Aaron Phillips Guest Reviews Pixar’s Turning Red

Growing up is difficult. There’s just no way to soften that blow. There are so many obstacles, and pitfalls to overcome that become the formative years, and for some, the cornerstone of who they’ll grow to be. What if however, during that same tumultuous time your every emotion awoke inside you a raging red beast. Ok, so maybe beast is a touch too far, how about a giant red panda? It’s time to dive into Pixar’s Turning Red!

Directed by Domee Shi, Turning Red tells the coming of age story of Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang) who after turning 13 awakens within her her families gift, the ability to turn into a giant Red Panda. Mei’s Mother knows of an ancient ritual to banish the Panda into a charm and lock it away, if she can only wait one more month. In that time Mei must navigate a minefield of emotions in order to keep her panda locked down or forever have to live with the family curse.

This film was absolutely so much fun, and I’d highly recommend watching it with young kids as part of a movie night as it just checks the box for a wide audience. Pixar certainly has an audience for this, and they deliver it really well.

The overarching message of a young girl desperately seeking the ongoing approval of her Mother, while trying to fit the mold of who she’s expected to be, will relate to such a large audience. What this film has going for it though, is it’ll speak to both the parents and guardians watching, while also addressing the younger eyes. A message of being true to yourself, allowing your panda out so you can express yourself. It’s heartwarming.

It’s also really good-natured, and comical in places. It’s sure to bring a smile to many faces, and it’s a really entertaining piece. One element that was fun to explore was setting the time period in the early 2000’s with all the trappings of the technology that came with it. This will absolutely push all of those nostalgic buttons.

Where I did find some issues though, is that it falls into that formulaic trap that most Pixar films tend to embody. You can glance back through previous films and find the backbone of each of those stories and see how the frame mimics what has come before it.

Look people will really enjoy this film, in that I have no doubt, but it also has that Pixar, rinse and repeat effect too.

Where this film finds its biggest voice, however, is through its lead character Meilin, played by Chiang. Her experience of life, and those friendships will speak to every viewer of simpler times, when your core group of friends was the be-all and end-all of existence. Turning Red did a really nice job of reinforcing the bond of these four friends and the importance of a support network who accepted Mei for who she was at her core.

Above it all, Chiang does a superb job of bringing to life the character of Mei as this young girl who not only transforms into a panda, but who also finds the strength to take control of her own destiny.

In the end, Turning Red, while a predictable Pixar film, still comes through and delivers a lovely story with a timeless message of honoring who you are. A coming of age story with a brilliant lead at the center, this film is sure to be a success with families far and wide.

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