses Mei finds out that this power is triggered by Mei’s emotions and as long as Mei can stay completely and utterly calm, balanced, and peaceful she stays human. Well, the only problem is that Mei is a teenager, and triggering strong emotions is very common.
Turning Red is looked by parents as not “kid” friendly. This is a fair statement. Turning Red is geared to kids around 12 and adults. Because there are things in this movie that children under 10 would not understand. However, it’s a good movie to begin talking about puberty to children that will begin puberty soon.
Some of the more negative reviews are people raging why the movie is not for children, why did Disney and Pixar make it an adorable story about turning into a red panda and just that? Why would you add elements of puberty?
There aren’t many relatable movies about puberty, watching this movie is great to prepare kids who will be going to puberty, so parents can talk to children who will begin puberty why they have strange feelings for others.
One of the largest negative things people are pointing out is that the movie talked about femine products and such. How it was inappropriate, it depends on how you look at it to see this as a sign as being either inappropriate or hilaourius, or a starting point for preparation.
As much as there are good movies rated PG that kids are able to watch, but so many good movies are rated PG and kids watch them. Turing Red took more of a realistic touch to itself, has that real awkwardness and relatable moments.
A lot of people look at Turning Red as a special place for the director and the production designer. Because the movie is about a Asian-North American in Canada. This is the actual background of the director. According to Domee Shi in the documentary Embrace The Panda, found in Disney+ , it looks at immigrant children going to North America and their struggles. How some Asian families cared about filling the family’s honor and legacy. The stress they put on the children. More understanding of different cultures and family.
The movie according to the director is about changing.
It’s a coming of age movie, where you change and you have to embrace this change.
It talks to teenagers and parents.
A teenager could see it as you’re going to change. You won’t have everything under control, life will not always be peaceful and balanced. You’re going to change, you need to learn about embracing change.
It also talks about honoring your parents. Mei loves her parents, and it’s good to spend time with your family. But if you get caught up and only worry about others you forget about yourself. Don’t lose sight of who you are. You will need to find that balance of having fun with family and yourself.
In conclusion, the movie is great for people around 12 years old looking for a humorous and relatable movie. It talks about puberty so there are some things in the movie that might be awkward, and there are multiple references to feminine products.
It’s a great movie for Pixar and Animation fans from all around.