REVIEW: How Disney Pixar’s “Turning Red” is hilarious yet relatable despite recent controversy
Disney released its latest Pixar animated film, “Turning Red.” Since then it has sparked controversy after talking about “taboo” topics.
“Turning Red” is an animated movie that takes place in Toronto, Canada in 2002, and that focuses on the protagonist, 13-year-old Meilin Lee, who goes by Mei throughout the film.
Throughout the movie, Mei deals with the pains of growing up and a genetic quirk that comes along with it. This movie is heartwarming and hilarious yet relatable to a targeted audience.
“Turning Red” focuses on Toronto’s Chinatown, representing culture and director Domee Shi’s hometown. “Turning Red” does a great job with representing each culture and talking about women’s health in a humorous way and like any other Pixar movie, it hits you in the feels.
When the movie was released, it ran into some controversy regarding the topics it covers. The title of the movie is a metaphor for the menstrual cycle that many people go through during puberty.
“Turning Red” highlights the importance of puberty and women’s health and how important it is for young people to be educated and know about periods, whether they go through them or not.
Since its release, many people took to social media and called the movie “inappropriate” for kids in a younger audience. However, as someone who has a period I have never related to a movie so well, let alone an animated movie.
As someone who started physically growing up so young, I wish I had movies like “Turning Red” to help me laugh about the ups and downs of growing up.
This movie is one of the best movies Pixar has released yet. After reading this review, please give “Turning Red” a chance, who knows, maybe you’ll find some things in the movie that you can relate to as well.
Jacinda Hall is a reporter for The Sunflower. Hall previously served as podcast editor and is a senior majoring in journalism and media production with...
Cannot Change Your Gender • Jun 21, 2022 at 10:26 am
Only women have periods. Only women have a uterus.
Lefty Throckmorton • Jun 23, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Exactly that.
Yesimaliberal • May 16, 2022 at 9:00 pm
These commenters are wild yikes. I wonder what’s it’s like to be scared of education and diversity, it doesn’t seem like a good time. The idea that “children don’t need to know these things” is sad. Children are so curious and naturally inclined to learn as they grow. Providing them with information about the world around them is such a powerful tool ♥️
Anonymous • Aug 12, 2022 at 11:41 pm
☹️ There’s such thing as trust, a mother trust Disney in creating clean, fun, children movies and will not dip their toes in some issues showing children of twerking hitting their behind, it might look funny but we all know such actions were seen in music videos with different insinuations, its not funny if my 7 year old daughter suddenly starts doing twerking while hitting her behind, and there’s a lot of as you said information that can be taught at home in consideration of the family’s values.
Suzette LaMar • Apr 5, 2022 at 4:29 pm
You made the typical “woke” mistake of saying: The title of the movie is a metaphor for the menstrual cycle that many people go through during puberty.
It should read “that many girls go through at puberty. Boys do not have menstrual cycles wether they are boys or boys who want to be girls.
And young children do not need the stress of dealing with this kind of thing. There are enough things in life that are confusing and they can deal with this when they are age appropriate. So many stupid people now days trying to force adult things on young children. It’s discusting!!!
Sam LaMar • Apr 7, 2022 at 11:41 am
Also, it is disgusting.
Who Cares? • Apr 17, 2022 at 9:15 pm
Your entitled to your own opinion and it’s a good thing it doesn’t matter.
Nohbdy • Apr 21, 2022 at 6:30 pm
You tried SO hard to dance around outright saying “I am trans-phobic, I am a bigot,” and it shows. No one is going to- what?- cancel you if you just casually say “girls have periods” without mentioning trans people.
Being trans doesn’t happen when someone learns about it and they suddenly “decide” to identify as something else. Virtually everyone who is trans feels a profound disconnect with their assigned gender way, way before they hear what being trans is or before they turn 18— the problem is that, without the knowledge of what being trans is, these people struggle with their identity, they feel incredible pressure and stress over not feeling “girly enough” or “manly enough,” and over not fitting in.
It isn’t anything like “I have a uterus and I don’t like Barbie dolls, I must be trans,” no! Being trans is not just a feeling, it has a real basis in a person’s biology, from the way their brain is wired to the amount of estrogen, testosterone or other hormones are produced to their DNA and chromosomes… and because these people are different does NOT make them “defective” or “crazy” or “wrong.” Who the hell are you to tell someone else that their long-held convictions and personal biology (not just primary sexual organs) are wrong??
This lack of support and outright disapproval of trans people is why the suicide rate amongst trans people is so high. Their friends and families cease to support them because of their own ignorance of trans people.
*** I am not even kidding here, I have seen this time and time again because I have a trans brother and trans friends— please, PLEASE do NOT have kids because if they grow up trans, I know you will ruin their lives. And even if you don’t have trans kids, your kids will most likely take after you with your ignorant, trans-phobic ways and that makes me so, so sad.
Vicki • Apr 22, 2022 at 9:13 pm
The problem is people and young children who don’t know Adam from eve, eve from eve or Adam from Adam are being shown this. Just because children like playing and dressing like the opposite sex doesn’t make them a Trans. Just because they kissed the same sex in 2nd, 3rd grade. Then liked a boy doest make them bi-sexual. Please don’t say that. If your theory was/is right than I’m as gay or Trans as anyone one could be. Nope kissing a woman sexually is gross to me. I don’t have to say I’m a Trans Male. I can play being a man except anything to do with internal things all I want. I’m straight white and proud. Call me homophobic or racist all you want. I’m just saying the same as pride group or a black person would say. I’m just using my pronouns.
think before u do • May 12, 2022 at 12:01 pm
Lefty Throckmorton • Jun 23, 2022 at 4:39 pm
Vicki, do you ever hear yourself speak?
Username Terminated • Jul 17, 2022 at 2:53 am
I don’t think you know what a pride group or black person would say since you aren’t one.
steve • May 11, 2022 at 1:42 pm
You can say the same about pedophiles they are wired different but nobody let’s them do what they want. We can go even deeper into the rabbit hole, what about people who are into incest? Why do we tell them they are wrong and not trans? After a while you can’t just pick and choose who get’s to have a say. If you say yes to one group then you have to say yes to all groups.
CgZ • Apr 27, 2022 at 7:32 pm
I agree, this is a phase for girls not people in general. Also everyone is entitled to their own opinion and no one has to like mine. I feel that it’s a parents job to teach their children certain things.
Chelsa • May 11, 2022 at 1:26 pm
So based on your response, I can logically conclude:
1. You are transphobic. There is literally no other reason for you to have gotten so hung up on the reviewer’s choice of words. Most people likely didn’t even notice it until you pointed it out.
2. You went through puberty and got your first period… as an adult? Which is odd, but sure. Since you seem to be unfamiliar with human physiology, the majority of people go through puberty when they are still children. I got my first period (*gasp* I talked about my period ) when I was 11. I know people who got theirs as young as 9. This is not an adult thing being “forced on” children. This is a child thing that a responsible adult has chosen to address in a way that children can relate to.
3. The only thing “discusting” here is your opinion
think before u do • May 12, 2022 at 12:02 pm