Very recently, I watched Disney Pixar’s Turning Red for the second time, after literally obsessing over it; watching its movie clips on YouTube repeatedly, and making memes on it (not making fun of this movie anyway). I first watched it around April, and since then I have fallen in love with this movie and of course, Mei’s cute red panda form.
The synopsis follows a 13-year-old confident, dorky Chinese-Canadian girl, Meilin “Mei” Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang). She discovers that she has the ability to turn into a giant red panda whenever she experiences extreme emotions, either positive or negative, and learns that it is a family trait passed down from her revered ancestor, Sun Yee. It also follows her overprotective mother, generational trauma, generation gap, and puberty. So, here’s my take on it. This might contain spoilers, or it may be a bit vague for those who didn’t watch the movie yet. So I suggest you watch it before reading this article.
This movie is loved, as well as misunderstood by many. A lot of people were uncomfortable about the discussion of periods and puberty, as well as complaining that a lot of the characters are “cringy”, and that Mei drew her crush, Devon in a rather sexual way! Let me tell you this, Mei is going through puberty. A lot of teens are boy/girl crazy at that time. Also, a lot of us were cringy during our teen years. We deny that a thirteen-year-old has sexual fantasies, but this is the reality! Because our hormones are raging at that time. We aren’t kids forever, right? I think I’m the only one who didn’t find it cringy, apart from Ming, Mei’s mom (voiced by Sandra Oh), showing Mei’s drawings to Devon IN PUBLIC! And also spying on her at school and making a scene! (How humiliating!)
Also, discussion of menstruation is important for people of all genders. It is not an adult thing anymore. In fact, a lot of girls, including me, started their menstrual cycle even before they officially reached adolescence (when Ming says, “It’s too soon” when she thinks that Mei had “the red peony blooming”). Some of them even get it when they’re 8-9 years old! Discussion about periods is very important, as it would prepare girls for it and not freak them out. This is what Mei’s sudden transition to being a giant red panda depicts, and as Dr. Courtney Tracy of The Truth Doctor Show says, it causes unintentional harm to the person (Mei wasn’t informed about the fact that she’ll turn into a giant red panda one day). Also, if the opposite sex or people of any gender aren’t informed about it, then they would grow up to become insensitive to someone on her period.
Making a taboo topic out of a biological mechanism is ridiculous, and I give big kudos to this movie for normalising the topic of periods, which is actually, “as normal as peeing or pooping” as Chinese-Canadian YouTuber Xiran Jay Zhao says. I’m hopeful that a time comes when we don’t feel embarassed about saying the word period.
Apart from puberty, I love how they depicted friendship. Mei, Miriam (Ava Morse), Priya (Maitrey Ramakrishnan) and Abby (Hyein Park) they are there for each other in the most critical times. Her friends empathised with her, and accepted her with open arms while she was struggling with the initial stages of her panda transformation, something which was missing from her family. They were the ones who taught her to accept herself the way she is. This is the reason why Mei could control her panda form when she thinks of her friends. I love how they are so supportive and close to each other, although they are so different personality-wise, and also ethnically (Miriam is Jewish, Abby is Korean-Canadian, and Priya is an Indian-Canadian, which makes me happy as I’m from India).
We love you Mei, no matter what. Panda, or no panda.
Miriam Mendelsohn
Then there is helicopter parenting, depicted by Ming spying on Mei in her school, reading her notebook with all Mei’s drawings without Mei’s permission, and also deciding to go to the mathletes club with Mei, even though Mei doesn’t want her to (she actually was supposed to go to Tyler’s birthday party in her panda form, to cover up for the money to buy tickets to the 4*Town concert). The mom really needs to chill! The more you try to pull your child to yourself, the more they drift apart, and setting healthy boundaries is a way to gain your child’s trust. Because of her mom’s actions when she discovered Mei’s drawings, Mei started to lose trust in her.
Also, helicopter parenting will not allow your child to grow into his/her/their own individual. He/she/they will be mentally and emotionally stunted. Your child will also lose self-esteem since they would feel that they cannot do anything without their parent’s approval.
And now, the most important topic comes; Generational Trauma. Ming might just look like an intrusive parent to you when you watch it at the beginning of this movie, and might cringe on her actions. But in the second half, you’ll see where she comes from, and understand and sympathize or empathize with her even more. Ming too came from an authoritarian parental figure, her mother, Grandma Wu (voiced by Wai Ching Ho) who expected her to be “perfect”. This suffocated her to the bottom. She finally had enough when Wu disapproved of her love, Jin (now Mei’s dad, voiced by Orion Lee. I love this character so much!). In panda form, Ming accidentally injured Wu by scratching her eyebrow, thus traumatizing Ming throughout her life. She repressed this guilt of hurting her mother for many years (hence her kaiju-sized red panda form in the end). So she promised to not raise Mei like her mother did. Ironically and unknowingly, Ming became the same authoritarian parental figure to Mei, expecting her to be the “perfect little Mei Mei.” Despite that, Ming always loved Mei. She just did not recognise her flaws as a parent.
I give a big kudos to the director of this film, Domee Shi, as well as her co-writer, Lindsay Collins, for realistically depicting the challenges teenage girls face as they transition as well as addressing generational trauma beautifully and that this movie doesn’t have a true villain, but flawed characters. Domee has made history by being the first female in Pixar to solely direct a film, after being the first female to direct a Pixar short, Bao. Looks like I have to keep track of the future films she makes, as she shows a lot of potential to become a great director and storyteller. I love that this movie had a two-sided perspective and that Chinese culture here was also realistically depicted. Being someone of both Chinese and Indian ethnicity and growing up in a family of Chinese descent, I love how the culture was shown here, without any appropriation, including the worshipping of your ancestors instead of gods, Chinese food, watching Chinese dramas at home, the tiger mom concept, and the aunties who can comment on your bodyweight without hesitation (even Indians do that!). Thankfully, the director is of Chinese origin and a first generation immigrant kid having first-hand exposure to Chinese culture, or else it would’ve been another Mulan 2020.
