Hidden in Turning Red's story about the messiness of growing up are a ton of secrets that predict
Hidden in Turning Red's story about the messiness of growing up are a ton of secrets that predict

the movie's big twists and that Godzilla-sized finale!
the movie's big twists and that Godzilla-sized finale!

Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers, I'm Jan, and in this video I'm explaining all the secret
Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers, I'm Jan, and in this video I'm explaining all the secret

symbolism, details and clues in Pixar's latest hit.
symbolism, details and clues in Pixar's latest hit.

Spoilers ahead, so take care.
Spoilers ahead, so take care.

There are lots of signs early on in the movie that, by the end, Mei will choose to embrace
There are lots of signs early on in the movie that, by the end, Mei will choose to embrace

her Red Panda spirit.
her Red Panda spirit.

For example, when she transforms for the first time, she tries to hide the change she's undergoing
For example, when she transforms for the first time, she tries to hide the change she's undergoing

by wearing a hat to cover up her new red hair.
by wearing a hat to cover up her new red hair.

But there are literally signs everywhere telling her to be true to herself.
But there are literally signs everywhere telling her to be true to herself.

It says "Be Yourself" on the noticeboard right behind her friends.
It says "Be Yourself" on the noticeboard right behind her friends.

And the other words on the board like "loyal", "caring", and "fun" neatly describe Mei's
And the other words on the board like "loyal", "caring", and "fun" neatly describe Mei's

ride-or-die mates and how they'll later support her when they discover her secret.
ride-or-die mates and how they'll later support her when they discover her secret.

We love you Mei.
We love you Mei.

You're our girl Yeah.
You're our girl Yeah.

No matter what.
No matter what.

Panda or no panda.
Panda or no panda.

There's also the "Dare to be Different, Dare to be You" poster, an encouragement that she
There's also the "Dare to be Different, Dare to be You" poster, an encouragement that she

doesn't need to repress this strange, new panda version of herself.
doesn't need to repress this strange, new panda version of herself.

Then there's the sign "Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes", which hints at Mei upending
Then there's the sign "Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes", which hints at Mei upending

her family's tradition of locking away their panda spirits.
her family's tradition of locking away their panda spirits.

And finally, the "Dream BIG!"
And finally, the "Dream BIG!"

poster also anticipates how, in the end, Mei will decide to keep her furry 8-foot-tall
poster also anticipates how, in the end, Mei will decide to keep her furry 8-foot-tall

side in her life.
side in her life.

When Mei and her squad perform a spontaneous version of 4*Town's "Nobody Like U" in the
When Mei and her squad perform a spontaneous version of 4*Town's "Nobody Like U" in the

street, there's another hidden message, this time, to "Awaken Your Potential Dreams".
street, there's another hidden message, this time, to "Awaken Your Potential Dreams".

On top of that, the 4*Town flyer that Abby shows Mei reveals that the name of the band's
On top of that, the 4*Town flyer that Abby shows Mei reveals that the name of the band's

tour is "BREAKING FREE!".
tour is "BREAKING FREE!".

It's only on screen for a split second, but it's another subtle suggestion that Meilin
It's only on screen for a split second, but it's another subtle suggestion that Meilin

is going to cut the apron strings and become her own person.
is going to cut the apron strings and become her own person.

And when she high-fives red panda statue Bart and rubs Lisa's tummy, it's a signal to how
And when she high-fives red panda statue Bart and rubs Lisa's tummy, it's a signal to how

she'll end up accepting both sides of her identity.
she'll end up accepting both sides of her identity.

Even before we learn the truth about Ming's own Red Panda transformation as a young woman,
Even before we learn the truth about Ming's own Red Panda transformation as a young woman,

there's plenty of clever clues that ready us for that reveal and set up the big finale
there's plenty of clever clues that ready us for that reveal and set up the big finale

with Mei's mum taking on her humongous panda form once more and their ancestor Sun Yee
with Mei's mum taking on her humongous panda form once more and their ancestor Sun Yee

welcoming Red Panda Mei into the world.
welcoming Red Panda Mei into the world.

