Turning Red: 5 reasons why one should watch Rosalie Chiang-Sandra Oh's Disney+ Hotstar animated movie

The life of a teenager is not easy as they go through several emotional and physical changes on the onset of puberty. The latest animation by Disney and Pixar, Turning Red, shows just that with its lead character who is a 13-year-old teenager. The film follows the story of Mei Lee who is torn between being her mother's obedient daughter and navigating the awkward world of being a young teenager. Directed by Domee Shi, it presents brave storytelling, solid animation and strong female-led performances that highlight representation. From celebrating womanhood, female friendships to marvellous visualisation and inclusion, here’s why you should not miss Turning Red on Disney+ Hotstar. The film is available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

Holds open discussion about taboo subjects

Mei (voiced by actress Rosalie Chiang) transforms into a larger-than-life red panda when she is overwhelmed by her doting mother, Ming (voiced by Sandra Oh). The film metaphorically connects the Panda to her period. It doesn’t shy away from talking about puberty including topics like one's period that aren't talked about much.

Celebrates female friendship

Though the film is about a mother-daughter relationship, it also equally celebrates female friendships in adolescence. It highlights beautiful and relatable strong friendships between the teen girls. Mei’s friends, Miriam (Ava Morse), Priya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), and Abby (Hyein Park) always have each other's back.

Strong women and multi-cultural representation

The film is set in Toronto and focuses on immigrant families in Canada. It uses a multi-cultural urban setting that includes food, décor and beliefs of its immigrant characters to take the story ahead. The film offers visual elements that Asian audiences will find relatable.

It is not age-restricted

Just because it is a film about teenagers, it does not mean the film is meant only for teenagers. It can be equally enjoyed by anyone, irrespective of their age. It can be relatable to parents with adolescent kids too. The film tells a positive story, lauding the characters for facing tough moments and emotions, which makes it even more relatable.

All-female creative team

This is the first time that Disney and Pixar have had an all-female creative team. Women as director, producer, visual-effects supervisor, and production designer have led the creatives. Penned by Domee Shi and Julia Cho, the film is produced by Lindsey Collins. The film’s voice-cast includes Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Orion Lee, Ava Morse, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Hyein Park, Wai Ching Ho and James Hong.