Turning Red - Fluffy Fun

 

Streaming on Disney + 

    Gems like this are excellent examples of why separating art from the artist is so important. Because while Disney, as a corporate entity, has been (and likely always will be) a repugnant and unempathetic bully, they continue to produce works of entertainment of genuinely excellent quality. They tend to be best served as a distributor of people's talents more excellent than themselves like the ever-reliable PIXAR, whose reputation for excellence can best be summed up in two words, Toy Story. 

    PIXAR's latest offering, Turning Red, is committed to exploring different ideas and provides yet another fun and almost unique take on a classic idea. Yes, there have already been comparisons to Teen Wolf, and the apparent puberty metaphors are impossible to miss. Still, those classic story ideas are presented in an incredibly different direction not often seen in movies, let alone those produced by Disney. It's a loving tale of friendship, heritage, individuality, and getting to decide what being a grown-up actually means for you. 

    Set in Toronto in 2002 (for some reason), the story follows a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl named Meilin (Rosalie Chiang), whose extraverted energy, along with her three best friends, gives her the confidence to do well in school and seek out her true self. Her only unintentional obstacle is her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), a helicopter mom who means well but seems oblivious to how her "caring" causes more problems than they solve. Despite that, Meilin loves her family and does her best to do her part by helping out with the family business; a tourist attraction in the form of a family-owned ancient temple in honor of their great ancestor, whose connection to animals turns out to be much stronger than Meilin could have ever believed. 

    This becomes even more apparent when Meilin wakes up one morning to discover that she can transform into a giant Red Panda when struck by strong emotional responses. As it turns out, her ancestor imparted onto the women in her family a special "gift." To protect her home and children, she was granted the ability to transform into the Red Panda, and it has been passed down to all the women in Meilin's family ever since. While it may have been a blessing then, it has become more of an inconvenience in the present.

     The solution is to perform a special ritual on a specific day (one month from the time of discovery) to remove the Red Panda spirit from Meilin and transplant it into a talisman, keeping it forever at bay. The only question is will Meilin want to part with her gift when the time comes? 

    What makes this film work so well is the characters. Meilin, as a protagonist, is likable and incredibly relatable. Her connection to her friends and her efforts to genuinely appease her family (despite her clueless mother making things worse at times) make her struggle more human. Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from PIXAR. 

    Unlike most teenaged protagonists in movies like this, Meilin isn't rebellious of her family, nor does she lack any appreciation for her heritage. Her story is more about finding the courage to let her mother see her for who she is rather than what she believes she ought to be. It's a relatable struggle of expectations vs. reality, which everyone can relate to somehow. 

    The MVP award goes to Meilin's trio of friends. They are, quite simply, awesome! They're supportive, endearing, and delightfully quirky in their own way. These are the kinds of friends we all should be so lucky to have. 

    The animation, as you might expect from PIXAR, is absolutely gorgeous. The more heavily stylized designs are delightfully fun, especially the design of Red Panda. It is so unbelievably adorable that it may inspire me to get a Red Panda plushy. Yes, I am that much of a sucker! 

    Turning Red is a classic coming-of-age story with enough modern twists and new takes on the subject to warrant high praise. With its lovable characters and relatable story, it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. While it can sometimes be a bit too hyperactive for my taste (which, coming from me, is saying a lot), its overwhelming and heartfelt charm more than makes up for it. Few other films have the magic to provide warm fuzzies in so many ways. 

    Check this one out. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.