Some viewers chided “Blushing” for being too specific, but it’s actually the film’s biggest strength and unifying factor.
ATTENTION! The following are spoilers for Blushing, which is streaming on Disney+.
One of the most intriguing discussions in recent times has been that Blushing was too specific a story, leading to questions about why Pixar didn’t make it more understandable and universal for everyone. CinemaBlend had to post a controversial review online, which was seen by many as narrow and ignorant, asking why it caters to one group. By this point, while May’s journey as a Chinese descendant living in Toronto feels at first like it’s tailored to certain audiences, it’s actually Turning Red’s biggest strength because it helps educate people about a different culture, proving how cosmopolitan it should be. North America.
It’s strange to hear that naysayers are put off by this sweet story, because films like this don’t come out often. Disney has been trying to promote more one-world content, which is why Black Panther and many Marvel TV shows have gone beyond the whitewashed look. The Eternals and Shang-Chi also gave a glimpse of minorities and marginalized groups, allowing different people to see themselves on screen.
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In this sense, “Blushing” speaks more to Asian people as Mei struggles to suppress the red panda inside, inherited from her ancestor, Sun Yi. However, this is still a universal story because while these animal transformations do not exist in real life, many of May’s other difficulties exist. She is a product of generational trauma, struggling to live up to her mom’s expectations, going through puberty and menstruation just wanting to see her favorite 4*Town boy group.
Her father, Jin, didn’t even like the Ming family, while Ming and her mom, Wu Li, fought a lot in the past. Add to that that Mei is afraid to be herself and her mom doesn’t approve of her friends, and many will realize that these are all problems that many people face while growing up. In this case, it’s the journey of a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl, but the magic is in Mei’s DNA. When it comes to specialties such as the temple rituals and prayers her family takes part in, how Mei flatters her hobbies by frustrating her overly controlling mom with bad grades, and how she has to overcome even more Asian stereotypes at school by seeing this pictured on screen, can help non-Asians understand the Mei people even more.
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And this is very welcome at a time when anti-Asian sentiment and xenophobia are flaring up again, which shows once again why these stories are needed. What also adds to the rich tapestry is that “Blushing” is intimately connected to director Domi Shi’s coming-of-age experience. Because it is based on her past, it will seem extremely authentic to immigrant children and those who think they are “different”.
To top it off, Turning Red opens the minds of those who want to learn more about fellow citizens and promote a kaleidoscopic society built on diversity and representation. This message of equality can be expressed through unique elements of fantasy, but that doesn’t stop it from showing off a beautiful culture. It also doesn’t distract the masses from adoring the film, which celebrates individuality and identity. As shown by Jin’s Asian cooking, Mei and her family had a lot to offer beyond the panda tale, and unless more films are made with other cultures and ethnicities, according to Encanto and Coco, the world will be pretty bland. than a bright melting pot.
Red Transformation is now streaming on Disney+ and will also be released in theaters in regions where the streaming service is not available.
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about the author
Renaldo Matadin (7824 articles published)
I am a former chemical engineer. It was boring, so I decided to write about what I like. As far as geeks go, I write about comics, cartoons, video games, TV, movies, and just about anything nerdy. I also write about music in terms of punk, indie, hardcore and emo because they are cool! If you’re already bored, then you also don’t want to hear what I write for ESPN about PR. And yes, I also wrote sports for them! Not bad for someone from the Caribbean, huh? To top it all off, I have written short films and documentaries conceptualizing stories and scenarios in terms of human interests and social justice. On the business side, I make big money (not really) as a copywriter and digital strategist, working with some of the top brands in the Latin America region. In conclusion, let me remind you that the geek must inherit the Earth. Oh, FYI, I’d love to write a screenplay for a Disney movie, Gargoyles. YOLO. However, I’m on Twitter @RenaldoMatadeen. So scream.
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