Turning Red (2022)

Turning Red feels special because it captures the messy, hilarious intensity of being thirteen with a bold, imaginative metaphor that only animation can pull off this gracefully. Domee Shi directs with a confident, lived-in authenticity—every color, gesture, and cringe-worthy moment is tuned to the rhythms of family, culture, and friendship, while the comedy lands with Pixar’s signature warmth rather than cheap punchlines. The vibe is bright, bouncy, and unabashedly heartfelt, anchored by Rosalie Chiang’s spirited voice work and Sandra Oh’s wonderfully formidable maternal energy. It’s not aimed at viewers who prefer Pixar at its most subdued or universally “timeless,” but if you’re open to something charming, specific, and joyfully honest about growing up, it’s an easy movie to love.

Turning Red is aiming for a loud, heartfelt coming-of-age story where puberty, big feelings, and family pressure are turned into a playful fantasy gag, and when it works, it’s genuinely charming and visually vibrant. The catch is that the central metaphor can feel a bit blunt or muddled depending on your tolerance for “message-first” storytelling, and the script sometimes races from joke to lesson without letting the emotions land naturally. Some viewers also find the themes and framing oddly limiting or uncomfortable—not because it’s “bad,” but because it’s very specific in tone and viewpoint, which can read as confusing if you expected a more universal Pixar-style fable. If you like hyperactive teen energy, big expressions, and a very earnest, culturally specific family story, you’ll probably have fun; if you want subtlety, tighter writing, or a cleaner metaphor, this may test your patience.