Oscars 2023: Turning Red

Turning Red churned up quite the controversy when it hit the big screen. An animated movie alluding to periods? How dare they!

Given the track record of issues Pixar has tackled thus far- infertility, loss of a spouse, job dissatisfaction, and anxiety, to name a few, no one should be under the illusion that Pixar makes fluffy, “safe” movies.

Yet, the parental brigade was out in force to condemn a movie about something that will happen to most girls. Don’t prepare our daughters for the inevitable!

This continued taboo needs to go. As a former teen ill-prepared for what would happen, this movie might have made a difference. At least it would have provided an icebreaker to a challenging topic.

It’s no surprise to see Turning Red in the Oscar race for Best Animated Film, and not just because Pixar films are almost always nominated in this category.

Turning Red is more than just a story about periods and the controversy surrounding the allusion to bodily functions. It unpacks the female teen experience in total.

Meilin and her friends evoke all of the cringy feelings. I don’t think I’ve met another woman who hasn’t felt cringe over their teenage self. What else are you going to be while you’re trying to carve out your own identity?

The crux of this awakening is 4*Town, a perfect animated replica of [insert your favorite reallife Boy Band here]. I could roll my eyes here and say, why does it have to always be about boys? But it’s not really about boys. 4*Town could easily be switched out to a girl band. The results would be the same. Attraction and the desire to be attractive are part of the teenage struggle.

The cringe eventually dies away to make way for the elephant in the room—the conflict between mother and daughter…and mother and daughter. Ming and Meilin are caught up in a generational cycle of repression and emotional guilt.

If the cringe from the movie’s beginning didn’t get you, the weight of that baggage almost certainly did. The movie’s been out for nearly a year, but if you know anyone with a strong-willed parent who has seen this film, you might want to check in on them.

Pixar bit off a lot with this project. The story was beautiful, honest, and real. The studio’s ability to take audiences through light-hearted moments and then dump them into an emotional quarry served them well.

Is it enough to take home Oscar gold?

The studio’s track record in the category suggests that, yes, they are absolutely contenders for victory. That might not be enough. I’m not sure how much the period controversy will factor into the voting, although it will likely be a factor.

It feels odd to write about Pixar since they’re widely acclaimed as the pinnacle of animation. But the animation wasn’t more than their standard offering. Turning Red is vibrant, and the animation compliments the story, but it lacked a wow factor, at least for me.

What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!