Turning Red’s Inspirations Explained: Are Red Pandas Considered Important?

Warning: SPOILERS for Turning Red ahead.

Pixar’s Turning Red revolves around a mythology that allows Meilin and her family to transform into red pandas — but do red pandas actually hold a place in Chinese mythology? Turning Red depicts a Canadian family doing their best to keep their Chinese heritage alive in the heart of Toronto, running a shrine devoted to their ancestors and their spiritual protectors — the red panda. In the movie, it’s explained that the red panda has a place in Chinese myth and legend.

Turning Red tells the story of Meilin “Mei” Lee, a 13-year-old who is learning to navigate the trials of becoming a woman. Mei has always been dedicated to her family and being the child they want her to be: she earns straight As, is involved in every extracurricular, and all of her free time is spent helping to run the family shrine. When her overbearing mother goes too far and embarrasses her in front of an entire convenience store of classmates, including her crush, Mei’s frustration boils over with unexpected consequences. Mei then learns that her family carries an ancestral secret: as every woman in her family comes of age, they unlock the ability to become a red panda every time they experience intense emotion.

While Turning Red features its own intricate meaning, red pandas themselves don’t play a major role in real Chinese mythology. In the movie, Meilin’s ancestor, Sun Yee, was given the ability to transform into a red panda because she revered them, not because red pandas harnessed any mythical ability on their own. Red pandas are considered territorial and protective of their young–everything Sun Yee needed to embody to protect her family, as well as her descendants after her. Native to Nepal, China, and the Eastern Himalayas, the red panda is respected by the local people — its hide is frequently used in culturally significant Chinese ceremonies, including weddings — but there are ultimately very few references to red pandas in ancient myth and Chinese folktales.

This lack of standing mythology is part of the reason the creators of Turning Red chose to base their myth around the red panda. Director Domee Shi explained that they chose the red panda because they “wanted the space and the room to come up with a whole legend and a mythology.” (via Insider) Shi is a personal fan of the red panda and believed it was a perfect, adorable juxtaposition to a time in girls’ lives that feels anything but adorable.

Though there isn’t much lore surrounding red pandas in Chinese mythology there are plenty of stories regarding animal shapeshifters, primarily featuring spirits that take the form of animals like foxes and snakes, who possess the ability to take on human forms. Combining the concept of animal shapeshifters and the practice of ancestor veneration, Turning Red was able to create a brand new mythos that paid tribute to its Chinese heritage. If there’s a sequel, it will be interesting to see if the story builds on the red panda mythology or if a brand-new legend is introduced.

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