Turning Red (PG)

★★★★ A 13-year-old girl’s emotions take the form of a large red panda in this uplifting tale of menstruation, friendship and embracing change. ~ The Observer.

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Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi, Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence.

Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager.

And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda!

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★★★★ A period drama of a very different hue, Pixar’s latest tackles puberty and menstruation to make enchanting entertainment ~ The Irish Times.

★★★★ Pixar’s menstruation adventure is ingenious and deeply lovely. ~ The Times.

★★★★ A moving, funny, special story, the animation house's take on puberty is a beacon of light for little girls everywhere. ~ The i.

★★★★✭ The crown jewel of Pixar’s people-turn-into-creatures oeuvre, with all of its visual delights and expert use of its colourful onscreen spaces, it’s one of their best animated movies in years.~ Little White Lies.

★★★★★ It is funnier, cleverer and more honest than you might expect. ~ BBC.

★★★★ Turning Red, like most Pixar films, has an uncanny way of drilling down into a plangent set of adult emotions while remaining nothing less than a fizzing, sherbet-filled entertainment for children. ~ Sunday Times.

★★★★ An intergenerational family drama, a search for self, and a big, bouncy comedy sure to entertain. Pixar on its B+-game. ~ Total Film.

★★★★ A daring, distinctive and downright delightful debut from Domee Shi, and a welcome change of pace from Pixar. Turning Red is, appropriately, its own beast — and one that’s easy to love. ~ Empire.

★★★★ A magical coming-of-age romp that celebrates females of all ages (as well as nice dads and bootilicious boys). It’s crammed with ingeniously surreal visuals, has three cheeky songs written by Billie Eilish and Finneas, and features a delightfully sardonic performance from Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh. ~ Evening Standard.

★★★★ Helter-skelter, a bit mad and full of heart, it bounces along with the out-of-control energy of the early adolescence its depicts. When it pauses, it also offers a seriously touching snapshot of mums and their daughters, as well as a smart critique of why the burden of family expectations and the inevitability of teenage boundary-pushing usually results in carnage. ~ Time Out.

★★★★★ Turning Red argues that even the most cringeworthy mum is doing her best and, in return, parents need to let their teenagers find their own path. A worthy message, with or without pandas. ~ Radio Times.

★★★★★ A bold and beautiful Pixar animation about female puberty? Turning Red is exactly that. ~ The Telegraph.