WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Turning Red, now streaming on Disney+.
In Disney’s Turning Red, Meilin “Mei” Lee just wants to be a typical girl: singing, dancing, admiring cute boys and trying to catch her favorite band, 4*Town, to swoon over the dreamy teens. Unfortunately, those plans come to a grinding halt when Mei realizes she has begun to transform into a giant red panda, and at the most inconvenient times.
It first occurs when Mei loses control of her emotions, and honestly, it arrives at the worst time possible, as 4*Town is performing at the Skydome in Toronto in May. With that in mind, let’s break down what this curse is, and how it leads to Mei telling a heartbreaking lie to achieve her dream.
Why Does Mei Become a Red Panda in Turning Red?
Mei morphs into a red panda at school before racing home, alerting the public to the existence of the creature. Her mother, Ming, eventually tells her the truth: This is a trait, or “curse,” passed down from their ancestor, Sun Yee, who possessed a mystical connection with red pandas. She wanted to protect her family during war times in ancient China, so she prayed to the gods and became a cute warrior-monster.
The curse is passed down through the women of the family, but as they ventured West, they lost hold of this aspect of tradition. Sure, they stuck to their culture, but they saw the red panda as a monster, which is why, to them, it was a curse and not a gift. However, they found a means to seal the red panda away.
How Could the Panda Be Sealed in Turning Red?
There’s a ritual that could only take place on a blood moon, which is a month away in Turning Red‘s timeline. It involves a spiritual circle, with a shaman, Ming and her husband, Jin, reciting a mystical incantation, allowing Mei to transcend to the astral plane. In that supernatural realm, Mei could exit the portal while leaving the beast behind in a forest.
Ming did just that, storing her beast in a necklace years ago, while other women in the family did so with earrings, rings and other trinkets. Jin admitted Ming was unable to control her panda, and out at her own mother, Wu-Lee, who disapproved of Jin. It’s implied that fight led to Ming scarring her mom, which was compounded by how she never felt good enough in the eyes of her controlling mother. That led to Ming’s eagerness to rid herself of her panda.
What Was Mei’s Panda Twist & Ultimate Lie In Turning Red?
Earlier in Turning Red, Mei realizes by thinking of calming influences, such as her friends (Abby, Miriam and Priya) or 4*Town, she can quell the beast inside. That allows her to control her emotions and not turn into a rampaging panda, which was proved when she was tested by her mother, who even used a box of kittens. Mei then tries to use that to convince her mom to let her see 4*Town the week before her ritual.
She even butters up Ming by saying her mom is the thought that calmed her down and kept the panda at bay, allowing her to at least return to school. Eventually, the levees break when it’s revealed the concert takes place on the night of the ritual. Mei reveals the truth about her calming force and leaves for the concert, finally embracing her Panda. However, this rebellious attitude angers Ming, who turns into her own giant monster, revealing the beast Jin and others feared. It shows how the panda can go wrong, digging at Ming’s insecurities. She is bitter she failed to heal the rift with her mother, and so, Monster Ming marchs off to the concert to teach Mei a chaotic, violent lesson.
Turning Red is now streaming on Disney+.
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