Turning Red
Movie, 2022, Originals, Set in Toronto, 2002
Turning Red is #25 of 31 in release order and #11 of 31 in chronological order in the Pixar.
The story
Thirteen-year-old Mei is experiencing the awkwardness of being a teenager with a twist – when she gets too excited, she transforms into a giant red panda.
Turning Red recap
In Toronto in 2002, thirteen-year-old Meilin Lee is a confident student who helps run her family's temple and obeys her overprotective mother, Ming. After an embarrassing night, she wakes up as a giant red panda. Ming explains that the women of the family transform whenever they feel strong emotions, an inheritance from an ancestor, and that a ritual on the next red moon will seal the panda away. Mei learns to control the panda by thinking of her friends Miriam, Priya and Abby. The friends use the panda to raise money for tickets to see the boy band 4*Town, whose concert falls on the night of the ritual. Mei performs at a party, quarrels with her friends, and Ming finds out about her scheming.
Turning Red ending explained
At the ritual, Mei chooses to keep her panda and leaves for the concert. Ming's own talisman breaks and she becomes a gigantic panda, rampaging into the stadium. Mei, her friends and 4*Town confront her, and the family women perform the ritual there. In the spirit realm, Mei meets her mother as a young girl and they make peace. Mei keeps her panda, and her friends become regular visitors at the temple.
Post-credits scenes
During the credits, scrapbook illustrations show Mei and her friends. After the credits, Mei's father secretly dances to 4*Town while his wife calls for him.
Where to watch Turning Red
Turning Red is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes 95%
Where it fits
What to watch before Turning Red
In release order, 10 Pixar essentials come before Turning Red (2022), from A Bug's Life (1998) to Luca (2021).
Cast
- Rosalie Chiang as Meilin Lee (voice)
- Sandra Oh as Ming (voice)
- Ava Morse as Miriam (voice)
- Hyein Park as Abby (voice)
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya (voice)
- Orion Lee as Jin Lee (voice)
- Wai Ching Ho as Grandma (voice)
- Tristan Allerick Chen as Tyler (voice)
- James Hong as Mr. Gao (voice)
- Lori Tan Chinn as Auntie Chen (voice)
- Mia Tagano as Lily (voice)
- Sherry Cola as Helen (voice)
Directed by Domee Shi.