To begin with notice how both Ming and Sun Yee one-by-one appear in the shot as Mei tells
To begin with notice how both Ming and Sun Yee one-by-one appear in the shot as Mei tells

us...
us...

some of my moves are... also hers.
some of my moves are... also hers.

Which emphasises the crucial panda connection between all three women.
Which emphasises the crucial panda connection between all three women.

Ming is also framed by two wooden carvings of red pandas and in the altar picture of
Ming is also framed by two wooden carvings of red pandas and in the altar picture of

Sun Yee, there are two more pandas, which emerge during Mei's nightmare, all of which
Sun Yee, there are two more pandas, which emerge during Mei's nightmare, all of which

points to both the mother and daughter pandas in the finale and also Sun Yee and Mei's appearance
points to both the mother and daughter pandas in the finale and also Sun Yee and Mei's appearance

as red pandas right at the end.
as red pandas right at the end.

Notice also how, when they exit the temple, not only is Ming standing next to the much
Notice also how, when they exit the temple, not only is Ming standing next to the much

angrier looking statue of the two, a hint to the Mingzilla version of herself, but if
angrier looking statue of the two, a hint to the Mingzilla version of herself, but if

you look carefully, you'll see that the statue on the left also has a young red panda under
you look carefully, you'll see that the statue on the left also has a young red panda under

one of its paws, foreshadowing the dual mother-daughter transformation.
one of its paws, foreshadowing the dual mother-daughter transformation.

An indication as to just how dangerous Ming's panda would become was in the scar on Meilin's
An indication as to just how dangerous Ming's panda would become was in the scar on Meilin's

grandma's face...
grandma's face...

She and your grandma had a terrible fight. ...and you can still spot that scar on Grandma's
She and your grandma had a terrible fight. ...and you can still spot that scar on Grandma's

face when she turns into a panda herself.
face when she turns into a panda herself.

Likewise, Red Panda Ming has a similar hairstyle to her human counterpart.
Likewise, Red Panda Ming has a similar hairstyle to her human counterpart.

And the fact that there are going to be even more red pandas in the form of her aunties
And the fact that there are going to be even more red pandas in the form of her aunties

and grandma is also signaled during Mei's nightmare when she sees masses of them run
and grandma is also signaled during Mei's nightmare when she sees masses of them run

over the roof of the family temple.
over the roof of the family temple.

By the way, you can literally see red panda faces hidden in various accessories worn by
By the way, you can literally see red panda faces hidden in various accessories worn by

Mei's aunties, just as you can in Ming's pendant.
Mei's aunties, just as you can in Ming's pendant.

Another clue to the final showdown between Mingzilla and MeiMei is via the welcome mural
Another clue to the final showdown between Mingzilla and MeiMei is via the welcome mural

that Meilin runs past at the start of the film.
that Meilin runs past at the start of the film.

The wall painting is, of course, in keeping with the Chinatown location, however each
The wall painting is, of course, in keeping with the Chinatown location, however each

creature also represents one of the two women.
creature also represents one of the two women.

The green one symbolizes Ming who's predominantly dressed in green throughout the movie versus
The green one symbolizes Ming who's predominantly dressed in green throughout the movie versus

the orangey-red one which represents Mei and her generally red clothing.
the orangey-red one which represents Mei and her generally red clothing.

And, much of Turning Red is full of clever colour symbolism that accentuates the differences
And, much of Turning Red is full of clever colour symbolism that accentuates the differences

between Mei and her mum.
between Mei and her mum.

Red and green are colours that contrast sharply with one another, so shades of red are often
Red and green are colours that contrast sharply with one another, so shades of red are often

used around Mei and green for Ming, right down to their nail varnish, eye shadow, and
used around Mei and green for Ming, right down to their nail varnish, eye shadow, and

soles of their shoes.
soles of their shoes.

The colour differences emphasise the fact that Meilin isn't just Ming's mini-me, she's
The colour differences emphasise the fact that Meilin isn't just Ming's mini-me, she's

her own, distinct person, and Mei coming into her own as a young adult is the movie's main
her own, distinct person, and Mei coming into her own as a young adult is the movie's main

theme.
theme.

Some people are like, "Be careful.
Some people are like, "Be careful.

