Cristiana Moldovan (11) | STAFF REPORTER
Canadian Bao director and Academy Award winner, Domee Shi, has released yet another wildly successful movie: Turning Red. Originally released on February 21, 2022, this movie has wormed its way into the hearts of people everywhere.
The movie takes place in Toronto; the director’s hometown. The story follows a young thirteen-year-old girl, Meilin, who is dealing with her newfound teenage angst. The movie has a biographical feel to it, aside from the turning into a panda, as the dynamic between Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) and her mother Ming (Sandra Oh), is similar to the one between Domee Shi and her mother.
Turning Red is a coming-of-age story. It deals with topics such as craving independence, friendships, and complicated mother-daughter relationships. The story is so heartwarming and effortlessly funny, that it’s hard to imagine anyone having a problem with it. However, in the months since its release people have not hesitated to shout about their problems with the film.
The movie addresses topics that are often deemed “taboo” in children’s media. The title of the film itself is meant to allude to the menstrual cycle and growing pains in general.
Pixar Animation Studios have repeatedly come up with inventive ways of making coming-of-age stories comedic, relatable, and heartwarming, all the while keeping traditional animation components. Examples include: Inside Out, a pre-teen figuring out her emotions; Finding Nemo, a pre-teen (fish) searching for parental freedom; Luca, two teens (part-fish) figuring out the dynamics of relationships.
Yet none of the above movies have faced the criticism Turning Red has. Another point people have not failed to make is that Meilin is too “boy-crazy”. This criticism is made towards Meilin’s obsession with the boy band 4-Town, the doodles of her crushes, and the fan-favourite “Awooga” moment when she spots her crush in the halls.
The controversies that surround this film are exactly what has given it such sudden success. It’s blunt, it’s honest, it’s humorous, and it’s relatable. Such criticism should not stop anyone from watching and enjoying the film, adults, teens, and kids alike.
