Adolescence is inevitable in human development. It will always be a part of growing up—a phase where we feel awkward, conscious, confused, sensitive, and all the other complex feelings in the world (not to over-exaggerate). But it is also a stage we would truly remember as we grow up. It is where memorable, exciting, and even embarrassing moments happen that we will carry as we step into another stage of our life.
Disney and Pixar, in 2022, brought us along on an adventure through the life of a preteen in the animated picture Turning Red, directed by Domee Shi, with the film as her directorial debut. The story introduced us to life throughout puberty, with lessons and messages for us to impart regardless of our stage in human development.
Set in the early 2000s period, Turning Red explores the life of a Chinese-Canadian teenage girl, Meilin Lee, in the voice of Rosalie Chang, who was able to learn that she turns into a giant red panda every time she is being particularly emotional, anxious, overwhelmed, or confused.
Viewers would soon discover her personal dilemmas, such as choosing between being the perfect, dutiful daughter to her mother, Ming Lee (voiced by Sandra Oh), and being a typical teenager exploring what life has to offer to her.
The film may be ticketed as a cartoon or animated film with colorful cinematography and cute characters, but the directordid not hold back in addressing the real deal of being a teenage girl.
There is a liberating notion in that it pays attention to real-life matters and issues that should be acknowledged during the preteen stage, such as discussing menstruation, which is usually taboo and not taken into consideration incorporating these topics into cartoons or animation films, especially when the audience is supposedly children. However, we all know that periods are a normal part of puberty, and it is no longer anything to be ashamed of.
Although the central theme centers on life in adolescence, it also touches on family relationships, particularly the relationship between Meileen and her mom, significantly when her interests change as she explores puberty.
There are also references to Chinese mythological beliefs and symbols which refer to the Red Panda and the cultural background of being in an Asian household that added weight to the story as it also talked about the culture of teenagers during this stage that many Asian countries with the same culture can relate to.
Turning Red sure has raised viewers’ expectations and grants us a promising coming-of-age animated film that reaches out to its target audience with the same situation where they can relate to Meileen and her circumstances and perhaps set reminders and understanding for those who couldn’t.
The film is available to stream on Disney’s streaming platform, Disney+. The story first appeared on www.rankthemag.ph on Feb. 2022. Updated on April 24, 2024.