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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at USF chapter.

On March 11th, Disney Plus released its latest Pixar film, Turning Red. The film is about a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian named Mei navigating entering her teen years, her culture, and a mythical family gift from her ancestors, the ability to turn into a Red Panda based on emotions. Turning Red is a love letter to the director, Domee Shi’s, past. Turning Red is a refreshing addition to the Disney-Pixar films, being the first Pixar film with an all-female leadership team. Here are some of the reasons why you should watch Turning Red. 

Disney World
Photo by Craig Adderley from Pexels

Turning Red is a refreshing Pixar film in a multitude of ways. In fact, the film normalizes the discussion of periods, with the main character’s mother bringing a box of pads to her daughter. This is revolutionary in terms of children’s movies. Seeing scenes like these in children’s movies helps destigmatize periods. It’s vital that a film which discusses puberty mention bodily changes like periods, teaching younger viewers that a period isn’t scary and is totally normal. I don’t think I’ve ever seen menstruation mentioned in a children’s movie before this one. 

Movie Theater
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

Additionally, the film has an amazing soundtrack. Shi based this film on her early teen years and had to include the unforgettable boyband-obsession many teenage girls go through. In this movie, there is a fictional band called 4*TOWN, who are heavily inspired by *NSYNC. Mei and her friends are obsessed with the band, all having a favorite member. This instantly transported me back to middle school, reminding me of my love for One Direction (which will, honestly, never go away). 4*TOWN’s songs are written by Billie Eilish and her brother FINNEAS and effectively capture 90’s boyband music. The soundtrack is so good that I’m listening to it as I write this! 

Overall, Turning Red is an amazing film which focuses on the challenges that come with growing up. The film is beautiful, showcasing mesmerizing imagery while also discussing serious topic matters. As mentioned, Turning Red is refreshing, navigating topics that are unfortunately seen as taboo, like periods. Turning Red is a must-watch for any movie fan and is a step in the right direction for Disney and Pixar. 

Hi! My name is Penelope, but everyone calls me Penny. I am an undergraduate student at the University of South Florida majoring in marketing and integrated PR and advertising. I'm a proud, communicative Gemini, who is excited to share on Her Campus! Some of my interests include watching movies (I consider myself an 80's movie aficionado), listening to music, going to concerts, and following hockey.