16 Reasons Why "Turning Red" Is About To Be Your New Favorite Pixar Film

    It's an animated film unlike any other you've seen before.

    Devin Herenda
    by Devin Herenda

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Turning Red is Pixar's latest animated film project, which will be available for viewing on Disney+ starting March 11.

    Pixar, Regal / Via giphy.com

    The movie follows Mei Lee, a 13-year-old girl who is faced with some interesting scenarios as she turns into a large red panda whenever she feels overly stressed out.

    Here are 16 reasons why we can't wait to watch Turning Red.

    1. It has an awesome cast.

    Sandra Oh arrives at the "Turning Red" premiere, Wai Ching Ho poses at a screening for Marvel's "Iron Fist," James Hong poses at the See Us Unite for Change - The Asian American Foundation in service of the AAPI Community Broadcast Special event
    Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Disney, Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo / FilmMagic / Getty Images, Photo by Rich Fury / Getty Images for See Us Unite

    The impressive Turning Red cast list includes actors Sandra Oh as Ming, Wai Ching Ho as Grandma, and James Hong as Mr. Gao. In addition, Rosalie Chiang voices the lead role of Mei, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Hyein Park provide additional voices in the film.

    2. Its director, Domee Shi, won an Oscar for her previous work in animation.

    Becky Neiman (left) and Domee Shi pose with their Oscars in 2019
    Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images

    The acclaimed Pixar short film, Bao, was written and directed by Domee. She won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film with Becky Neiman for the project in 2019.

    3. Domee normalizes periods and puberty in the film.

    Mei talks to her mother after she's turned into a panda in the "Turning Red" trailer
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    In a March 2022 interview with Uproxx, Domee addressed how Turning Red includes moments of Mei's mom asking if she's had her first period yet.

    "It’s so weird because it happens to every woman, every girl, but you just don’t hear about it or talk about it and it’s awkward and crazy, but we all go through it," Domee said. "But in that moment you feel so alone. So, it’s just my attempt to just help these girls and women feel seen in that way."

    4. Turning Red shows that it's okay for children to feel imperfect along their journey of self-discovery.

    Mei and her friends pose in the "Turning Red" trailer
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    Sandra has stated that she hopesTurning Red will initiate discussions amongst Asian families about how it's normal for kids to have flaws or not always meet their parents' expectations throughout adolescence.

    “What I hope this film opens up is a conversation for those in the Asian community. When you’re a young person, you’re going to disappoint your parents,” she said to NBC Asian America. “It’s very hard for us, but you will and it’s okay. It’s natural and you need to find your own way.”

    5. It's the first Pixar film to be directed by an Asian woman.

    Domee Shi poses at the Hollywood premiere of "Turning Red"
    Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images

    Domee is the first Asian woman to direct a Pixar feature-length movie with Turning Red. She used this opportunity to show a positive representation of the Asian community.

    "I felt definitely a lot of responsibility and pressure in depicting ... this story about this Chinese-Canadian girl because there just isn't a lot of Asian representation still in our media," Domee said to The Nerds of Color in February 2022. "It's a big deal when a big Hollywood studio backs this movie."

    6. It's also the first Pixar film to have female leadership across the board.

    Domee Shi, Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, and Lindsey Collins pose at the "Turning Red" premiere
    Dave J Hogan / Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

    Not only did Domee lead the project as its co-writer and director, but Turning Red also includes other women in leadership positions, as Lindsey Collins produced the film and Julia Cho co-wrote the screenplay.

    “I didn’t even realize it was an all female-led team until the wrap party when I actually watched the movie," Rosalie said to The Hollywood Reporter in March 2022.  "I think that really speaks for how great this movie is.”

    7. Turning Red includes Pixar's first boy band.

    8. It features music from Billie Eilish and Finneas.

    Finneas and Billie Eilish pose at Variety's Hitmakers Brunch with their awards on December 04, 2021
    Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Variety

    Billie and Finneas co-wrote "Nobody Like U" for the Turning Red soundtrack. Both expressed the love they have for Pixar when they were interviewed for the film by IMDb.

    "The impact that Pixar has on all humans, it's really kind of amazing to think about," Billie said.

    "Within this sort of treasure chest you put memories of your childhood in, Pixar films loom pretty large," Finneas added.

