The new teaser trailer for Pixar's Turning Red was released, introducing viewers to a young girl named Mei Lee, who seems to turn into a rather large red panda whenever she gets stressed or excited. That would be a difficult problem to have, as people that age are moved very easily, so the upcoming project might see a lot of the red animal, which happens to be like an adorable version of Marvel’s green Hulk.
It was revealed earlier this year that Turning Red will be set in Canada, and the trailer confirms the same. Set to the popular song “Larger Than Life” by Backstreet Boys, the trailer is full of Easter eggs related to Toronto that keen-eyed Canadians would easily spot. From the country’s flag to the CN Tower, the two-minute teaser almost pays homage to the city, which Canadian fans cannot seem to stop talking about on social media.
The Turning Red trailer begins with 13-year-old Mei in her element, solving a difficult problem in her class when a classmate brings her attention to Mei’s mother outside the window. Someone approaches her, possibly to ask what she is doing there, and Mei’s mother creates a scene that catches the attention of the entire class. This is when viewers first see the transformation, as, amid a cloud of pink smoke, Mei transforms into a giant red panda.
In such a situation, the best thing to do is run. And that’s what Mei does. Leaping across rooftops, she rushes towards her home as her mother tries to follow her in the streets below. Towards the end of the Turning Red trailer, it is revealed how Mei turns back into a girl again - by calming herself down. For a split second, she returns to her schoolgirl form, sporting a shirt with a giant maple leaf on it (another Canadian reference). But, then she gets excited again and turns back.
To make the film even more Canadian, Oscar-winning Chinese-Canadian director Domee Shi is at the helm of the project. She is known for her award-winning Pixar short Bao and has also worked on other projects for the studio like Inside Out and Toy Story 4.
Also, actor Sandra Oh, best known for her portrayal of Cristina Yang on the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, joined the cast and will be voicing the role of Mei’s mother. Newcomer Rosalie Chiang has been cast as Mei.
Turning Red premieres in theaters on March 11, 2022.
Source: Pixar/YouTube