Pixar's 'Turning Red' controversy explained: Here's why the movie is the talk of the town

Disney Pixar recently released its animated film Turning Red.  film follows story of a teenage girl Mei Lee, who tries to make her way through challenges of puberty and learns how to handle her emotions. film is helmed by Domee Shi and is set against backdrop of Asian community in Toronto. 

Turning Red's official synopsis res, "Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who is torn between being her mor's obedient daughter and chaos of her youth. As if that were not enough, when she gets too excited, she turns into a big red panda." Soon after film was released on March 11, it has attracted controversy due to a single review by CinemaBlend's critic Sean O'Connell. O'Connell criticised film and mentioned he could not connect and it was not for a global audience. 

Why is Turning Red controversial?

Taking to his Twitter handle, Sean O'Connell penned his review of film. While he has deleted tweet now, it re, "I recognized humour in film but connected with none of it. By rooting Turning Red very specifically in Asian community of Toronto, film legitimately feels like it was me for Domee Shi's friends and immediate family members, which is fine - but also, a t limiting in its scope." "Some Pixar films are me for universal audiences. 'Turning Red' is not. target audience for this one feels very specific and very narrow. If you are in it, this might work very well for you. I am not in it. This was exhausting," he ded.

critic's harsh review of movie came out to attract some controversy. However, viewers do not feel same as y mselves watched film and could not agree with O'Connell. film's cast also responded to harsh review. 

As per HITC, Rosalie Chiang, who voices le character Mei Lee, said, "This is coming of age film, everyone goes through this change... I think different people of different cultures are going to go through it differently, but at end of day, core messiness and change is something everyone can relate to." Never Have I Ever star Miatreyi Ramakrishnan, who is also a part of film's cast, mitted Turning Red is a "universal" film. "Many people will be able to relate to Meilin's story, regardless of wher you are a young Chinese girl from Cana or not," she ded.

In end, O'Conner apologised for his review of film. O'Conner accepted he did not engage with film enough, nor did he explain his point of view well. He wrote, "I'm genuinely sorry for my Turning Red review. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with criticism, no matter how harsh. It is clear that I didn't engage nearly enough with movie, nor did I explain my point of view well, at all." "I really appreciate your feedback," he ded.

Image: Instagram/@pixarturningred