Is the Turning Red film about periods?
While the first bits are standard fare in movies about growing up, Turning Red also references less-shown aspects of puberty, including periods and menstrual products.
'Turning Red' Is One of the Most Accurate Depictions of Puberty Ever (Minus the Red Panda) It's hard to nail the emotional rollercoaster of puberty, but Pixar's 'Turning Red' gets a lot right. It's rare to find a depiction of puberty and growing up that feels as relatable as the one shown in Pixar's Turning Red.
Other than the scenes noted above, there's nothing of concern in Turning Red for children aged 5-8 years. Other than the scenes noted above, there's nothing of concern in Turning Red for children aged 8-13 years. There's nothing of concern in Turning Red for children aged over 13 years.
' Parents are leaving negative reviews for Pixar's newest animated film "Turning Red," many complaining about the film's inclusion of themes such as puberty, saying the subjects are too mature for children. The 25th animated feature for Pixar hit the Disney + platform on March 11.
Some parents have deemed the film's themes on puberty to be "too mature" for children. March 15, 2022 Updated: March 15, 2022 4:50 p.m. Pixar's new film "Turning Red" tackles the topics of puberty and periods. However, some parents complained that these subjects are "inappropriate" for children.
“The red panda is a metaphor not just for puberty, but also what we inherit from our moms, and how we deal with the things that we inherit from them,” Shi tells Polygon. Turning Red is Shi's feature debut, a coming-of-age story following a Chinese-Canadian protagonist in the early 2000s.
“Turning Red” highlights the importance of puberty and women's health and how important it is for young people to be educated and know about periods, whether they go through them or not. Since its release, many people took to social media and called the movie “inappropriate” for kids in a younger audience.
For this mom movie reviewer's perspective, I think kids as young as 5-6 years old can handle this film. Comparable to the emotions, adult themes and “scary images” of Inside Out with a pinch of Luca and Soul, this coming of age film is pretty on par with the MPAA rating of PG.
Turning Red Age Rating
Turning Red is rated PG. It also has a run time of 99 minutes which is a perfect amount of movie for a younger audience. What is this? For what it's worth, Turning Red is squarely aimed at the tweens and young teens, so don't let your older children dismiss it as a Pixar cartoon for babies!
Turning Red is rated PG for Language, Thematic Material, and Suggestive Content which means some material may not be suitable for young kids. PG means parental guidance suggested, and Turning Red may require parental guidance and conversations. There is some suggestive dialogue that younger kids may pick up on.
What is the real meaning of Turning Red?
'Turning Red' title is an allegory for puberty and coming into adulthood. Mei Lee as a red panda (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) | Disney/Pixar. The Turning Red title has a literal interpretation, as Mei actually turns into a big red panda when she gets worked up. It's a take on going through puberty.
The controversies, such as they are, range from claims that this film isn't relatable to insistent discomfort with the depiction of a young woman in puberty, a child having autonomy, and the very reality of — yes, sometimes cringeworthy — 13-year-old girls.

Most girls start their periods when they're about 12, but they can start as early as 8, so it's important to talk to girls from an early age to make sure they're prepared. Respond to questions or opportunities as they arise and do not be embarrassed. Periods are natural.
The crux of the film is a fantasy-driven exploration of Mei's journey through the early hurdles of adolescence. The fantastical aspect of the film, namely that Mei turns into a giant red panda when she gets over excited, seems to work as a metaphor for teenage girls' experiences with changing hormones.
'Turning Red' title is an allegory for puberty and coming into adulthood. Mei Lee as a red panda (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) | Disney/Pixar. The Turning Red title has a literal interpretation, as Mei actually turns into a big red panda when she gets worked up. It's a take on going through puberty.