Turning Red, First Pixar film set in Canada
Turning Red is an upcoming Pixar film about a young Chinese-Canadian girl who experience a Puberty like no other. Mei-lee (Rosalie Chiang) was the typical teenage girl. She loves to hang out with her friends and fangirl to boybands. She also experiences pressure because she has the typical strict mom (Sandra Oh) with high expectations. Despite that, she loves social life and she is excited for the new school year. Little did she know, her family has an ancient secret. Her family has a connection with Red Pandas.
It could be a curse but it could also be a blessing but she hates it. She doesn’t want to turn into a giant orange relative of the raccoon. Whenever she gets excited or feels intense emotions, she is turning red. She turns into a Red Panda. At first, she thought the curse is permanent but she can turn back into a human whenever she gets calm. Her human form became ginger as a clue that she is a Red Panda.
Mei-Lee will need to learn to control her emotions so she won’t be turned into giant Red Panda. This film could be an allegory to puberty and growing up. When are going through it, some are liking the changes while others want to stay the same and don’t want to grow up.
Turning Red is written and directed by Domee Shi . He is known for making the Disney short film Bao
. That short film became viral because of all the people who can relate. It is about a mother who is suffering from empty nest syndrome. Who had the second chance of motherhood when the steamed pork buns or bao she made turned into a baby? Bao won as Oscars for best short film 2 years ago. You can watch Bao on Disney plus.