Turning Red
| Turning Red | |
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 Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Domee Shi |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by | Lindsey Collins |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by |
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| Music by | Ludwig Göransson |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $190 million |
Turning Red is an upcoming American computer-animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on Disney+. It is directed by Domee Shi (in her feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Shi and Julia Cho. The film 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.
Turning Red is scheduled to be released on Disney+ on March 11, 2022, in countries where the service is available. It will be released theatrically in countries without the streaming service. The film was intended for worldwide theatrical release, but further COVID-19 pandemic disruption due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant resulted in the change.
Premise[]
Set in Toronto between 2002 and 2003, the film centers around Meilin "Mei" Lee, a confident 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian who is torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Whenever she gets too excited or stressed, she "poofs" into a giant red panda.[1]
Voice cast[]
- Rosalie Chiang as Meilin "Mei" Lee, a 13-year-old girl who falls under a curse where she suddenly transforms into a giant red panda whenever she gets excited or stressed (facing strong amounts of emotion overall), due to her ancestors' associated mystic connection with red pandas, which changes her hair from black to red as a side effect.
- Sandra Oh as Ming Lee, Mei's overprotective and strict mother.
- Ava Morse as Miriam, Mei's friend.[2]
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya, one of Mei's friends who is more deadpan compared to the three. But at times, she tends to be just as excitable as her 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.
Jordan Fisher, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo, Finneas O'Connell, and Grayson Villanueva voice members of the 4*Town boy band. 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 co-directed Brave, as well as the first solo Pixar director for a feature film.[3] She first pitched the film to Pixar in October 31, 2017.[4] On November 26, 2018, Shi confirmed that she was working on a film at the studio.[5] 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".[5] On January 1, 2019, Shi said that she planned for the film to be "entertaining and emotional".[6] On December 10, 2020, Shi's film was announced with the title Turning Red, with the plot also being unveiled.[7][8]
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.[9]
Rona Liu will serve as production designer in the film, after previously doing so for Bao.[10] Liu said that working on a feature film was "a dream come true" for her.[10]
Music[]
Ludwig Göransson is set to compose the film's score, making it his first animated film composition.[11] Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell will write songs that will be performed in the film by the fictional boy band 4*Town.
Release[]
Turning Red was originally scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on March 11, 2022 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.[12][13][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] However, as the Omicron variant cases rose, on January 7, 2022, the decision was made to shift Turning Red from its planned theatrical release to its direct-to-streaming release on Disney+ as a Disney+ original, keeping its date. Although, in international markets where Disney+ is not available, it will still be released theatrically.[16]
References[]
- ^ "Upcoming – Turning Red". Pixar. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "New 'Turning Red' Trailer Showcases Mystical Family History, New Music, and New Vocal Cast". Pixar Post. November 17, 2021. Archived from the original on 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.
- ^ domeeshi (July 14, 2021). "The teaser poster and trailer are finally OUT for Turning Red!