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LIFESTYLES
TURNING RED ON GENERATIONAL TRAUMA
Examining the themes of immigrant generational trauma present in Pixar’s latest release NATALIE CHEN lifestyles editor
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16 | DESIGNED BY NATALIE CHEN
eing the child of an immigrant family plays a central role in one’s identity, although often in elusive ways. In particular, cultural and generational differences between parent and child often result in different views regarding a parent’s role in a child’s life. This familial and identificatory struggle is intimate for many students at Cupertino High School; with much of the popula-
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tion coming from immigrant backgrounds, Pixar’s Turning Red can hit uncomfortably close to home. However, seeing ourselves portrayed on-screen also allows us to develop a deeper understanding of our own conflict. The above phenomenon has been progressively prevalent in American media as diversity is increasingly demanded. With the releases of Coco (2017), Soul (2020) and Encanto (2021), Pixar’s attempts to highlight the experiences of minorities are both obvious and appreciated. Pixar’s latest movie, Turning Red, is no different. Following a young Asian-Canadian’s coming of age as she maneuvers through familial expectations and individuality, the movie highlights the intergenerational trauma faced by children of immigrants and its deep-rooted causes. By highlighting conflicts in media, c o n -
sumers who are able to relate to its characters can draw parallels between their personal experiences, allowing for a deeper understanding and clarity of generational issues. Domee Shi’s semi-autobiographical film is set in Toronto, Canada, home to one of the largest immigrant communities in the world. The movie follows young protagonist Meilin “Mei” Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl who runs a temple with her family. Mei’s life takes a sudden turn when she discovers her ability to transform into a giant red panda upon experiencing extreme emotions, which, paired with her overbearing mother Ming, results in conflict as Mei navigates through the fluctuations of adolescence. The overriding themes of parental expectations and generation trauma are familiar ones, especially for children of immigrants, and watching Mei’s struggles of finding herself at the disapproval of Ming can be all too familiar. Though, Pixar untangles the mother-daughter relationship masterfully; in a dramatic climax involving a spiritual journey at a boy-band concert, Mei breaks the cycle of generational trauma by standing up to Ming, something neither Ming nor her sisters were able to do to Mei’s grandma.
