Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Disney movie Turning Red.
Pixar’s Turning Red thrusts fans into Mei’s complicated world, where she learns to navigate life as a thirteen-year-old with a twist – she has to manage a red panda that comes out when she gets too emotional. This premise sparks some awkward encounters, tear-jerking scenes, and thought-provoking lines.
The deepest quotes from the Disney movie reflect Mei’s journey as she learns to accept herself despite not fitting familial and cultural expectations. With continued interest in behind-the-scenes facts and details about what inspired the film (as covered by Screen Rant), it’s the ideal time to look back and rediscover some of the most thought-provoking lines from the movie.
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Meilin Lee:
“Be Careful – Honoring Your Parents Sounds Great, But If You Take It Too Far, Well, You Might Forget To Honor Yourself.”
From the moment fans first meet her, it’s easy to see that Mei is a likable character who tries to do her best to balance being a fun friend and a responsible daughter. In her monologue during the intro, there’s a telling clue about the film’s central conflict, as Mei jokes about a common saying warning against forgetting “to honor” oneself.
The line describes exactly what Mei does in the movie, as by honoring her parents, she takes “it too far” and neglects her own wants and needs. If Mei stopped to really think about that line, she may have had an easier time dealing with the red panda.
Jin Lee:
“People Have All Kinds Of Sides To Them, Mei, And Some Sides Are Messy. The Point Isn’t To Push The Bad Stuff Away, It’s To Make Room For It, Live With It.”
While Jin mostly stays in the background as a quiet father, he shares a heartfelt moment with Mei when he discovers videos of her enjoying with her red panda. He reminds Mei that “people have all kinds of sides to them” and “the point” is to find a way “live with it.”
It’s an important concept that Mei has to learn through experience, as she isn’t ready to admit that she wants to keep that “messy” side of herself. The immense pressure from her family to banish her red panda makes it difficult for her to embrace that aspect of her personality.
Meilin Lee:
“Sometimes I Miss How Things Were, But Nothing Stays The Same Forever.”
A line that underscores how smart and mature Mei is by the end of the movie is said when the protagonist reminisces about “how things were” with Ming. She accepts that it’s okay to miss those things while also embracing her present circumstances since “nothing stays the same forever.”
It’s an incredibly thought-provoking comment from the 13-year-old, who has had to overcome challenges that regular teenagers never experience. That said, it’s a line that likely resonates with most viewers, even if they never had to live with a literal red panda.
Meilin Lee:
“All Her Hopes And Dreams Are Pinned On Me.”
When Mei’s friends suggest that she just keep her red panda, she immediately shuts the conversation down by reminding them that her “whole family would freak,” especially her mom, whose “hopes and dreams are pinned on” her.
It’s a huge responsibility for Mei as an only child who feels pressured to be perfect for her parents. Her family expects her to be better and achieve bigger things than they ever did, which leaves no room for mistakes or for fun times with her red panda.
Meilin Lee:
“I’ve Been, Like, Obsessed With My Mom’s Approval My Whole Life, I Couldn’t Take Losing It, But Losing You Guys Feels Even Worse.”
An important turning point for Mei happens when she ditches the ritual to join her friends in 4*Town’s concert. She admits that she has been “obsessed with” her “mom’s approval,” but realizes that she couldn’t let that get in the way of her friendship with Miriam and the gang.
Fans may recall how Mei throws her friends under the bus when she refuses to admit it was her idea to monetize the red panda. Her apology is a crucial moment that highlights how she’s learning to embrace who she is and accept that she what wants may sometimes be different from what her mom wants.
Miriam Mendelsohn:
“But You’ve Really Changed And I’m Proud Of You – Just Don’t Get Rid Of All Of It, You Know?”
One of Miriam’s best quotes in Turning Red gives Mei something to think about before the ritual that’s meant to banish her panda. Miriam tells her that she’s “proud of” the way she has “really changed” and asks her not to “get rid of all of it.”
Mei’s red panda has helped her become more outgoing and carefree, which is a side of her that has brought her closer to her friends. Miriam’s line acknowledges that change in Mei, which the protagonist thankfully sees as an improvement in her personality later on.
Grandma Wu:
“Like All The Women Around This Table, You Too Will Banish The Beast Within And Finally Become Your True Self.”
Grandma Wu is the matriarch of the family and, more often than not, what she says goes. When she arrives with Mei’s aunts, no one questions her decision to perform the ritual that will allow Mei to “banish the beast within” to become her “true self.”
The way she gets to decide what Mei’s “true self” is speaks volumes about her role in the family. No one dares question her, especially not Ming, who knows better than to disappoint her mother. This dynamic has influenced “all the women” in that room, which makes Mei’s quest for autonomy even more important.
Ming Lee:
“Don’t Hold Back, For Anyone – The Farther You Go, The Prouder I’ll Be.”
A tear-jerking moment happens when Ming finally apologizes to Mei, as she can see how her daughter tries “to make everyone happy” at the expense of her own happiness. She encourages Mei to never “hold back,” which is exactly what the protagonist needs to hear before embracing her red panda completely.
Ming’s thought-provoking line emphasizes how the film depicts not just Mei’s journey, but Ming’s experiences as a mother as well. She is eventually able to recognize that she has to do her part in putting an end to the vicious cycle experienced by the women in her family.
Meilin Lee:
“I’m Changing, Mom. I’m Finally Figuring Out Who I Am, But I’m Scared It’ll Take Me Away From You.”
Mei and Ming finally relate to each other towards the end of the film, after they both realize that they are hurting because of similar experiences. Fans can’t be blamed for shedding a tear or two when she admits that she’s “scared” that her efforts in “figuring out who” she is will take her away from her mom.
At this point, Mei is on the last leg of her journey to accepting her red panda as part of who she really is. The line reflects her position at the turning point away from her family’s restrictive practices and towards the independence that she craves.
Meilin Lee:
“We’ve All Got An Inner Beast.”
Mei leaves viewers with something to think about during the last few moments of the movie, as she confidently states that everyone has “an inner beast.” She has accepted that she has “a messy, loud, weird part of” herself that was once “hidden away,” and reminds audiences that “a lot” of people “never let it out.”
The protagonist challenges fans to think about those less-than-ideal parts of themselves (by society’s standards) and re-examine them. It’s a quote that ends her story on an inspirational note that will hopefully remind audiences to accept and love themselves, too.