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turning red 2022

Turning Red (2022)

Pixar’s Turning Red, directed by Domee Shi, is a heartfelt, colorful, and unapologetically quirky coming-of-age film that blends the chaos of teenage life with a giant red panda twist. Set in early 2000s Toronto, it’s both a celebration of friendship and a look at generational expectations.

Detailed Summary

The Life of Mei Lee

The story follows 13-year-old Meilin “Mei” Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), a confident and overachieving Chinese-Canadian teenager who balances schoolwork, helping at her family’s temple, and hanging out with her best friends Miriam, Priya, and Abby. She’s also devoted to her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), though their relationship is built on a mix of love and strict expectations.

The Red Panda Curse

One morning, after a particularly stressful night, Mei wakes up transformed into a giant, fluffy red panda. She learns from her mother that all the women in their family have the ability (or curse) to transform into a panda whenever they experience strong emotions. This power can be permanently sealed away during a ritual, but until then, Mei must keep calm—or risk turning into a panda in public.

Balancing Friends, Family, and Panda Life

Mei discovers that her friends actually love her panda form—it’s cute, marketable, and an instant ticket to popularity at school. The girls use the panda to raise money to attend their favorite boy band’s concert, 4*Town. However, Ming is unaware of Mei’s plan, assuming she is focusing on the upcoming ritual to contain the panda forever.

Family Secrets Revealed

As the concert date approaches, tensions rise. Mei learns more about the history of the panda gift, originally bestowed upon their ancestor Sun Yee to protect her family. Over generations, the panda became more of a burden in modern society. Mei also begins to realize she enjoys her panda form—it reflects a part of herself she doesn’t want to hide.

Movie Ending

On the night of the ritual, Mei begins the ceremony but hesitates when she hears her friends at the 4*Town concert nearby. Breaking free from the ritual, she rushes to the stadium to join them. Ming, furious, transforms into a massive red panda herself and storms the concert. In a chaotic but emotional showdown, the entire family bands together to subdue Ming and complete the sealing ritual.

However, in a pivotal moment, Mei chooses not to seal away her panda, deciding that it’s an important part of her identity. Ming’s panda is sealed, but their relationship begins to heal as they learn to accept each other’s differences. Mei embraces her panda side, continuing to help at the temple while also hanging out with her friends. The film closes on a note of self-acceptance and mutual understanding between generations.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes. There is a short post-credits scene featuring Mei’s father, Jin, jamming out to 4*Town in the basement, showing he’s a secret superfan. It’s a lighthearted moment that reinforces the film’s humor and warmth.

Type of Movie

Turning Red is an animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy with strong themes of friendship, family, and self-identity.

Cast

  • Rosalie Chiang – Meilin “Mei” Lee
  • Sandra Oh – Ming Lee
  • Ava Morse – Miriam
  • Hyein Park – Abby
  • Maitreyi Ramakrishnan – Priya
  • Orion Lee – Jin Lee
  • Wai Ching Ho – Grandma Wu

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, The Mandalorian). The boy band 4*Town’s songs were written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, adding authenticity to the early 2000s pop feel.

Filming Locations (Animation Reference Points)

Although animated, the film’s setting is based on Toronto, Canada. The production team used real-life landmarks such as the CN Tower, Chinatown, and Toronto’s streetcar system as references for the backgrounds and city layout, giving the movie an authentic, lived-in atmosphere.

Awards and Nominations

  • Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 95th Academy Awards.
  • Won Best Animated Film at the Annie Awards (multiple categories).
  • Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

Behind the Scenes Insights

  • Domee Shi became the first woman to solely direct a Pixar feature film.
  • Shi drew heavily from her own upbringing in Toronto and her relationship with her mother.
  • The panda transformation was inspired by puberty and its emotional turbulence.
  • The early 2000s setting allowed the filmmakers to avoid smartphones and modern distractions.
  • The 4*Town fandom mirrors Shi’s own boy band obsession as a teenager.

Inspirations and References

  • The story is loosely inspired by Domee Shi’s own life and Chinese heritage.
  • Influenced by Sailor Moon and other magical girl anime.
  • The panda metaphor draws from both folklore and the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Some early drafts of the film had Mei sealing her panda away and later regretting it, but test audiences preferred the version where she embraces it. Deleted scenes include more interactions with school bullies and extended boy band sequences.

Book Adaptations and Differences

A junior novelization of Turning Red closely follows the movie’s plot but includes additional inner monologues from Mei, giving more insight into her thought process during key moments.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

  • Mei’s first chaotic transformation into a panda at home.
  • The bathroom scene where her friends discover and embrace her panda form.
  • The epic panda battle between Mei and her mother at the concert.
  • The emotional ritual scene in the bamboo forest.

Iconic Quotes

  • “The farther you go, the prouder I’ll be.” – Ming
  • “We’ve all got a messy, loud, weird part of ourselves hidden away.” – Mei
  • “I’m finally figuring out who I am.” – Mei

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

  • Mei’s notebook doodles are based on real sketches from the animators’ teen years.
  • The Pixar Pizza Planet truck can be seen in one background shot.
  • The number “4” appears in multiple scenes, a nod to 4*Town but also to the Chinese superstition around the number.

Trivia

  • Pixar hired cultural consultants to ensure authenticity in Chinese-Canadian representation.
  • Domee Shi previously directed the Oscar-winning short Bao.
  • The boy band 4*Town has five members despite the name—an intentional boy band trope.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy heartfelt stories about identity, cultural heritage, and friendship—wrapped in colorful animation and early-2000s nostalgia—this is a must-watch. It’s one of Pixar’s most personal and distinctive films.

Director’s Other Works

  • Bao (2018, Pixar short)

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