Turning Red

Movie Details:

Voice Cast & Characters:

• Rosalie Chiang as Meilin “Mei” Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl who discovers she can transform into a giant anthropomorphic red panda whenever she expresses strong emotions
• Sandra Oh as Ming Lee, Mei’s strict and overprotective mother
• Ava Morse as Miriam Mendelsohn, a singing Jewish Canadian tomboy with braces who is one of Mei’s best friends.
• Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya Mangal, a mellow and deadpan Indo-Canadian girl who is one of Mei’s best friends
• Hyein Park as Abby Park, an energetic and aggressive Korean Canadian girl and the shortest of Mei’s best friends
• Orion Lee as Jin Lee, Mei’s quiet yet supportive father
• Wai Ching Ho as Wu, Mei’s grandmother and Ming’s mother
• Tristan Allerick Chen as Tyler Nguyen-Baker, Mei’s classmate with front teeth braces who initially picks on Mei
• James Hong as Mr. Gao, a local elder, shaman, and friend of the Lee family
• Addie Chandler as Devon, a local convenience store clerk and Mei’s secret crush
• Sasha Roiz as Mr. Kieslowski, Mei’s high-school teacher at Lester B. Pearson Middle School.
• Lily Sanfelippo as Stacy Frick, a British Canadian girl and one of Mei’s classmates who sees her red panda form in the restroom
• Anne-Marie as Lauren, one of Mei’s classmates (UK version)

Storyline:

Toronto, Canada, 2002. Trying to juggle her burgeoning independence and the family’s expectations is about to become even more complicated when 13-year-old high-achiever Mei Lee makes an eye-opening discovery. And as her hyperactive teenage hormones kick in, having a mind of their own, Mei’s emotions also take on a life of their own: whenever she gets too stressed or excited about something, Mei triggers a strange, radical metamorphosis. Can Mei Lee endure puberty and the growing pains of growing up, or will she keep turning red?

About Movie:

Turning Red is an American animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Domee Shi in her feature directorial debut, the film features a screenplay by Shi and Julia Cho, with a story developed by Shi, Cho, and Sarah Streicher. It marks the first Pixar feature film solely directed by a woman and stars the voices of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho, Tristan Allerick Chen, and James Hong.

Set in Toronto in 2002, Turning Red follows Meilin “Mei” Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian student who transforms into a giant red panda whenever she experiences strong emotions—a hereditary curse that complicates her life as she navigates adolescence. The film explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the challenges of growing up.

Domee Shi developed the film based on her own experiences growing up in Toronto. She pitched three concepts to Pixar in October 2017, with Turning Red being selected for development in May 2018. The animation style incorporates influences from anime, featuring hand-drawn 2D effects layered over Pixar’s 3D animation. The film’s musical score was composed by Ludwig Göransson, while Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell contributed original songs.

Turning Red premiered in London on February 21, 2022, and had special screenings in Toronto on March 8 and at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on March 1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was released on March 11, 2022, on Disney+ and theatrically in regions without the streaming service. The film grossed over $21 million at the box office.

Critically acclaimed for its animation, humor, and emotional depth, Turning Red was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 95th Academy Awards among numerous other accolades. The film has been praised for its authentic portrayal of adolescence and cultural identity while resonating with audiences of all ages.

Overall, Turning Red stands out as a unique addition to Pixar’s lineup, combining humor with heartfelt storytelling that captures the complexities of growing up and embracing one’s true self.

Budget & Box Office Collection: