Growing up is a beast.|Mar. 10, 2022|United States|100 Min.|PG
Genre: Animation;Comedy;Family;Fantasy
Description: “Turning Red,” a 2022 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film, was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directed by Domee Shi in her feature debut, the film features a screenplay co-written by Shi and Julia Cho. Starring the voices of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Hyein Park, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho, and James Hong, the movie marks several firsts for Pixar: it is the first film solely directed by a woman, the first set in Canada, and the second to feature an Asian lead character after “Up.”
The story follows Meilin “Mei” Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian student living in Toronto. Mei is shocked to discover that intense emotions like excitement or stress trigger her transformation into a giant red panda. She can revert to her human form by calming down. Later, her mother Ming reveals that this is a family curse tied to their ancestors, which can be controlled through a special ritual. However, the ritual coincides with a concert by Mei’s favorite boy band, 4*Town.
Inspired by Shi’s personal experiences in Toronto, the film began development in 2018 after she pitched the idea to Pixar in 2017. A special screening was held in London on February 21, 2022, followed by its world premiere on March 1, 2022. The movie was released on Disney+ in select countries on March 11, 2022, alongside a limited theatrical run at the El Capitan Theatre. In regions without Disney+, it was released in theaters. Originally planned for a global theatrical release, the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the Omicron variant led to the change in distribution. The film received widespread praise for its engaging story, humor, animation, and cultural authenticity.
Cast director: Domee Shi
Cast actor: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Jordan Fisher, Grayson Villanueva, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo, Finneas O’Connell, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho, Ava Morse
Original name: Turning Red