Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ scheduled for Disney+ premiere in March

Disney+ subscribers can look forward to another exclusive release of a Pixar film – this time featuring a furry red panda. 

The animated Turning Red will premiere on Mar 11 on their dedicated streaming platform. This comes after news two months ago of the film being pulled from theatrical release, and instead will be offered to all Disney+ subscribers with no additional charge.

“Given the delayed box office recovery, particularly for family films, flexibility remains at the core of our distribution decisions,” said Disney’s chairman Kareem Daniel in a press statement on Jan 11.

The studio’s last two animated releases, the award-winning Soul and Luca, were also sent straight to streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The family-friendly motion picture follows a 13-year-old girl named Mei Lee who turns into a giant panda whenever she becomes emotionally overwhelmed. Through the course of the story, she learns to control her emotions whilst adjusting to her newfound ability. 

The main character Mei and her mother Ming will be voiced by Rosalie Chang and Sandra Oh respectively. The heavily Asian cast also includes Orion Lee and Wai Ching Ho, who voice Mei’s father and grandma.

In addition, the film is directed by Academy Award winner Domee Shi, known for her work on Pixar short Bao, making it the animated studio’s first female-directed movie.

Aside from a streaming release, Disney also announced that regions where Disney+ is not yet available will receive a theatrical release, with premiere dates to be announced soon.