Growing, everyone is bound to see interesting changes reaching the transition from being a kid to being a teen. Perhaps, it is when you just met your first crush, your first try on putting accessories over your darling pink dress, or the first time you tell someone the secret you wrote on the last page of your note. Not only is this the time for a mental shift, but also the start of something new and extravagant experiences for a teen, experiencing a variety of emotional and physical changes as well.

These are just some of the things Disney’s latest animated film Turning Red wants viewers to see when they watch the cute, cuddly, and remarkable film. Regardless of the age, Pixar’s Turning Red will surely make everyone reminisce of those awkward teen years as an awful mixture of desiring to be understood yet never wanting to be seen—the initial steps of worry while growing up.

This semi-autobiographical film, written and directed by an Asian woman, Domee Shi (Inside Out, Toy Story 4, Bao), is set in Toronto in the year 2002— slated for release on March 11 on Disney+. Turning Red resulted while Shi is searching for inspiration regarding her first feature-length film. Later then, the Academy Award-winning director turned to the relationship she had with her mother as an inspiration.

Starring Sandra Oh of Grey’s Anatomy and The Princess Diaries as Ming (Mother) with rising star Rosalie Chiang playing the role of Mei Lee (daughter), this Pixar’s coming-of-age fantasy about a Chinese Canadian middle schooler explores the hurdles and joys of adolescence through the lens of an existing unusual family secret. The developing feeling of independence and selfhood of a 13-year-old teen girl is caught between her parents’ strict expectations and her growing sense of independence and selfhood.

The ”confident and dorky” 13-year-old Mei Lee discovers that she inherited a blessing/curse from ancestral powers that transform her into a giant, fluffy red panda whenever she feels strong emotions. And because being 13 is all about extreme emotion, Mei finds herself in the unfortunate situation of quickly transforming into a massive scarlet-hued beast several times a day.

On the other hand, a flipside to the story is also set to show viewers a deeper look into a specific experience of a teen. The relationship between a mother and her daughter and the struggles a teen feels between being the well-behaved and compliant daughter while experiencing the struggles brought by the changes of adolescence.

Turning Red with a story that tackles ancestors and long-standing traditions to some interests mothers does not exactly approve of, also showcases the experiences among Asian, North America, immigrant, diverse group of friends, teen angst, family dynamics, stereotypes, budding sexuality, spirituality, school life, and even the school bullies you might have encountered, — all rolled up into an extraordinary, fun, yet inspiring metaphor of a big red panda.

Turning red also features Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (“Never Have I Ever”), Ava Morse, and Hyein Park co-star as Meilin’s best pals, while Finneas O’Connell and Jordan Fisher as members of the fictional boy band 4*Town. Original music by Billie Eilish and O’Connell is also featured in the film.

So, if you are looking for an odd but humorous fantasy story, you might want to watch Turning Red on its initial release on March 11 on Disney Plus.

Watch the trailers here:

Source: https://www.pixar.com/turning-red