This is a story about a girl who turns into a big Red panda.
The animation is fresh with a scent of manga about it, the characters are pretty interesting and all in all this a solid enough movie.
I think a younger audience will like it and there is lots of relevant stuff for young people.
Looking back over the Pixar catalogue there is a dizzying choice of absolute classics that are loved by children and adults alike.
Many took really big choices like opening with a tragic death, including a full length music video or excluding dialogue for the entire opening act.
Pixar couldn't possibly keep this up forever and Turning Red shows signs they are running out of steam.
This takes no risks and is happy just being a kids film about a big fluffy creature.
The scenes with the Panda are relatively rare and after a few incidents everyone accepts the Red Panda and that embarrassment factor is removed diminishing the aliment.
The story shies away from any kind of conflict. Making it very soft and friendly - happily rolling around in themes of friendship and individuality - but removes any kind of tension.
The mother starts as a great character but the story can't stomach her overbearing nature for long and soon it is apparent that everyone is right and the things that were held as important really never mattered, everything works out and everyone agrees to disagree without any consequence.
This is all very nice and friendly; younger people of a milder disposition will love this.
As an adult it made the experience feel quite empty and pointless - I have a feeling this isn't going to stick long with a younger audience either.
Perhaps this is aimed at a eastern audience where perhaps it resonates better.
Nothing bad here but if I was to watch all the Pixar movies again this would be way down the bottom of the list.
*EDIT* my 8 year old grand daughter has since watched this and she loved it. When I asked what she liked most about the movie she said "the big fluffy panda" - She seemed a bit sketchy on what the actual plot was but she is a girl who knows what she wants and fluffy panda's is it - so a 9/10 from her.
The animation is fresh with a scent of manga about it, the characters are pretty interesting and all in all this a solid enough movie.
I think a younger audience will like it and there is lots of relevant stuff for young people.
Looking back over the Pixar catalogue there is a dizzying choice of absolute classics that are loved by children and adults alike.
Many took really big choices like opening with a tragic death, including a full length music video or excluding dialogue for the entire opening act.
Pixar couldn't possibly keep this up forever and Turning Red shows signs they are running out of steam.
This takes no risks and is happy just being a kids film about a big fluffy creature.
The scenes with the Panda are relatively rare and after a few incidents everyone accepts the Red Panda and that embarrassment factor is removed diminishing the aliment.
The story shies away from any kind of conflict. Making it very soft and friendly - happily rolling around in themes of friendship and individuality - but removes any kind of tension.
The mother starts as a great character but the story can't stomach her overbearing nature for long and soon it is apparent that everyone is right and the things that were held as important really never mattered, everything works out and everyone agrees to disagree without any consequence.
This is all very nice and friendly; younger people of a milder disposition will love this.
As an adult it made the experience feel quite empty and pointless - I have a feeling this isn't going to stick long with a younger audience either.
Perhaps this is aimed at a eastern audience where perhaps it resonates better.
Nothing bad here but if I was to watch all the Pixar movies again this would be way down the bottom of the list.
*EDIT* my 8 year old grand daughter has since watched this and she loved it. When I asked what she liked most about the movie she said "the big fluffy panda" - She seemed a bit sketchy on what the actual plot was but she is a girl who knows what she wants and fluffy panda's is it - so a 9/10 from her.