Turning Red

In this animated comedy from Pixar Studios, 13-year-old Mei (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) has her life firmly under control thanks to her super-organised mother, Ming (Sandra Oh). However, the messiness of puberty is about to hit -big time - as, thanks to a shapeshifting ancestor and the onset of hormones, Mei finds herself morphing into a giant red panda whenever she gets emotional. That makes school rather more embarrassing when the mere sight of a cute boy turns you into a big, furry beast... Making her directorial debut, Pixar animator Domee Shi deserves credit for presenting female growing pains in all their awkward glory (there's even talk of periods). But Mei's panda problem isn't the focus here, rather it's the fluffy lens through which the film explores a beautifully realised mother-daughter relationship. Turning Red argues that even the most cringeworthy mum is doing her best and, in return, parents need to let their teenagers find their own path. A worthy message, with or without pandas.