Back in March 2022, a new gem was added to Pixar’s sparkling catalog:Turning Red. This animated film revolves around Mei Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl who struggles between being obedient to her parents' commands and experiencing the chaos ofbeing a teenager. And as if that weren’t enough, she is tormented by an inherited curse that turns her into a giant red panda whenever she experiences a strong emotion. Fortunately, Mei counts on the help of her loyal group of friends and her family, who eventually come to terms with who she is and learn to support her decisions.
Turning Redwas a landmark in Pixar’s history as the company’s first film to be directedexclusively by a woman, Domee Shi, who had already won an Academy Award for her Pixar shortBao. Besides directing, Shi also co-wrote the script alongside Julia Cho, and their personal experiences served as inspiration for Mei’s story, her connection with her mother, and the journeyfrom childhood to adolescence, noting how revolutionary it is not only for the person going through it, but also for their entire family. PerRotten Tomatoes, this movie became a hit among critics and audiences, mainly because of its theme and for featuring a range of diverse and unique characters, allowing viewers to easily identify at least with some of them. Here is a review of the best characters in this ode to friendship and growth.
8Grandma Wu
Mrs. Wuis Ming’s mother and Mei’s grandmother, and she was played by Wai Ching Ho. This impeccably styled and extremely strict woman has largely influenced the way Ming lives and her expectations for her daughter, especially regarding the red panda’s “curse”. Since that was the issue that split Grandma Wu from her daughter, she strongly tries to convince her granddaughter to get rid of the curse. However, this emblematic woman manages to overcome her controlling nature to save her daughter, which ultimately mends their relationship.
Related:Turning Red: What We Want to See in a Sequel
7The members of 4*TOWN
4TOWNis the boy band that Mei and her friends (as well as the entire world!) seem to love. The group is made up of five boys: Aaron Z., Aaron T., Robaire, Jesse, and Tae Young, and even though they’re not a real band, there’s something about them that makes the audience feel a sense of familiarity. That might have to do with the fact that the filmmakers drew inspiration from the typical boy bands of the 90s and early-2000s, such as NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, as well as the frenzy they caused among the public, selling out stadiums and landing on the covers of every teen magazine. 4TOWN’s members differ quite a bit in personality, yet they make up a harmonious and talented group. The band’s songs were composed by Billie Eilish and her brother and music producer Finneas.
Sandra Oh lent her voiceto portrayMing, Mei’s overprotective mother. She is a proud mom and wife, who is willing to do anything to defend her family, and while she may often seem a bit too intense and over-the-top, she comes at it from a place of love. It is her intention for Mei to remain as her perfect little girl that cracks their relationship, but Ming, just like her own mother, eventually realizes that there is nothing wrong with allowing one’s children to enjoy their freedom.
Jin Leeis Mei’s father, and he was played by Orion Lee. Jin and Ming complement each other as a couple, as Jin’s quiet personality neutralizes, at times, his wife’s over-the-top nature. He is also the middleman between her and their daughter, as he helps them work through their conflicts and empathize with each other. The man enjoys the small pleasures in life and, like many fathers, takes pride in his dad jokes, but has just the right word when his daughter needs some advice. Jin is the first one who, upon discovering the positive impact the red panda has on Mei, encourages her to accept her gift and not go through with the ritual.
Related:8 Movies Like Turning Red to Watch Next
4Priya Mangal
Priyais the most laid-back of Mei’s friends, and she was played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. She’s a cool young Indian-Canadian girl with a deadpan face, but like her friends, she gets excited about the stuff she likes: 4*TOWN and all things macabre, gothic, or mythological. In fact, in the film, she is seen reading theNightfallseries, in a clear homage to theTwilightseries, Stephenie Meyer’s YA saga. She is one of the few Pixar characters to wear nose jewelry and the fourth LGBTQ+ character in the company’s history.
3Miriam Mendelsohn
Ava Morse playedMiriam, one of Mei’s best friends. Loyal and caring, Miriam has no trouble showing herself as she is, which causes Ming to often consider her a bad influence on Mei. She is usually the one who cares the most about the welfare of others, and is attentive to making them feel loved. When her friend turned into a red panda, Miriam was the first one to support her and tell her that she would be loved no matter what she looks like. And, despite her immediate anger when Mei ditched them before 4*TOWN’s concert, she was able to fully understand and forgive her friend.
2Abby Park
Abbyis the energetic one of the group. Played by Hyein Park, this Korean-Canadian girl is amusing, chaotic, and at times her reactions can seem over the top, but hilarious. Abby is self-confident and has an unusual aggressiveness, especially towards herself and those who deliberately do bad things. She tends to get angry quite easily, which tends to get her very distracted, and she is not afraid to say what she wants, unfiltered and straightforward. Also, Abby is a very upbeat person who always sees the positive side of things, which affects Mei and the rest of her friends in a positive way.
Meiwas played by Rosalie Chiang, and was inspired by Domee Shi’s personal story, yet is sure to strike a chord with thousands of girls and boys around the world. Mei is a confident girl who loves school and spending time with her friends. She has a very close relationship with her parents, but everything changes when she discovers her gift: with the arrival of the red panda, Mei becomes afraid to show herself as she is, turns anxious, and gets frustrated very easily, which leads to several problems in her life and her relationships with her family and friends. Eventually, Mei manages to embrace herself for who she is, mend her relationships and transform into a happier version of herself, proving that there is nothing wrong with cherishing what makes us different from others.
