Turning Red

Pixar's new movie Turning Red comes to Disney Plus this week. Here are the anime series that inspired director Domee Shi, and where you can watch them.

Aside from Ranma ½, Rumiko Takahashi’s fantasy romance adventure series Inuyasha was another prominent influence in the making of Turning Red. Both the manga and its 2000 anime adaptation follow the story of Kagome Higurashi, a middle school girl in modern-day Tokyo who is magically transported to the Sengoku period after falling down the well in her family’s shrine. And that whole device of a girl transforming into an animal, I feel like I see that a lot in anime.” In particular, the influences of anime are on full display throughout the film, from Turning Red’s soft color palette and energetic tone to Mei’s frequent transformation into a giant red panda every time she gets too stressed or excited.

The city of Toronto features prominently in Pixar's upcoming film, Turning Red, and what a wild ride it is.

Continuing the themes of her Oscar-winning animated short Bao – namely, the tension between raising a child and learning to let go – Shi’s film uses a smart, clever conceit to talk about everything from puberty (particularly menstruation) to the immigrant experience to bodily autonomy. The fact that it’s set in Toronto is simply the glaze on the Timbit. But Mei’s strict helicopter mom Ming (Sandra Oh) wants her close at all times, partly to help run the family’s temple gift shop, but also because … the Lee clan has an ancestral connection to a magical panda curse/superpower. Specifically: On the cusp of adulthood, all Lee women turn into giant red pandas whenever they experience strong emotions. Sure, there is a reasonable argument to be made that hometown audiences are predisposed to loving whatever Turning Red might have turned out to be: any opportunity to show international audiences that we, too, live in a world-class city deserving of Pixar’s many expensive pixels. Word on the street is that Pixar is dead. Canadian director Domee Shi’s new film, which is proudly set in the city circa 2002, not only reminds you of Pixar’s strength in general, but how animated films can deliver layered, tricky, emotionally resonant stories with a powerful, punchy pop.

In Theaters. TBD · Cast. Rosalie Chiang as Meilin "Mei" Lee; Sandra Oh as Ming Lee; Ava Morse as Miriam; Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya; Hyein Park as Abby; ...

But this story lacks the nuance or the fortitude to show where Mei was wrong, too. Teens need to have room to explore their individuality and test some limits; it’s part of growing up. And as adolescents mature, parents can gradually ease up on the restrictions a bit—especially if their kids, like Mei, have proven themselves to be reliable. And while Pixar’s movies are technically for kids, those labels can obscure the beauty, depth and resonance of the films themselves. Indeed, in some ways, it’s almost the grinning doppelganger of Brave. But generally, from Finding Nemo to The Incredibles, from WALL-E to Soul, Pixar films have generally pulled off a rare double achievement—offering audiences of all ages beautiful messages beautifully told.

SEATTLE — The latest offering from Pixar has a lot to say about growing up, mother/daughter relationships, Chinese culture, and early 2000's boy bands.