“Red: growing up is a beast” generates controversy for lack of yellow representation

The film Red: growing up is a beast (2022) premiered exclusively on Disney+ and is gaining more audiences every day. Despite the good reception, due to the sensitive topics addressed, the Brazilian dubbing was involved in controversy for not respecting representation behind the cameras.

On topics covered in the animation

Directed by Domee Shi, Oscar winner for the short Good, in 2018. The film tells the story of a 13-year-old Mei-Mei (Rosalie Chiang) who believes she is always in control of all her day-to-day activities, with good grades, extracurricular activities and being a good daughter. Until a big red panda appears in her life.

The film manages to bring together in a sensitive and fun plot the conflict of hormonal changes, the discovery of sexuality and the importance of friendship, while also portraying the complications of family pressure and ancestry.

The film is Disney’s first to address the topic of menstruation and the onset of puberty, which is often seen as a source of embarrassment, shame and anxiety for many girls at this age. So it also shows how to deal with this moment, ensuring light moments with laughter.

In an interview with NerdBunker, the director comments on the importance of sharing some aspects of this female universe with the public. The obsession with the members of a band, the first crush and the fascination with mermaids are important things for the character and that bring the public closer to this same phase, and even those who have been through it.

Representativeness and controversy

This is Pixar’s first film directed exclusively by a woman and with a female core team. In addition to the representation present in the story, this work also took place behind the camera with the choice of the cast to voice the characters.

The family of protagonist Mei Mei received the original voice acting from actors of the same ethnicities as the characters. The family is voiced by Asian actors: actress Sandra Oh plays Ming Lee, Mei Mei’s mother; Rosalie Chiang plays Mei Mei; James Hong plays her father, Mr Gao.

However, this same care did not happen with the Brazilian dubbing, which chose white actors to dub the characters, not yellow people. Ary Fontoura (Mr Gao), Rodrigo Lombardi (Jin Lee) and Flávia Alessandra (Mei’s mother) were chosen to voice the characters of Asian origin.

The fact generated indignation on the internet due to the lack of representation of these papers in Brazil. Actress Bruna Aiiso commented on the case on her social networks and regretted the choice:

In addition, the actress also made another post about Asian actors who could voice the roles. With that, she showed that there are qualified professionals for this work and that they would maintain representation.

Given this, it is not possible to say that there is a lack of options for yellow professionals. However, it is not the first time that a choice like this has been made in the Brazilian dubbing. the movie of black Panther (2018), which has a mostly black cast, was voiced mostly by white actors.

to know more about Red: growing up is a beastsee the trailer: