About Turning Red (2022)

About Turning Red (2022)

(First, please excused my poor english. Second, this is pure my opinion. I'm not an expert in this topic so there big chance I did so many things wrong. I just want to share what I got from watch it)

IMO, this movie try to potray a transition from child to adult (basically a teen). It mainly because when this movie brought that period scene (eventhough Mei actually doesn't have it). Period is like a sign of this person not longer a girl (child) but a woman (adult). So, what difference between a child and an adult? As society expectation, adult had an obligation to do nothing wrong. They cannot have a wild side. You can only do wrong and wild when you're child.

In this movie, that "wild side" is portrayed as that red panda. As Ming said, "and what became blessing became an... Inconvenience". This is the same as that wild side. When we're younger, society tend to it became 'blessing' -> "normal thing" but when it come to adult? That wild side is really inconvenience for society.

This contrast transition, is what the teen and parent through. Why parent? Because adult especially as guardian have responsibility to lead their teenager son/daughter to became a good adult. Ming always strict about Mei's grade, attitude, attraction to man, and forbid her to go to the concert (the event when there so many wild thing happen). She also force Mei to do a ritual to lock the red panda form, because what Ming believe about good adult is someone who leave that wild side behind and prioritize to pleased the family (based on her relationship with her mother). Mei in the other side, who never did wrong before felt pressured from Ming expectations. It lead her doing something "wild" And it portrayed to her action that she want to keep this red panda form.

I adore the metaphor that Pixar try to brought. But what became my critique is, they barely show boundaries (?) of or effect of what Mei did. Mei lying to her mother and Ming caught her in horrible way. Mei apologize to her friend, but to Ming? She felt horrible after Ming passed out (basically because of her too) and add, she also twerk in front of her (kinda indecent). I mean, I understand where Mei rebel behavior come from, but this movie feel like half-hearted to show how viewer treat the wild side during this transition.

From myself, I do recommend to watch Turning Red with parent advisory. It also good watch for parent, and parent can also give their insight about adulthood. Not to stricting their kids, but to give a protection and learning together through this transition.

(I think there's more to say about this "wild side" But it already long enough so maybe I will continues it next time)