Here’s our parent’s guide to help you decide whether or not to watch ‘Turning Red’ with your kids. Why, when Pixar movies are known to be one of the most loved and watched movies by kids for decades, you ask?
Well, one of their recent movies is ‘Turning Red,’ directed by Domee Shi, the Oscar-winning director for Pixar’s 2018 animated short Bao. It is a coming-of-age film that got some mixed reactions from viewers, as it tackles various subjects that might be a bit too mature for the little ones.
The film follows the life of Mei Lee, a 13-year-old girl who transforms into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited or emotional. The phenomenon is due to a hereditary curse that runs through their family. Her mother once also experienced the same phenomenon. As it continues with the next generation, their family is again challenged to solve it.
The movie simply explores the theme of family, identity, and growing up in a Chinese-Canadian community. Aside from its very unique plot, Pixar’s 25th film has set groundbreaking records for the animation studio, as it is known to be the first-ever Pixar film to be directed by a woman.
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Among the long list of Pixar movies released in the last decades, Domee Shi has become an inspiration to many aspiring women directors to reach for their dreams in the filming industry. Aside from that, the movie is also second to feature an Asian lead following 2009’s Up, which was also a big hit among many.
Although the movie is somehow set to show a heartwarming story of a family trying to solve their problems together, the movie was still rated as PG, which means parental guidance is suggested for young viewers. It is because some mild thematic elements and language are rarely seen in a Pixar movie.
Fans have also discussed online that the film might not be that appropriate for children to watch. Considering it has mature themes, including puberty and teenage rebellion, which is not something good to show to children.
However, in an interview, the show’s main lead, Chiang, stated her take on the movie. She stated that she thinks the red panda encompasses anything anyone could think of. Everyone has picked up their own message from the film, which Chiang finds really interesting.
That said, it shows that the film is so universal that anyone can take anything from it. Anyone can learn a lesson or two, depending on how they’ve interpreted the plot. Although it might seem like a coming-of-age and comedy movie, it combines different genres into one.
Here are some facts about the show you might want to know before watching.
Some Scenes Might Be Scary for Kids
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Considering it is a Pixar movie, it’s to be expected that the majority of the viewers would be kids from age seven and above. Parents should know that there are some contents from the film, like the transformation scenes, that they should be wary of, as little kids may find it scary.
The Film Uses Some Mild Language
It is quite rare for a Pixar movie to contain some light language. However, this movie is one of the few ones out there. Throughout the film, the kids use words like “crap,” “stupid,” “heck,” and “butt.” which are some words that are perceived to be inappropriate for kids to hear.
On top of that, there was one scene from the movie where Mei called a boy named Tyler from their school a “jerkwad.” This scene resulted in many discussions online.
Mei Rebels Against Her Parents
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Many know that when Mei turns into a red panda, her emotions are at their highest. She can get easily irritated and furious, which usually leads to her arguing with her parents.
As she lashes out at her parents, it results in her talking back to her mom. Such actions might be inappropriate for kids to watch, considering they might perceive such actions to be right.
In one scene in the movie, Mei asks her mom if she can go to a concert. However, it seems like her mother was not okay with it. So instead of listening, Mei and her friends decided to find ways to go to the event no matter what.
The group decided to raise money on their own to buy the tickets. Although some would say it is a nice example of kids finding ways to get what they want, it can also be interpreted as an inappropriately rebellious act.
Some Violence Was Observed Throughout the Movie
Since the movie revolves around Mei navigating through her life as a cursed child, she struggles mostly with anger issues. As her emotions start to elevate every time she experiences these extreme feelings, she tends to forget about others’ well-being and only focuses on herself. As a result, she ended up hurting people in some scenes of the film, despite her not really being aware of it.
Some Scenes Might Be Scary for Kids
Although this is an animated movie, some scenes might scare some kids. Throughout the movie, viewers can be exposed to a series of slightly jarring images, spooky scenes, and shocking sound effects, which would make anyone jolt in fear. Even though these scenes might not be that scary for teens and adults, it might not be the same with little kids.
The Film Focuses On Navigating Life Through Puberty
Mei was just in high school when these things happened to her. She struggled to fully understand life and know her true self, as most teenagers would.
As she navigates through her life as a teenager with such a predicament weighing on her, she has slowly realized how important it is to appreciate anything one has in their life.
That said, “Turning Red” is a heartwarming and funny movie that will likely appeal to children and adults. However, parents should use their judgment when deciding whether it’s appropriate for their kids based on their age and sensitivities.
Hoping this ultimate parent’s guide has helped you decide whether or not to let your kids watch the hit Pixar film, “Turning Red.”