Turning Red (2022) - By Far the Greatest Animation Film in Many Years - 9/10 (06/09/22)

I'm usually not a big fan of animation movies and the last film of the genre that I would truly consider excellent is Wall-E with its outstanding characters, stunning locations and essential environmental messages. I coincidentally watched parts of Turning Red when I visited a friend whose two-year old daughter is a big fan of the movie and I really appreciated what I saw. When I took the plane a few days later, I decided to watch the entire film and my positive first impressions were not only met but even exceeded.

There are several elements that make this film stand out. First and foremost, it talks about accepting yourself the way you are, with all your strengths and weaknesses. This empowering message is more important than ever in a time when many people have developed mental health issues during the ongoing pandemic. This lesson is valuable and timeless, making it a movie anyone should be able to empathize with.

Up next, this film combines Canadian and Chinese cultures. These are two of the most fascinating cultures in our world in my book and I state this as a German. Canada represents democracy, equality, freedom, multiculturalism and nature like no other country in the world. Chinese culture on the other side is incredibly varied, rich, creative, colourful and ancient. Discovering different elements of both cultures at the same time in this film is like traveling to new exotic places while our movements are limited, opening your mind without having to listen to a dry class and dreaming yourself far away as you are watching the movie go by in the blink of an eye.

The characters are particularly charming as well. If you think that this film is rather for girls because the main characters are female, you have got it all wrong since the characters' challenges, dreams and experiences in their teenage years are something any teenager or adult can relate to and any baby or child could already learn about. You will be rooting for these quirky characters while they are going through challenging changes.

The plot itself is also quite interesting and mixes comedy, drama and fantasy in equal part, making this a highly entertaining coming-of-age film dealing with topics such as family, friendship, identity, liberty and loyalty. The overarching theme could also be described as emancipation or finding your true self.

At the end of the day, Turning Red is an absolutely timeless coming-of-age film with wonderful characters, locations and morals that could be watched by anyone from a toddler over a child to a teenager, an adult or even elderly people. Few movies manage to entertain, inspire and touch such a vast audience. If you haven't watched Turning Red yet, make sure to give it a shot as this is a solid candidate for best movie of the year.