I’m Not Turning Red Over ‘Turning Red,’ But…
How a "My body, my choice" ethos affects Pixar's red panda romp
Sometimes a movie is inappropriate for young children because it is too mature. At other times, a movie is inappropriate for young children because it is too immature. An example of the former could be The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). An example of the latter is Turning Red (2022).
Unlike those who consider Turning Red a blatant assault on family values and parental authority, I take a more cautious (but still overall negative) approach to the film. My original review delved into several issues, but I had so much to say that I had to divide my thoughts into two separate articles.
The second article is now live, published by the fine folks at The Rebelution (founded by Do Hard Things authors Alex and Brett Harris). This piece delves more deeply into the expressive individualism that undergirds the ethos of Turning Red. I also compare the film to its polar opposite twin, Encanto.
When all is said and done, here is where I think Turning Red goes askew:
Pixar’s filmmakers aren’t irresponsible for addressing teenage rebellion, but they are responsible for presenting it through rose (red?) colored glasses. They have exchanged the typical Pixar poignancy for [a DreamWorks] discourteousness. A glorification of rebellion may not be the intent of Turning Red, but it is a functional side effect.
You can read the entire piece here: ‘Turning Red’ and the Dangers of Expressive Individualism.