Pixar unveils the first-look images for Turning Red, the studio's next coming-of-age adventure from Oscar-winning Bao writer/director Domee Shi. The film centers on 13-year-old Mei Lee, a confident but dorky teenager navigating the chaos of adolescence, changes in interests, relationships, and her protective yet overbearing mother Ming. Her life is upended as she discovers she magically "poofs" into a giant red panda whenever her emotions begin to run high.
Shi began her career with Pixar a decade ago as an intern and worked her way up through the ranks, becoming a storyboard artist for 2015's Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur before trying her hand at directing with the Oscar-winning short Bao. Shortly after its release, Shi began development on Turning Red to make her feature directorial debut, with Pixar officially announcing its title and release date at last year's Disney Investor Day. With a cast led by newcomer Rosalie Chiang and Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Sandra Oh, the film is gearing up for its early 2022 release.
Alongside debuting the first trailer for the film, Pixar has unveiled the first-look images at Turning Red. In addition to offering a glimpse at her giant red panda form, the new images highlight the young protagonist Mei Lee and the angsty relationship between her and her mother Ming. Check out the new images below:
While their latest effort Luca saw rave reviews from critics and audiences, Turning Red marks an exciting return for Pixar as it will be the first theatrical release from the powerhouse animation studio since last year's Onward, which marked the only box office bomb in their history due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first-look images may not offer much in the way of insight for the plot of the film, but it does give a glimpse at both the gorgeous animation on display in the film as well as the personalities of its central characters. Dealing with an overprotective parent at a young age can already be plenty challenging when facing the critique-heavy environment of middle and high school, let alone pairing that with a newfound ability to transform into a giant red panda when stressed.
Though many can certainly connect to Mei Lee's parental and teenage struggles, Shi is sure to deliver plenty of emotional twists and turns with Turning Red. Not only is Pixar known for pulling at these heartstrings, but the personal touches the filmmaker put into Bao's narrative and animation has kept it high amongst fans' favorite shorts from the studio. Only time will tell if Shi's feature directorial debut can reach the same heights when the film hits theaters next March.
