Lately, animation studios and Hollywood in general have been making a push for greater diversity in storytelling, increasing depictions of minorities and offering new, hitherto underrepresented perspectives.
The latest to follow this trend is Pixar’s “Turning Red”, which was released on March 11 on Disney+ Hotstar.
The film has quite the bizarre premise: a preteen girl, Meilin Lee, wakes up one day to discover she has turned into a giant red panda.
Viewers would probably be stifling giggles at the scene where she runs into the bathroom, horrified by the physical changes she is undergoing. The subtext is not all that ambiguous, as the girl’s mother comes to her aid with painkillers and sanitary pads.
Could it really be true – a Disney film that actually acknowledges, much less talks about, periods? What could possibly be next??
It turns out the women of the Lee family turn into huge red pandas whenever they get emotional, and only reassume their human form when they calm down. Not an easy task for an excitable 13-year-old.
To lock away this power for good, Meilin – voiced by Rosalie Chiang – has to wait until the next “blood moon” one month away (subtle!) to perform a magical ritual. All she has to do is compose herself for the next few weeks to avoid unleashing the beast within.
Simple, right? You would think so but, being a typical teen, she finds herself unable to resist using her powers to impress her peers.
In another subplot, her parents are reluctant to let her attend a concert featuring her favourite boy band, which frustrates her to no end.
And to complicate things further, her mum Ming (Sandra Oh) is the epitome of a helicopter parent, the kind who would drive to school with boxes of pads to show up her daughter.
Her controlling ways, while stemming from a good place, strain their relationship and lead to issues down the road.
Director Domee Shi, whose works include the touching Oscar-winning short “Bao” – literally about a Chinese bun – has said Meilin’s life is based on her own childhood experiences.
Indeed, it is refreshing to see a Disney/Pixar protagonist who is not insecure or unfulfilled in any way, especially one of Asian descent who has supportive friends and a loving family.
Like most Chinese youths, Meilin has been raised to believe in the merit of hard work, and she puts her heart and soul into it – so much so that she teeters between being adorkable and annoying.
“Turning Red” is an entertaining study of the messiness of adolescence and parental relationships; youngsters, in particular, are likely to relate strongly to her aspirations and woes.
In spite – or because – of its simple plot, there is a lot to be enjoyed by audiences of all demographics. Expect jokes about puberty, family, Chinese mythology and friendship, as well as themes of mother-daughter bonds and embracing life’s changes.
And, given that puberty is an inevitable phase in every young person’s life, perhaps “Turning Red” would be a good way for parents to give their kids “the talk” without any of them, well, turning red.
‘Turning Red’ is available on Disney+ Hotstar. Subscribe here or download the app for Android and iOS. It is also available on Astro.