    Billie also told Pixar that writing with Finneas for Turning Red was "the most fun" they've ever had collaborating together on music.

    9. It explores the experiences of Asian and immigrant families.

    Mei hugs her mom as her dad sits at the dinner table
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    In Turning Red, Mei and her mother, Ming, are sometimes at odds as Mei goes through girlhood. Domee included this in the movie to reflect the experiences of Asian and immigrant children.

    “I think, especially for immigrant kids, Asian kids, and for Mei in the movie, I think she has to come to realize that there is no perfect relationship with your parents, that it is always going to be messy,” Domee said in her NBC News interview.

    She was also quoted as having said in a press conference that the filmmakers chose to "explore the nuances of Asian parent-child relationship in dealing with change, and of intergenerational conflict and how it can shape who we become." 

    10. It reminds audiences that it's okay to be emotional sometimes.

    Mei cries under the covers in "Turning Red"
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    While speaking to The New York Times, Lindsey explained that one mission of Turning Red is to send the message that embracing emotions is a positive thing.

    “Girls and women are always judged for not controlling their emotions — ugh, she’s so emotional,” she said. “I love that we have a main character who is learning over time that she doesn’t have to push emotions away or get rid of them to be considered a good girl or a good woman. The movie is ultimately about being able to own your emotions. Own ’em!”

    11. Turning Red is an animated film for both kids and adults.

    12. It revisits a time in life everybody can relate to.

    Mei Lee cries as she turns into a big red panda bear
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    Watching Mei navigate adolescence in Turning Red will bring viewers back to the awkward stages that go along with being a young teenager.

    "The inspiration behind Turning Red comes from my own life growing up as a dorky, Chinese-Canadian girl in Toronto, Canada," Domee told IMDb. "It really taps into that awkward, cringey time in all of our lives when we were 13, when everything in our lives [was] changing."

    13. Turning Red has some nods to Domee's hometown of Toronto.

    Domee Shi talks about how she incorporated her Toronto upbringing in "Turning Red"
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    Pixar was very open to including real-life elements associated with Domee's Toronto upbringing, which contributes to the film's appeal.

    "I think it added to the specificity and the charm of the original pitch, that it was about a Chinese-Canadian girl. It just added a uniqueness to it," Domee told Uproxx. "It was very exciting for Pixar to be like, Oh, we can put more Canadian Easter eggs and explore Canadian culture on the big screen ... [and] just seeing how much diversity we can put in the movie ... It was just a really cool opportunity."

    14. It brings depth to girlhood stories.

    Mei carries dumplings in "Turning Red"
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    Julia told The Hollywood Reporter that she and Domee wrote the screenplay for Turning Red with just as much care as tales of boyhood are given in film.

    “We’re treating girlhood as complex and as authentically as we treat so many stories of boyhood that are already in the culture,” she said. “For me, I think what I really love is seeing older men being like, ‘I love this movie because of my daughter.’ There’s something in there for all of us.”

    15. It accurately depicts a Chinese household.

    Mei's parents are in the kitchen and wait for her to join them for a meal
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    Domee said in her Nerds of Color interview that writing with Julia and working with production designer Rona Liu was vital in creating Turning Red. Their combined experiences resulted in Mei's realistic Chinese household.

    "I also knew that this is gonna reach audiences who are unfamiliar with a Chinese household, and I was excited to introduce people into this world," Domee said. "I knew I was in good hands when it came to the design of the world 'cause I knew ... [Rona] would do her research, she would draw from her own life in dressing Mei's house and her bedroom just to make it feel like a real, authentic, Chinese immigrant household."

    16. And, lastly, Turning Red is a unique story with a heartfelt message at its core.

    Mei dances with her friends at a party
    Pixar / Via youtube.com

    Mei turning into a red panda whenever she is experiencing heightened emotions is a different concept and entertaining for audiences. This plot element mixed with the major themes of Turning Red results in a fulfilling cinematic experience for viewers.

    "I think Turning Red is universal," Sandra said to IMDb. "It's about finding your own voice and then accepting your own voice."

    "We're bringing something new and different while also keeping with the Pixar tradition of great stories with great characters," Lindsey said.

    Don't miss Turning Red when it comes out this Friday on Disney+!

    Pixar / Via giphy.com