Those awkward teenage years take a rather . . . furry . . . turn of events in Disney and Pixar's latest movie, 'Turning Red'. Here's what we love about their latest feature film
We all remember our awkward teenage years. The growing pains that came with turning twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen can be particularly painful for some—myself included. But what happens when puberty comes with a much more magical—though inconvenient—aspect?
Disney and Pixar have recently released a new movie, one you've doubtless heard about already. Turning Red has been all over the Internet, and for a variety of reasons. For one, it is the first Pixar full-length feature to be directed by an Asian woman. Domee Shi, who also directed the Pixar short, Bao, helps to recreate a mystical, yet incredibly relatable world in Turning Red, one that everybody (Asian or not) must-see.
Read more: 5 Things You Need to Know About ‘Turning Red’, Pixar’s First Asian-Led Animated Film
The colour red
Turning Red is definitely not the first film to talk about growing pains. There are a plethora of movies—Disney, Pixar, and otherwise—that have taken up the humongous task of portraying all the awkwardness we remember from our teenage years.
The latest feature film, however, is among the first few of its kind to openly discuss menstruation, and that in itself is a huge step forward for female empowerment and sexual health. Don't get us wrong: Meilin Lee still feels very uncomfortable when her mother brings up the topic of periods, but in a way, that's very true to life. The title itself is allusive to puberty and Shi acknowledges this. According to the director, the symbol of the red panda does not only signify adolescence and puberty, it also stands for the things we inherit from our mothers—be it the values we treasure, or in Mei's case, the magical powers she inherits.
See also: Meet the Cast of ‘Turning Red’, Pixar’s First Asian-Led Movie
Throughout the film, there were moments that though not provocative, were quite suggestive. Mei's first crush on Devon sees her drawing pictures of them hugging; she later asks herself why she even drew those "horrible, awful, sexy things". There's also a moment when she peeks through the windows of the Daisy Mart and sees Devon, eventually catcalling at him. Lastly, there's speculation on the Internet that Daisy's friend, Priya, could be queer after she was seen dancing with a girl at Tyler's party.
While these are all moments that can be uncomfortable for some, they are also all very important. Who hasn't had those experiences of discovering their first crush, learning about their preferences, and coming to terms with sexuality? It may be taboo to speak of, but it's one that each individual can doubtless relate with.