Honoring your parents sounds great, but if you take it too far, well, you might forget
Honoring your parents sounds great, but if you take it too far, well, you might forget

to honor yourself."
to honor yourself."

Intriguingly, though, both mother and daughter also have a just splash of the other's colour
Intriguingly, though, both mother and daughter also have a just splash of the other's colour

in their outfits: Mei has a green hair clip and Ming has a red
in their outfits: Mei has a green hair clip and Ming has a red

pendant, which signals that despite their differences they're still connected, and it's
pendant, which signals that despite their differences they're still connected, and it's

also a clue to the fact they both have red panda spirits.
also a clue to the fact they both have red panda spirits.

Another curious detail is that although Ming dislikes Miriam because she views her as a
Another curious detail is that although Ming dislikes Miriam because she views her as a

threat to her own relationship with Mei, Miriam...
threat to her own relationship with Mei, Miriam...

I mean, she's a nice girl, but maybe she's slowing you down.
I mean, she's a nice girl, but maybe she's slowing you down.

both Ming and Miriam mostly wear green.
both Ming and Miriam mostly wear green.

A hint perhaps that, while they're different in many ways, Mei's mum and friend have more
A hint perhaps that, while they're different in many ways, Mei's mum and friend have more

in common than Ming would like to think as, after all, they both love Mei and, ultimately,
in common than Ming would like to think as, after all, they both love Mei and, ultimately,

want the best for her.
want the best for her.

Mei's grandma and aunties also favour green, emphasising both their family connection and
Mei's grandma and aunties also favour green, emphasising both their family connection and

the similarity between Ming and her own mother, whose relationship is also complicated by
the similarity between Ming and her own mother, whose relationship is also complicated by

feelings of perfectionism and not being good enough, something we also see happening between
feelings of perfectionism and not being good enough, something we also see happening between

Mei and Ming.
Mei and Ming.

Mirroring and symmetry is another technique used to highlight the state of Mei and Ming's
Mirroring and symmetry is another technique used to highlight the state of Mei and Ming's

relationship.
relationship.

We see this first in the opening family snapshots, but also in the first scene set at the family
We see this first in the opening family snapshots, but also in the first scene set at the family

temple.
temple.

You ready?
You ready?

Let's do this!
Let's do this!

Mei and Ming even sweep in sync with one another, clean the red panda statues in sync and, after
Mei and Ming even sweep in sync with one another, clean the red panda statues in sync and, after

a long day, sigh and get up in sync.
a long day, sigh and get up in sync.

Interestingly, Ming cleans the statue with the more controlled, calm expression, while
Interestingly, Ming cleans the statue with the more controlled, calm expression, while

Mei's statue has more of an animated or startled look, reflecting some of the feelings and
Mei's statue has more of an animated or startled look, reflecting some of the feelings and

struggle she'll go through as she transforms.
struggle she'll go through as she transforms.

After falling out of sync for much of the film as Mei grows into her own, the mother-daughter
After falling out of sync for much of the film as Mei grows into her own, the mother-daughter

symmetry and mirroring is back again by the end, after Mei helps Ming deal with her own
symmetry and mirroring is back again by the end, after Mei helps Ming deal with her own

issues of inadequacy in relation to Grandma.
issues of inadequacy in relation to Grandma.

Now, if you'd like to discover even more details hidden in Turning Red such as all the Pixar
Now, if you'd like to discover even more details hidden in Turning Red such as all the Pixar

references to movies like Luca, Inside Out, Coco, Lightyear, and Toy Story, tap here to
references to movies like Luca, Inside Out, Coco, Lightyear, and Toy Story, tap here to

watch my Turning Red easter eggs video.
watch my Turning Red easter eggs video.

There's also a link in the video description.
There's also a link in the video description.

So, what do you think of Turning Red?
So, what do you think of Turning Red?

And what were you favourite moments in the movie?
And what were you favourite moments in the movie?

Let me know in the comments below.
Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this, then do like and share this video, I really appreciate it.
If you enjoyed this, then do like and share this video, I really appreciate it.

Thanks for enjoying this movie with me and hope you have a marvellous movie-loving week!
Thanks for enjoying this movie with me and hope you have a marvellous movie-loving week!

Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers!
Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers!