Turning Red
Turning Red | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Domee Shi |
Screenplay by |
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Produced by | Lindsey Collins[1] |
Starring |
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Cinematography |
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Edited by |
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Music by | Ludwig Göransson[2] |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
Turning Red is an upcoming American computer-animated film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is directed by Domee Shi (in her feature directorial debut), written by Shi and Julia Cho, and produced by Lindsey Collins. It stars the voices of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Hyein Park, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho and James Hong. It is the first Pixar film to be solely directed by a woman.
The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on March 11, 2022.[3][4]
Premise
Set in Toronto, between 2002 and 2003, the film centers around Mei Lee, a confident thirteen-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl who is torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. And as if changes to her interests, relationships, and body were not enough, whenever she gets too excited or stressed, she "poofs" into a giant red panda due to her ancestors' association with the red pandas.[5]
Voice cast
- Rosalie Chiang as Meilin "Mei" Lee, a 13-year-old girl who suddenly transforms into a giant red panda whenever she is excited or stressed (facing strong amounts of emotion overall), due to her ancestors' association with the red pandas.
- Sandra Oh as Ming Lee, Mei's overprotective and strict mother.
- Ava Morse as Miriam, Mei's friend.[6]
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya, one of Mei's friends.
- Hyein Park as Abby, another one of Mei's friends.
- Orion Lee as Jin Lee, Mei's father.
- Wai Ching Ho as Mei's grandmother.
- Tristan Allerick Chen as Tyler, Mei's classmate.
- Addie Chandler as Devon, Mei's secret crush.
- The members of 4*Town are voiced by:
- Jordan Fisher
- Josh Levi
- Topher Ngo
- Finneas O'Connell
- Grayson Villanueva
Additionally, James Hong, Lori Tan Chinn, Lillian Lim, Mia Tagano, Sherry Cola, Sasha Roiz and Lily Sanfelippo have been cast in undisclosed roles.
Production
Development
On May 8, 2018, it was reported that Shi, who wrote and directed the Academy Award winning Pixar short Bao that same year, was writing and directing a full-length feature film at the studio, making her the second woman to direct a Pixar film after Brenda Chapman who did Brave.[7] On November 26, 2018, Shi confirmed that she was working on a film at the studio.[8] Shi also said that the film was in early stages of development, with the story still being worked on, and that "[she is] really excited to play in this new 90-minute film format".[8] On January 1, 2019, Shi said that she planned for the film to be "entertaining and emotional".[9] On December 9, 2020, Shi's film was announced with the title Turning Red, with the plot also being unveiled.[10]
The film takes place in Toronto, Canada during the early 2000s, specifically during 2002 or 2003, as indicated through scenes in the teaser trailer and on Mei's student ID in the teaser poster, as well as confirmation by a production designer in February 2021. At least two minor characters, who are visible in the trailer, have type 1 diabetes, as glucose sensors and insulin pumps are visible. This is the first time that diabetes has been depicted in a Disney/Pixar film.[11]
Rona Liu will serve as production designer in the film, after previously doing so for Bao.[12] Liu said that working on a feature film was "a dream come true" for her.[12]
Music
Ludwig Göransson is set to compose the film's score, making it his first animated feature film composition.[2] Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell will also write original songs for the film.
Criticism
Pixar and Disney have been the targets of criticism with regards to their POC (people of color) characters being represented in animal form as a means to be more accepted by a wide audience.[13]
Release
Turning Red is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on March 11, 2022 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.[3][14] On June 17, 2021, a Pixar insider reaffirmed the film would have a theatrical release after both Soul (2020) and Luca (2021) were assigned direct-to-digital releases on Disney+ in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
References
- ^ "Turning Red Official Announcement and Logo".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Burlingame, Jon (September 7, 2021). "'Black Panther' Score Headed to Hollywood Bowl for Live-to-Picture Performance". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ a b "The Walt Disney Studios Announces Updated Release Schedule". The Walt Disney Company. April 3, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ https://www.theverge.com/22575165/turning-red-disney-pixar-trailer-panda-release-date#:~:text=Turning%20Red%20is%20set%20to,be%20returning%20to%20theaters%20soon.
- ^ "Upcoming – Turning Red". Pixar. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "New 'Turning Red' Trailer Showcases Mystical Family History, New Music, and New Vocal Cast". Pixar Post. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "The Art of Animation". Southwest: The Magazine. January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (November 26, 2018). "The First Woman To Direct An Oscar-Contending Pixar Short, 'Bao's Domee Shi Is On Her Way To First Feature Project". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ "The Art of Animation". Southwest: The Magazine. January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "Chris Evans to Voice Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's 'Lightyear,' Disney Announces 'Encanto' With Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda". Variety. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ O'Brien, Cormac (July 13, 2021). "Pixar's Next Animated Film Is Stuffed Full Of Early 2000s Canadian Nostalgia (VIDEO)". Narcity. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ https://www.tor.com/2020/07/14/representation-without-transformation-can-hollywood-stop-changing-cartoon-characters-of-color/
- ^ Julie & T.J. (December 10, 2020). "Disney Investor Day 2020 — Pixar Announces Series, Shorts, & 2 Films for 2022 'Turning Red' and 'Lightyear'". Pixar Post. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ Pixar is planning to go back to 'normal' theatrical releases with 2022's 'Turning Red'
External links
- 2022 films
- 2022 3D films
- 2022 comedy films
- 2022 computer-animated films
- 2020s American animated films
- 2020s English-language films
- 3D animated films
- American 3D films
- American computer-animated films
- American films
- Chinese-Canadian culture in Toronto
- Films about Arctoidea
- Films about curses
- Films about shapeshifting
- Films directed by Domee Shi
- Films set in the 2000s
- Films set in Toronto
- Films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Films scored by Ludwig Göransson
- Middle school films
- Midlife crisis films
- Pixar animated films
- Upcoming English-language films
- Upcoming IMAX films
- Walt Disney Pictures films