'Turning Red' Review: A Puberty Tale With Heart And Flair
Pixar is shifting their focus toward puberty with ‘Turning Red’, a unique, flavorful entry into their beloved canon of animated films.
It’s a shame that a Pixar entry like Turning Red must join the ranks of another film like Luca in being dumped on Disney+, rather than being given a full theatrical release. Both films are refreshing changes of pace for the animation studio, especially after a considerable run of sequels that weren’t quite able to recapture the magic of their predecessors, such as The Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4.
The film tells the story of a young girl named Meilin, voiced by Rosalie Chiang, who turns into a giant red panda when her emotions get the better of her and must learn to control herself in order to hide her secret. While the film is a rather obvious metaphor for puberty, it handles the topic with a deft, gentle hand. Elevating the story is the cast, which is all around fantastic. In addition to Chiang, the supporting cast includes Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, all of whom voice their characters to perfection.
This is easily one of the most visually appealing and immersive films Pixar has released to date. From the first frame, the visual aesthetic of the film is wholly unique, looking and feeling as if it was ripped straight out of a comic book or anime. The colors are always vibrant, the animation is crisp and incredibly detailed, and there is a creativity and passion from director Domee Shi that is on full display throughout. It’s a beautiful looking animated film that can visually go toe-to-toe with Sony Animation’s recent output of films, such as The Mitchells vs The Machines and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. This is an exciting avenue Pixar is going down and one has to hope this film doesn’t become a visual outlier in their catalog.
The film also has a tremendous focus on character, fleshing out Meilin and her family in ways that make them widely accessible and likable. The film also bears a heavy focus on the relationship between mother and daughter, whether it be between Meilin and her mother or between her mother and her own. When the film explores these relationships, it truly stands out, the interplay between these characters not only adding new emotional dimensions, but also revealing important backstory that doesn’t feel forced. The dynamic between Meilin and her mother, voiced by Oh, is very strong, especially when their relationship is put more and more to the test as the plot thickens.
However, the central message of the film that heavily pertains to puberty and change overall is where the film soars. As Meilin struggles with her newfound problem and it takes a considerable toll on her emotionally, the widespread acceptance from her friends is heartwarming and wonderfully displayed. The film conveys the potent message that change can be scary, but that it can also be an amazing thing once we acclimate and adjust. This isn’t a message that the audience is hit over the head with, but rather shown with care and subtlety. The support from Meilin’s friends helps the character grow and the fact they all have fun, colorful personalities is simply the cherry on top.
The film also has a great balance of humor and heart, never straying too far in one direction where it might lose the audience. The humor is a fantastic blend of slapstick and witty, while the heart is powerful and perfectly handled, particularly in the film’s larger than life climax where the emotional throughline of the story reaches its fever pitch. There is plenty of humor that kids and adults alike will enjoy and plenty for older audiences to relate to given the nature of the story.
Unfortunately, this animated adventure suffers from a strong case of predictability. It’s clear early on where the film will be headed and it never veers off course in any exciting new directions that would help it stand out in terms of storytelling compared to other Pixar efforts. Even the film’s climax, which is fun and visually stunning, never takes any narrative turns that were surprising or different, leading to a safe, albeit heartwarming conclusion. Also, though the film is enjoyable and visually dynamic, it’s difficult to see this one having much replay value going forward.
Though Turning Red isn’t a perfect film, it marks an exciting turn for Pixar creatively. Its heavily stylized visual aesthetic, coupled with its humor and heart, make it a solid outing for families looking for their latest animated fix. It may not be the animation studio’s most memorable film, but it shows signs of growth and evolution. Sometimes, you can teach an old dog new tricks and it’s clear Pixar has plenty more up its sleeve.