Budding boy mania, nevertheless, triggers one other surprising response: Mei’s transformation right into a furry Pink Panda, a legacy of her household’s mystical historical past. The parallels between that and the arrival of puberty are unavoidable, and Shi and co-writer Julie Cho hilariously lean into them, with Mei’s introduction to dawning womanhood bringing with it a sequence of mortifying unintended effects.
In tone and elegance, “Turning Pink” maybe most carefully resembles “Inside Out,” one other Pixar movie that did an inordinately good job of addressing the pangs of this specific age in a sprightly and entertaining package deal. Right here, the add-ons embody not solely a generational conflict however the weight of expectations that Mei faces, attempting to fulfill her mom as she begins to exhibit indicators of independence.
“Turning Pink” additionally will get an entire lot of mileage out of the panda gags, which, within the crassest business phrases, ought to promote an entire lot of plush toys to youthful tykes.
Like one of the best Pixar fare, the movie operates on a number of ranges, in ways in which will probably be relatable to oldsters and older youngsters which are each culturally particular and broadly common, with the added garnish of authentic songs by Billie Eilish.
Animation has clearly been a serious driver for Disney+ over the previous two years, at a time when the streaming service wanted content material and viewers have been hungry for escapes at residence.
Nonetheless, wherever one sees it, “Turning Pink” delivers an exquisitely animated story that is transferring in addition to humorous — welcome proof that creatively talking, at the very least, Pixar hasn’t misplaced its golden contact.
“Turning Pink” premieres March 11 on Disney+.