Turning Red

In 2002, we meet Meilin 'Mei' Lee, a spirited 13-year-old girl of Chinese-Canadian descent. Living in Toronto, she struggles to meet the expectations set by her strict and protective mother, Ming, while trying to maintain her family's temple in honor of their ancestor, Sun Yee.

A pivotal event occurs when Mei's mother discovers her crush on a local convenience store clerk. This embarrassing moment unfolds in public, attracting the attention of Tyler, a school bully, which amplifies Mei's insecurities.

Following the embarrassing incident, Mei experiences a vivid nightmare about red pandas. The next morning, she wakes up shocked to find that she has transformed into a red panda, a result of her heightened emotional state.

Initially, Ming misinterprets Mei's transformation as a sign of her first period. However, another incident at school reveals the truth, and Mei learns that this unusual ability has been passed down through generations of the women in her family for protection.

Mei comes to understand that during the next Red Moon, she will need to perform a ritual to seal away her red panda spirit. This revelation adds pressure to Mei as she navigates her normal teenage life amidst her extraordinary circumstances.

As Mei shares her transformation with her friends—Miriam, Priya, and Abby—they embrace her unique situation. They encourage Mei to focus on the positive aspects and help her control her red panda form.

With the excitement building for the upcoming 4*Town concert, Ming forbids Mei from attending. Determined, Mei and her friends secretly fundraise for tickets, often using Mei's red panda form to gain attention at school.

In pursuit of the last ticket to the concert, Mei decides to attend Tyler's birthday party as her red panda form. However, the situation escalates when an insult from Tyler causes Mei to lose control during the party, frightening the guests.

The fallout from the party leads to a confrontation between Mei and her mother, Ming. Ming blames Mei's friends for her behavior, further complicating Mei’s feelings of shame and loyalty to those she cares about.

Mei's grandmother Wu and her aunts arrive to support her during the ritual preparations. Their presence intensifies the tension with Ming, who is concerned about the family's traditions and the consequences of Mei's transformation.

During the ritual, as Mei's red panda form is about to be sealed away, she makes a courageous decision to embrace her powers. She rushes to the concert at SkyDome, prioritizing her happiness over family obligations.

At the concert, Mei reunites with her friends and finds common ground with Tyler, who also loves 4*Town. However, chaos ensues when Ming transforms into a massive kaiju-sized red panda, aiming to bring Mei back home, disrupting the event.

An emotional clash occurs between Mei and Ming during the chaos, leading to an accidental blow that renders Ming unconscious. The supportive aunts step in, calling upon their powers to help control the situation.

With the aid of Mei, her friends, and 4*Town, the family undergoes a collective ritual that transports them to the astral plane. Here, Mei reconciles with Ming, addressing their complicated relationship and healing past wounds.

Ultimately, Mei chooses to keep her red panda abilities, which leads to Ming’s acceptance of her daughter's individuality. The Lee family emerges from the experience stronger, and Mei balances her responsibilities with newfound friendships and self-acceptance.