There isn’t much not to love about red pandas, cute friendships and healing from generational trauma, especially when they’re a part of positive Asian representation in a Disney movie. Turning Red has quickly garnered praise for not only being the first Pixar film directed by an Asian woman, Domee Shi, and co-written by Shi and Julia Cho, but also its unique approach to coming of age and Asian identity. Even the smallest of details are developed with the utmost care. We’ve gathered some of the small, yet deeply impactful moments that served as the icing on top of the cake when it comes to the beloved film.
Overall, fans are loving the representation in “Turning Red”.
Many aspects of the film, including setting it in Toronto, Canada in the early 2000s, was based on director Domee Shi’s real-life experiences growing up. Shi and her crew even swapped period stories during a brainstorming session to capture the true essence of those awkward teen years.
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One character sports a diabetes patch (also known as a glucose sensor).
Children all over the world have diverse identities and needs, but they aren’t often reflected in animated films. However, Turning Red provides inclusion in a way that’s natural, organic and subtle. For those unfamiliar with diabetes patches, this was an easy detail to miss. However, for those who have had to wear a diabetes patch or include them in some aspects of their life, this was an “important” moment. It’s the seemingly small gestures that can sometimes make the biggest impacts.
Parents online shared that the character’s glucose sensor was even identical to the one their own children use.
It just goes to show how much thought and care was put into adding these small details by the film crew.
Sikh representation in the film might be a first for Pixar.
Many cultures, ethnicities and religious communities have been historically excluded from animated films, and when they are included, it’s not typically in the best light. However, Turning Red decided to challenge the common narrative and feature a Sikh man as the school’s security guard. While he only appears briefly, it’s the kind of trailblazing visibility that will hopefully open doors for more characters like this — hopefully as main characters. People are truly feeling seen even by the short appearance of this character.
Immigrant families are the heart of the story.
It’s not every day that Pixar movies take on intersectionality with seamless execution. Turning Red is a film about a traditional Chinese immigrant family in Toronto that also incorporates a diverse group of girls obsessed with pop culture and puberty. Those things can and do exist in several households, yet this is one of the first animated films to reflect them. Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang) is Chinese-Candadian, and that means she’s impacted by both worlds simultaneously.
Anime influences are a huge part of the film.
The film was also a treat to anime fans, who could spot the animation style immediately. From the character’s eyes and expressions to animation sequences and more, Turning Red pays homage to Japanese animation. Shi confirmed this during an interview with the Los Angeles Times , mentioning that she drew inspiration from popular anime series, like “Pokemon,” “Sailor Moon” and “Fruits Basket.”
The Red Panda symbolism was also planned.
Selecting a red panda to be the star of the movie made sense to Shi for a few key reasons. First, just like teenagers during puberty — they’re “hairy,” “stinky” and “sleep all day.” Second, because aren’t actually important in Chinese mythology , which allowed movie creators to give the adorable fuzzy pandas their own magical origins in the film.
Early 200os culture is everywhere.
Shi decided to set the film in the early 2000s, when she was growing up. While the movie clearly makes boy bands a huge part of the story, there are also more subtle shoutouts to 90s and 2000s trends, like tamagotchis. Shi explained, “We also wanted to avoid social media topics, and tell this story in a simpler time of flip phones, CDs, jelly bracelets, and Tamagotchis.” It allowed audiences who grew up in the 90s to reflect on their own coming of age stories.
It’s an indirectly feminist film.
While the creators haven’t formally branded Turning Red as a feminist movie, they shatter glass ceilings when it comes to representing compelling Asian women both on screen and off. As the first Pixar movie led by Asian women and women in general that also frontlines the experiences of girls and women, it’s the first film of its kind. Of course, that’s already meant some backlash from those that are accustomed to seeing the same narratives in Disney films (which aren’t diverse ones). Standing up against dominate narratives and creating a work that highlights marginalized communities is such a boss feminist move.
A lot of people praised the film for simply showing girls having fun and being themselves.
It might seem unimportant but having a film that celebrates girls’ interests (yes, even boy bands) is empowering. How many times have girls been made to feel ashamed about their hobbies or interests?
‘Turning Red’ is continuing a new wave of Disney films.
Disney films have traditionally included a central “villain” that’s evil and needs to be defeated. However, now the franchise seems to be digging much deeper with complex antagonists that aren’t inherently cruel, but actually impacted by multi-generational trauma—-which is common for communities of color. The dichotomy of “good” versus “evil” is growing stale as collective healing is hot, fresh and right out the oven for us to enjoy.
Addressing menstruation is another first for Pixar.
Disney has come a long way—-we mean openly discussing a girl’s first period long way. While there have been some complains about the movie’s approach to puberty, so many people are feeling liberated. Normalized discussions about menstruation weren’t really part of a pre-teen’s life during the 90s, especially in Disney movies . The movie isn’t afraid of turning red in more ways than one, and we love it.
Let us know what you think of Turning Red’s inclusive details in the comments and if you appreciate them.
