Turning Red: Why Mei Decides To Keep The Red Panda
Warning! SPOILERS for Turning Red.
At the end of Turning Red, Mei goes against her family’s tradition and chooses to keep the red panda — here's why. Turning Red, which marks Domee Shi’s directorial debut, follows 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian overachiever Meilin “Mei” Lee. When she comes of age, she learns that she transforms into a red panda every time she strongly feels an emotion. As it turns out, she can undergo a ritual to remove the panda spirit from her, just like what her grandmother, aunties, and mother have previously done. However, after a heartwarming talk with her father, Mei embraces herself fully by deciding not to part ways with her red panda.
Originally, Turning Red was scheduled for a theatrical release. Due to the influx of Omicron variant cases, the film was given a direct-to-streaming release on Disney+, a move that initially drew flak from Pixar employees and potential viewers. Regardless, Turning Red received positive reviews from critics, who largely praised its animation, cultural representation, and voice cast. For a film that focuses on a specific set of experiences, Pixar’s latest entry managed to make its story universally relatable — even as to why Mei keeps the red panda with her.
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Mei’s decision to live with the red panda within her is explained during Turning Red’s final scene. As she adjusts to the changes in her life, she says, “We’ve all got an inner beast. We’ve all got a messy, loud, and weird part of ourselves hidden away. A lot of us never let it out, but I did.” The red panda is a crucial part of Mei’s life, and as she seeks to embrace the chaotic, growing, and learning young woman that she is, she is not letting
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