Turning Red was inspired by 4 key anime, including Sailor Moon

Domee Chi sums up her vision The Turning of the Red, Pixar’s latest coming-of-age fantasy comedy, as “Asian Tween Fever Dream” — an aesthetic and energy that’s equal parts bright, spunky, dorky, and bubbly. Shi made her film debut in 2018’s acclaimed short film. Bao, drew on all her experiences and passions in crafting the story of 13-year-old Meilin “Mei” Lee’s unconventional adolescence. The film’s anime influences are particularly evident throughout. The Turning of the Red’s soft color palette and energetic tone to Mei’s frequent transformation into a giant red panda every time she gets too stressed or excited.

Shi spoke with Polygon and shared a list her top anime she uses as an inspiration for creating new series. The Turning of the Red.

Sailor Moon

Toei Animation

It’s no surprise that Shi cites Sailor Moon as one of the key inspirations behind Turning Red’s art style. Naoko Takeuchi’s 1991 manga of schoolgirl-turned-superpowered heroine Usagi Tsukino has been adapted into two animated series, the former of which is credited as one of the key titles responsible for introducing an entire generation of anime viewers to the “Magical Girl” genre of anime. “We were really inspired by the pastels and the dreaminess of the night time, of the nightscapes,” Shi explains, citing the 1992 series’ soft color palette as an influence on the overall look and feel of the film.

Sailor MoonYou can stream it on Hulu.

Ranma ½

Image by VIZ Media

Ranma ½, based on Rumiko Takahashi’s martial arts adventure manga, follows the misadventures of a teenage martial artist who, following an mishap during a training journey, is cursed to transform into a girl every time they are splashed with cold water, with the opposite effect after being splashed with warm water. The result is hilarious, as well.

Aside from being the anime romcom equivalent of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, Ranma ½A major influence on the production of The Turning of the Red. “Ranma ½Another anime we loved was the one where Mei transforms from a poof into a huge pink cloud. That idea was borrowed from many anime dealing with transformation. And that whole device of a girl transforming into an animal, I feel like I see that a lot in anime.”

Ranma ¹⁄₂You can stream the video on Hulu Funimation.

Basket of Fruits

Image: TMS/8PAN/Funimation

Natsuki Takaya’s slice of life romcom Basket of FruitsA modern classic in Shojo Manga, it inspired two beloved anime versions in 2001 (and 2019), the latter which made our top 10 list for best animes of the year three years running! Tohru, an abandoned high school girl, is the protagonist of this series. She befriends members of The Sohma Family, which are thirteen Chinese Zodiac-possessed animals who can transform into the animal equivalent of themselves whenever they’re stressed out, weak or embrace another member.

It’s not surprising that Shi credits Basket of FruitsAs an example of inspiration The Turning of the RedIts shared themes of adolescence transformation and vibrant color palette make it a favorite gateway into the world of anime and manga that are female-centric.

Fruits Basket 2001You can stream the video on Funimation; Fruits Basket (2019).You can stream the video on Crunchyroll Funimation.

Inuyasha

Image by Netflix

Other than Ranma ½, Rumiko Takahashi’s fantasy romance adventure series InuyashaAnother important influence on the creation of The Turning of the Red. Both the manga and its 2000 anime adaptation follow the story of Kagome Higurashi, a middle school girl in modern-day Tokyo who is magically transported to the Sengoku period after falling down the well in her family’s shrine. The half-dog, half-human half-demon is released. Inuyasha Kagome, released in prison, sets off on a quest to retrieve the Shikon Jewel shards before they are taken by a villainous demon named Naraku.

A popular mainstay when it first aired in the West on Adult Swim back in 2002, Takahashi’s fantasy epic also features elaborate transformations and strong female characters in addition to elaborate storytelling and fierce action.

InuyashaYou can stream it on Netflix, CrunchyrollAnd Funimation.