Pixar's Turning Red is a celebration of growing up, including all the messy bits that children's movies don't often show.
The film was directed by Domee Shi and features a 13-year-old girl who becomes 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217
The first part of Turning Red is standard fare in movies about growing up, but it also references less-seen aspects of puberty, including periods and menstrual products. It opens up space for candid conversations about puberty and hopefully paves the way for similar conversations in future coming-of-age films.
Mei and her squad of friends. Credit: 2022 Disney / Pixar
The chief medical officer of Favor, which describes itself as a "wellbeing coalition dedicated to accessible, affordable birth control", spoke with Mashable about why the portrayal of puberty in Turning Red is so important.
This time in a child's life can be one in which family members don't always know how best to support their kids, and how providing space for honest conversations about puberty, sex, and body can be difficult.
The idea of approaching a topic like puberty with your family can be daunting, which is why it is important that menstruation is normalized in media. Film and TV frame periods as gross or frightening. One of the most famous movie scenes depicting getting a period is in 1976, where it is presented as a traumatic and embarrassing experience for the teen Carrie (Sissy Spacek).
In recent years, periods have become more common on TV, appearing in shows like Big Mouth and Pen15, both of which tackle adolescence through an adult lens. The ones going through puberty are rarely discussed in media. Periods and pads are mentioned in Turning Red and it is a big deal.
Ming discovers Mei's notebook. Credit: 2022 Disney / Pixar
It shows kids that they are not alone in their development process, and it provides an example of someone who does it.
Given the amount of attention that 'Turning Red' has received since its premiere, I do think there’s an appetite for stories of this nature.
It helps parents understand what their children may be going through when they watch Turning Red. The way for honest discussions about puberty and sex education can be paved by this.
Talking about puberty and periods directly is the best way for kids to develop a positive understanding of sex, and to develop the skills to have conversations about sex later in life.
Since its release on Disney+ on March 11, Turning Red has already sparked a number of conversations about on-screen depictions of puberty, as well as its fair share of controversy. It has been one of the most-streamed films of the past weeks, proving that people are watching.
Given the amount of attention that Turning Red has received, I think there is an appetite for stories of this nature.
Don't worry Mei, you'll get through this. Credit: 2022 Disney / Pixar
I wish I had seen Turning Red when I was younger, and I hope we see more of it in the future. I would have been less concerned about puberty if my mother had told me about how her body is changing. Seeing discussions of periods in a movie from a studio as influential as Pixar would have helped universalize a subject that I thought of at the time as being taboo.
Being a Disney and Pixar film, Turning Red has the potential to reach a large audience, including young viewers who may have questions about puberty, but no resources with which to answer them. If studios make more coming-of-age films in the vein of Turning Red, they can help children and young adults learn more about growing up and human sexuality.
It is important that people have access to quality sex education, which even today is not always available or accessible.
Disney+ has Turning Red.
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