It’s been a while since we’ve gotten big news fromTurning Red, the new Disney/Pixar movie that is set to be released in 2022. Disney unveiled the first teaserback in Julythat showcased the personality of the lead character Mei (voiced byRosalie Chiang) – and also revealed that the girl could turn into a giant red panda. Now, a new trailer delves a little deeper into the story and reveals an element that every coming of age story set in the 00s should have – boy bands.
The trailer starts with Mei and her friends beatboxing, and sharing their love for 4*Town, the fictional boy band created for the film. The trailer also reveals that Mei is an overachieving kid who does a million things simultaneously, which probably means she doesn’t have much time to also just be a kid. Everything changes when she suddenly turns into a giant red panda and discovers that it runs in the family.
The soundtrack for Pixar’s first boy band comes from multiple Grammy winnersBillie Eilishand her brotherFINNEAS, who have written and produced three songs for the fictional boy band.
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Turning ReddirectorDomeeShirevealed she thinks that a boy band is mandatory if you set a story in the 2000s, and also one of the best ways to build conflict between the main character and their parents:
“We needed our character Mei to be obsessed with something that her mom would not approve of. Boy bands were the first step into the world of boys for a lot of girls that age. The guys were all super pretty, polished, soft and loving, and they had a way of bringing girls and their besties together. Plus, I thought it’d be really cool to create an animated boy band.”
Sandra Ohlends her voice to Mei’s mother Ming, and the cast also featuresOrion Leeas the voice of Mei’s dad, Jin, andWai Ching Hoas the voice of Grandma. Mei’s tight-knit group of friends are voiced byAva Morseas Miriam,Maitreyi Ramakrishnanas Priya, andHyein Parkas Abby.Tristan Allerick Chenvoices classmate Tyler, andAddie Chandlerlends his voice to Mei’s secret crush Devon. Providing the harmonious voices of the members of the 4*Town boy band areJordan Fisher,Grayson Villanueva,Josh Levi,Topher Ngo,andFinneas. Rounding out the voice cast areJames Hong,Lori Tan Chinn,Lillian Lim,Mia Tagano,Sherry Cola,Sasha Roiz, andLily Sanfelippo.
Turning Redcomes to theaters on July 01, 2025. Check out the new trailer and poster forTurning Redbelow.
