TL;DR: Turning Red is a vibrant, funny, and deeply relatable Pixar movie that uses a giant, fluffy red panda as a metaphor for the "beast" of puberty. It’s a must-watch for parents of kids aged 8-13, specifically because it doesn't shy away from the awkwardness of growing up—including periods, boy band obsessions, and the inevitable friction between parents and their maturing kids.
If you’re looking for more ways to navigate these "middle years," check out these resources:
Set in the early 2000s (hello, Tamagotchis and glitter gel pens), Turning Red follows Meilin "Mei" Lee, a confident, dorky 13-year-old living in Toronto. Mei is a straight-A student, a dutiful daughter to her overprotective mother Ming, and a hardcore fan of the boy band 4*Town.
The "hook" is that Mei’s family has a mystical connection to red pandas. Whenever she experiences strong emotions—excitement, anger, embarrassment—she "poofs" into a giant, orange-red panda. To stay human, she has to suppress her feelings, which is basically impossible for a middle schooler. The movie follows her journey as she decides whether to "tame" the panda (staying the perfect, obedient daughter) or embrace the messiness of her new identity.
It’s not just the fluffy panda (though the animation is gorgeous and very "CalArts" style). Kids, especially "tweens" in that 9-12 range, see themselves in Mei.
- The "Cringe" is Real: The movie captures that specific age where you are desperately trying to be cool while simultaneously drawing fan-fiction of your crush in a notebook. It validates their weirdness.
- The Squad Goals: Mei’s friend group is top-tier. They are supportive, loud, and obsessed with things together. It’s a refreshing look at female friendship that isn't built on "mean girl" tropes.
- The Music: 4*Town (voiced by artists like Billie Eilish and Finneas) creates actual bops. It taps into the same energy that makes kids today obsess over K-Pop or Taylor Swift.
- Autonomy: Mei starts keeping secrets and making her own money (by charging kids to take pictures with the panda). For a kid, that taste of independence is intoxicating.
Ask our chatbot about why tweens are so obsessed with boy bands and fandom culture
When Turning Red first dropped on Disney+, a certain corner of the internet lost its mind because the movie mentions... periods.
There is a scene where Mei’s mother brings her a box of "pads, ibuprofen, and a hot water bottle" thinking Mei has started her first cycle. That’s it. That’s the "scandal."
In the Screenwise view: this is a huge win for parents. By normalizing the mention of menstruation, the movie does the heavy lifting for you. It’s not "adult content"—it’s biology. If your kid is old enough to watch a movie about a magical panda, they’re old enough to know that bodies change.
The other "issue" some parents had was Mei’s "disobedience." Yes, she sneaks out. Yes, she talks back to her mom. But the movie isn't promoting rebellion; it’s depicting the natural shift from a child who obeys without question to a teenager who is figuring out their own boundaries. If you want a movie where the kids are perfect little robots, go watch a 1950s sitcom. If you want something that reflects your actual living room, watch this.
While Disney rates this PG, here’s the Screenwise breakdown:
Ages 5-7: The "Panda is Cute" Phase
They might enjoy the slapstick humor and the bright colors, but the emotional nuances of the mother-daughter conflict will go right over their heads. Some of the "panda rage" scenes or the giant "Kaiju" battle at the end might be slightly intense for very sensitive kids.
Ages 8-10: The Sweet Spot
This is the perfect time to watch. They are just starting to feel those first twinges of "I want to do my own thing," and they’ll find Mei hilarious. It’s a great "pre-game" for the actual puberty talk.
Ages 11-13: The "This is My Life" Phase
They might act like they’re too cool for a Pixar movie, but they will secretly feel seen. This is where the themes of "fandom culture" and "peer pressure" really hit home.
Check out our guide on the best movies for the tween transition
If you watch this with your kid (and you should!), use it as a bridge. Don't make it a lecture—keep it casual.
- On Emotions: "Mei's panda comes out when she's overwhelmed. What does it feel like for you when you're really frustrated? Do you feel like you have a 'panda' inside?"
- On Friendship: "I love how Mei’s friends stuck by her even when she was being 'extra.' What do you look for in a good friend?"
- On Growing Up: "Mei and her mom had a hard time agreeing on things as she got older. How do you think we can handle it when we disagree on what you’re ready for?"
- On the "Red Panda" Metaphor: If they’re older, you can ask, "What do you think the panda actually represents?" (Spoiler: it’s puberty, big emotions, and ancestral trauma, but let them figure that out).
If your family loved Turning Red, here are a few other recommendations that deal with similar themes of growing up, identity, and family dynamics:
Inside Out (Movie)
The gold standard for explaining how emotions work. While Turning Red focuses on the external changes, Inside Out is all about the internal shifts.
The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix Series)
A fantastic, modern update to the classic books. It deals with friendship, entrepreneurship, and health issues in a way that feels incredibly respectful to the age group.
Real Friends by Shannon Hale (Graphic Novel)
For kids who loved the friendship dynamics in the movie, this graphic novel series is a raw, honest look at the "popularity" ladder in elementary and middle school.
Elinor Wonders Why (For younger siblings)
If you have a younger kid who felt left out of the "big kid" themes, this is a great show about curiosity and observation without the heavy puberty metaphors.
Learn more about why graphic novels are great for reluctant readers
Turning Red is a rare bird: a big-budget movie that actually understands what it’s like to be a 13-year-old girl. It’s messy, it’s loud, it’s occasionally "cringe," and it’s deeply moving.
It rejects the idea that kids have to be "perfect" to be lovable. Instead, it suggests that our "pandas"—our loudest, weirdest, most intense parts—are actually what make us who we are.
As a parent, it’s a reminder that our job isn't to shove the panda back into the box. Our job is to stand there with the pads and the hot water bottle and say, "I’m here when you’re ready to talk."
- Watch it together: Friday night, popcorn, no phones.
- Listen to the soundtrack: Put on 4*Town's "Nobody Like U" in the car. If your kid starts singing, you’re winning.
- Check the "Wise" score: Head over to the Turning Red media page to see what other parents in the Screenwise community are saying about specific scenes to watch out for.
- Do a "Vibe Check": Ask your kid which character in Mei’s friend group they relate to most. It’ll tell you a lot about their current social circle.
Ask our chatbot for a list of movies like Turning Red for a family movie night