Top 10 Ways Turning Red Is Unlike Any Other Pixar Movie
Top 10 Ways Turning Red Is Different From Other Pixar Films
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Ways Turning Red Is Different From Other Pixar Films. For this list, we’ll be looking at how Pixar’s latest animated feature differs from the studio’s past projects and changes the game. What did you think of “Turning Red?” Let us know in the comments.
#10: The Fourth Wall Breaks
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“Turning Red” immediately establishes a unique tone as Meilin Lee breaks the fourth wall - a first for a Pixar feature. There are usually two types of characters who talk directly to the audience. Some are so confident and outgoing that they’re able to acknowledge the viewer that everyone else either ignores or can’t see. Others are shy and insecure, opening up to the audience because they can’t be upfront with others. Mei is a bit of both. She isn’t afraid to be 100% herself around friends and peers. Around her mother, though, she hides the rebellious woman beginning to blossom. Unsurprisingly, director Domee Shi grew up with “Clarissa Explains It All” and “Lizzie McGuire,” which also used the fourth wall to channel teen angst.
#9: Ludwig Göransson’s Musical Score
Pixar has a list of go-to composers, most notably Randy Newman, Thomas Newman, and Michael Giacchino. “Turning Red” marks the first Pixar score from Ludwig Göransson. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Göransson won an Oscar for “Black Panther” and an Emmy for his work on “The Mandalorian.” In “Turning Red,” Göransson’s music helps to bridge the gap between two very different worlds. For Mei’s friendships and school life, Göransson injects a new jack swing sound. Meanwhile, Mei’s ancentry and relationship with her mother are rooted in more traditional Chinese music. The two musical styles may seem like opposites, but Göransson captures both sides of Mei on her journey to becoming a complete person. That’s not the only way music plays an integral role.
#8: The Canadian Setting
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Although Canada provided the backdrop for Domee Shi’s Oscar-winning short, “Bao,” “Turning Red” is the first Pixar feature set in the Great White North. When some people think of Canada, they envision Mounties on each corner, people with flappy heads, and everybody saying, “Aboot.” “Turning Red” avoids Canadian stereotypes in favor of a more authentic salute to the country. Shi immigrated from China to Canada at age two. “Turning Red” has been described as her “love letter to Toronto,” showcasing landmarks like the CN Tower and sneaking in little details that only Canucks with immediately catch. In many respects, “Turning Red” does for Canada what “Coco” did for Mexico and what “Luca” did for Italy, seeing Pixar branch out in cultural, meaningful, and innovative ways.
#7: The Early 2000s Nostalgia
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You know you’re getting old when the early 2000s can be described as retro. Taking place around the same time “Finding Nemo” would’ve hit theaters, “Turning Red” takes us back to an era where Tamagotchis were all the rage, phones flipped open, and boy band fever was in full swing. Considering that Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell grew up during the noughties, they’re the ideal candidates to recapture that distinct pop sound. For all the callbacks, “Turning Red” doesn’t feel dated in its approach. If anything, we can still see a lot of modern culture in Mei and her friends. Twenty years later, teens are still obsessed with their devices and pop sensations. It’s an unlikely balance of old-school and new school that blends wonderfully.
#6: The Comedy
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Humor has always been a Pixar staple, but “Turning Red” stands out with a quirky edge right out of an 80s comedy. We already mentioned how Mei breaks the fourth wall, much like the titular character in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” The unusual transformation that Mei’s family undergoes is reminiscent of the original “Teen Wolf.” The climax’s mix of action, comedy, and surreal imagery warrants comparison to “Ghostbusters.” And, of course, it wouldn’t be an 80s comedy homage with an off the roof party. “Turning Red” delivers with echoes of “Weird Science.” In addition to 80s comedies, the film works in some of the more risque humor that you might find in an anime, but not in many western family films.
#5: The Animation Style
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Speaking of anime, Domee Shi cited “Sailor Moon,” “Ranma ½,” “Fruits Basket,” and “Inuyasha” as four of the Japanese series that inspired her. The anime influence isn’t just apparent in the film’s comedy, but the animation as well. To make the audience feel what Mei is experiencing, the filmmakers wanted “Turning Red” to look like something out of an “Asian Tween Fever Dream.” They achieve this look with a mix of dreamy color palettes and hyper imagery. While this fresh approach might seem jarring for longtime Pixar fans, “Turning Red” doesn’t stray too far from the studio’s signature style. Shi described it as an “East-meets-West anime-Pixar-hybrid.” It’s fitting since “Turning Red” is about evolving while still staying true to your roots.
#4: The Representation
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While you could argue that Russell from “Up” was a co-lead, “Turning Red” is the first Pixar film to give an Asian character center stage. Mei’s Chinese background isn’t the only group that the film embraces. Mei besties include Miriam, a white girl with prominent braces, Priya, who’s of Indian descent, and Abby, who’s of Korean ancestry. Although they all come from different backgrounds, the four are united in their passion for boy bands and Canadian pride. Beyond the main characters, diversity can be found spread throughout “Turning Red.” For example, characters can be found with insulin pumps, representing the diabetic community. It’s little touches like this that make “Turning Red” possibly the most inclusive Pixar film to date.
#3: The Mature Subject Matter
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From the “Toy Story” movies, to “Inside Out,” to “Luca,” growing up has been a recurring theme for Pixar. However, “Turning Red” might take the most blatant approach in its depiction of maturing. Some might describe the film as an allegory for going through puberty. At times, though, the film does away with metaphors and straight-up acknowledges the elephant in the room… or we guess the giant red panda in this case. Nowhere is this more apparent than when Mei’s mother confuses one “red thing” for another “red thing,” breaking out the pads. Yep, “Turning Red” is the first Pixar movie to feature menstrual products. We applaud the filmmakers for normalizing a facet of growing up that most family films would tiptoe around.
#2: The Female Friendships
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“Brave” centered on a female protagonist and a mother-daughter bond. “Turning Red” revisits this territory while also breaking new ground with its portrayal of female friendships. While Pixar is known for buddy pictures, most of them have involved at least one male character. “Inside Out” could be seen as an exception, although Joy and Sadness spend most of the film on opposite ends. Mei and her friends are all on the same page, building each other up and embracing their nerdy sides. When Mei is revealed as a panada, her friends don’t just give her a confidence boost. They help her to see how her curse can be a gift. Even when they argue, their bond is too strong to keep them apart for long.
#1: The All-Female Creative Team
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Although Mark Andrews ultimately took over “Brave,” Brenda Chapman will still go down in history as the first female director for a Pixar feature. With “Turning Red,” Domee Shi shatters another glass ceiling as the studio’s first solo female director for a full-length projection. In another groundbreaking move, Shi helms an all-female creative team. Shi co-wrote the screenplay with Julia Cho, who described “Turning Red” as her “dream project.” Lindsey Collins, whose credits include “Finding Dory” and “WALL-E,” serves as the producer. While the story has a distinctly female voice, they’ve made a film that can appeal to everyone. Often described as a “boys’ club” in the past, Pixar has taken a major step forward with a film fittingly about changes.
