disclosure: I was provided with a digital copy of Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.
Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red is available on all major digital platforms and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. Pixar fans can transport back to the early aughts and experience all the warm and fuzzy red panda Mei-hem with never-before-seen bonus material including seven deleted scenes, three featurettes and audio commentary with Director Domee Shi. Turning Red is also streaming on Disney+.
What is Turning Red about?
In Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red, confident, dorky 13-year-old Mei must balance being a dutiful daughter with the chaos of adolescence. Her slightly overbearing mom is never far from her daughter. And, as if changes to Mei’s interests, relationships and body aren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited, she “poofs” into a giant red panda!
The Cast
Turning Red stars Rosalie Chiang as Meilin Lee, Sandra Oh as Ming Lee, Ava Morse as Miriam, Hyein Park as Abby, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya, Orion Lee as Jin Lee and Tristan Allerick Chen as Tyler Nguyen-Baker
Is Turning Red safe for all ages?
I’m going out on a limb here – I would not recommend Turning Red for the younger crowd. Turning Red is a spastic movie with a lot of teen developments – including the use of the word “sexy.” While I felt this was appropriate for the age of the kids portrayed in this movie, parents should be aware. While this may be an animated Disney and Pixar movie, it is rated PG for thematic material, suggestive content and language. If that sort of thing is inappropriate for your young children, this may be a movie to wait to watch.
My Thoughts
I’ll be honest – Turning Red was not a favorite movie in our home. There is SO much going on in this movie, we found it hard to follow.
Bonus Features Available
- Audio Commentary – View the film with audio commentary by director Domee Shi, producer Lindsey Collins, and director of photography Mahyar Abousaeedi.
- Featurettes
- Life of a Shot – Domee Shi and members of the crew describe the many-layered process and artistry involved in creating the hilarious Red Peony scene – from observing red pandas in a zoo to creating a storyboard to finalizing the animation and background lighting.
- Build Your Own Boy Band – Step backstage to learn how 4*TOWN came to animated life. From creating each band member’s persona to writing and producing the songs to fine-tuning the details of their stadium performance, the filmmakers reveal how they designed the ultimate boy band.
- Ani-Mei-Tion – Because Mei’s heightened emotionality is central to the story, it was important that her look and movement reflect that energy. Learn how Domee Shi led the animation team to incorporate hints of expressive anime to create Mei’s lovable, dynamic character.
- Deleted Scenes
- Deleted Scenes Introduction – Director Domee Shi introduces scenes not included in the final version of Turning Red.
- Intro Meilin – In this alternate opening, Ming and young Mei have their portrait taken in a studio…but Ming has her own specific vision for the photo.
- Taming The Panda – Under her mother’s guidance, Mei learns techniques to control her ability to magically turn into a red panda…to varying degrees of success.
- The Debate – Mei runs for class president against frenemy Tyler, and the speeches get a little out of hand.
- Fei And Christina Hang – Mei (formerly Fei) shares a banana split while having a heart-to-heart with Aunt Christina.
- 4*TOWN Dilemma – Mei scores tickets to her dream concert, but her strict mother won’t let her out of the house. What will she do?
- Roping In Leo – Pleading with Leo for help with getting out of trouble, Mei learns a couple of his closely guarded secrets.
- Easter Egg – Robutton Deleted Scene – An alternate ending in which Mei, finding herself sitting next to her 4*TOWN dream-idol Robaire on a flight to California, has some feelings.*bonus features vary by product and retailer
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
