Pixar's next movie 'Turning Red' is heading straight to Disney+. Here's what to know about the film.

Kirsten AcunaFeb 7, 2022, 20:33 IST

Pixar's next film, "Turning Red," features a young girl who transforms into a large red panda.Disney/Pixar

Pixar's next animated movie, "Turning Red," will debut on Disney+ on March 11.
Insider attended a press day with the film's creators to learn about the making of the film.

"Turning Red" was one of three film ideas director Domee Shi pitched in 2017 while promoting her Pixar short, "Bao."

Domee Shi previously directed Pixar short "Bao."Disney/Pixar, Deborah Coleman / Pixar. Composite by Kirsten Acuna/Insider

The film follows Meilin (aka Mei) who turns into a giant red panda whenever she's too excited.

Mei wakes up and discovers she has transformed into a giant red panda.Disney/Pixar

The transformation into the red panda is a metaphor for puberty.

"I think we wanted the space and the room to come up with a whole legend and a mythology," Shi said of why they chose a red panda for the film.Disney/Pixar

"Turning Red" is inspired by the director's relationship with her own mother.

The mother and daughter in the film are based on director Domee Shi and her mother.Disney/Pixar

The film is set in Toronto in 2002 to avoid social media.

"Turning Red" takes place during a simpler time before social media was huge.Disney/Pixar

It's the first Pixar film made by an all female leadership team, something which emboldened the women to not water down their story ideas.

(From left to right): Production manager Lisa Fotheringham, producer Lindsey Collins, director Domee Shi, visual effects supervisor Danielle Feinberg and associate producer Sabine O’Sullivan talk on their way between meetings on October 25, 2021 at Pixar Animation Studios.Deborah Coleman/Pixaar

The team embraced their 13-year-old versions of themselves and drew on specific moments from their lives to bring to life in the movie.

The above moment, which takes place early in the film, was inspired by a moment in the director's life.Disney/Pixar

The lead star, Rosalie Chiang, was supposed to be a temp actress for the film.

Rosalie Chiang voices Mei Lee.Disney/Pixar, Deborah Coleman / Pixar

The film includes a supportive group of female friends rather than a mean-girl dynamic that has become a common trope in TV and film.

"The [friendships] we remember the most are the ones that were never stereotypical or mean or catty. They were the ones that were the people that got you through those moments," Collins said of how they came up with Mei's friend group in "Turning Red."Disney/Pixar

Inspired by Backstreet Boys and *NSNYC, the film also pays tribute to boy bands of the late '90s and early aughts.

The girls really want to go to a 4*Town concert in "Turning Red."Disney/Pixar

There are five members of 4*Town and one is voiced by Finneas O'Connell.

Here's a look at the band 4*Town as Mei fantasizes about them.Disney/Pixar

Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish wrote three original songs for the film's fictional band.

Billie Eilish and her brother-slash-producer, Finneas O'Connell are seen in 2021.FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival via Getty Images

The Pixar team sent Eilish and O'Connell a scrapbook to pitch them the movie.

Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish worked on "Turning Red" during the pandemic.Kevin Mazur/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images for MTV/ ViacomCBS

Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson is the film's composer.

Ludwig Göransson won best original score for "Black Panther." Here he's scoring "Turning Red" on October 11, 2021 at Warner Bros Studios.Deborah Coleman/Pixar Studios

"Turning Red" is an amalgamation of anime and Pixar Animation styles.

"Turning Red" combines Pixar's traditional 3D animation and 2D anime.Disney/Pixar

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