My favourite moments were Abby’s “YOU’RE SO FLUFFAAYYY!” when her friends see Mei’s panda form for the first time, Tyler’s party, the panda hustling scenes, Mei and her friends finding out that Tyler, who was initially a bully to them, is a 4*Townie too (which happens in the climax), and most importantly, the scene in which Mei has a conversation with Jin before she underwent the ritual to seal her panda.
But OF COURSE, my most favourite part of the movie is the climax! I feel that this is the best part of the film. It is when Mei underwent a ritual, after scaring herself in an incident she regretted, and unwillingly threw her friends under the bus when her mom blamed her friends for “corrupting” Mei’s mind (even though it was Mei who initiated all of this). It is when she realised that her panda is part of her, hence finally accepting it. As she decided to keep the panda and tried to go out of the temple (Mei’s family owns a temple), then her family and Mr. Gao, the shaman, tried to pull her back to redo the ritual, till she pushed them (not the best way to deal with it), shouting “I’M GOING TO THE CONCERT!” This broke Ming’s talisman, where her panda spirit was sealed. As she was heartbroken and enraged with Mei’s actions, and only Grandma Wu putting the blame on her and the aunties berating her for that adding salt in the wound (seriously? Ming wasn’t even responsible! Thankfully she had Jin who tried to comfort her!), her panda spirit came out and possessed her, as she decided to take Mei by force.
This is when Mei rushed to the concert, gained the ability to change into her panda form by will, and reconciled with her friends by sincerely taking accountability for her actions while discovering that Miriam had always been taking care of Mei’s Tamagotchi all this while (I’m so touched! I love Miriam all the more now), as well as having Tyler joining the gang!
The concert went very well, with Mei’s gang and the rest of the audience going all gaga over seeing 4*Town in real life for the first time, till Ming angrily plundered the Skydome in her kaiju-sized red panda form with her family and Mr. Gao rushing into the Skydome, in order to seal Ming’s panda now. This was hilarious, as Ming looked so much like a monster who would squish anyone coming on her way, and she was still being her mom while saying “Everyone go home! Where are your parents?! Put some clothes on!”. But this became the turning point in their relationship. Mei finally stood up for herself and admitted that she was the one who initiated the idea of hustling the panda and going to Tyler’s party.
I know and I’m sorry! I’ve been obsessed with my mom’s approval my whole life! I couldn’t take losing it! But losing you guys feels even worse!
Mei trying to reconcile with her friends after Miriam confronted her for throwing them under the bus
I’m not your little Mei Mei anymore! I LIED mom! It was MY idea to hustle the panda, MY idea to go to Tyler’s party! It was all me! I like boys, I like loud music, I like gyrating! I’M THIRTEEN DEAL WITH IT!
Mei standing up to her mom for the first time
Then, Ming and Mei got into a huge fight regarding Mei’s independence, during which everyone was preparing for the ritual. As their fight further escalated, Mei accidentally hurt Ming by banging into her head, and Ming fell unconscious. Feeling guilty and worried for her mother, Mei tried to pull her into the circle by the tail, followed by Grandma Wu and the aunties breaking their talismans and turning into their panda forms to help her. Their Cantonese ritual chanting was supported by 4*Town singing their hit song, “Nobody Like U”, which successfully brought them to the astral plane.
I’m just so sick of being perfect! I’m never gonna be good enough for her, or anyone!
Teenage Ming in the Astral plane
Then, as all of them went into the Astral plane, Mei encountered a teenage, distraught Ming, feeling extremely guilty about hurting her mom, saying that she’ll never be good enough for her, or anyone. Mei, having been through the same, empathized with her, saying that it isn’t true. Then, Mei guided her through the forest as Ming grew from teen to adult. There, she reconciled with her mom. While Grandma Wu, the aunties, and Ming chose to seal their panda spirit, Mei stood by hers, and Ming finally accepted her as herself instead of her perfect daughter. I loved this moment between mother and daughter. The ending is the most emotional part of the movie. Also, Sun Yee is so happy that finally, her descendant chose to keep the red panda spirit.
I’m changing, Mom, I’m finally figuring out who I am. But, I’m scared it’ll take me away from you.
Mei choosing to keep the panda, but feeling insecure
I see you Meimei. You try to make everyone happy but are so hard on yourself. And if I taught you that, I’m sorry. So don’t hold back for anyone. The farther you go, the prouder I’ll be.
Ming finally accepting Mei as herself
It’s so heartwarming seeing their relationship improve, and that Ming took accountability for her actions and decided to raise a HUGE amount of money to repair the Skydome. Mei’s panda became a tourist attraction, and the temple started doing good business, plus her dad now started getting involved in temple duties. Mei started to get more freedom, but at a limit. And Ming finally warmed up to Mei’s friends, by inviting them to join them for dinner, to which they happily agreed, for Jin’s cooking!!
This is why Turning Red is my all-time favourite movie; it resonates with everyone at one point. It gives us a message that we should accept and embrace ourselves and not strive to become “perfect” all the time. I recommend this movie to you to watch it. Please don’t get swayed away by some ridiculous reviews it got! Please watch it. It’s an amazing movie.
Esha Lee Madgavkar 