Parental pressure, puberty, and red pandas: a thematic analysis of audience reviews to Turning Red

Nairn, Angelique, Annabell, Taylor and Raethel, Danielle 2025. Parental pressure, puberty, and red pandas: a thematic analysis of audience reviews to Turning Red. Popular Communication 23 (3) , pp. 277-297. 10.1080/15405702.2025.2561817

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Abstract

Creative goods like films are interpreted based on personal and cultural experiences. This study focuses on audience reviews of Pixar’s Turning Red, analyzing how people attribute values to the film’s portrayal of girlhood and motherhood. Using thematic analysis, two main themes emerged: “It Feels Realistic,” where reviewers find the film authentic and relatable through their own experiences and identities, and “Not Age Appropriate,” criticizing the film for promoting stereotypes and being part of a woke agenda, suggesting moral concerns over its suitability for younger audiences. These themes illustrate the ways these reviewers construct relatability and assess appropriateness, shaping interpretations of girlhood and motherhood.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Journalism, Media and Culture
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	1540-5702
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 February 2026
Date of Acceptance:	11 September 2025
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2026 13:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184744

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