TORONTO, Feb. 28, 2022 — (PRNewswire) — Destination Toronto is celebrating the release of Disney and Pixar's Turning Red, a coming-of-age story by Toronto-native, and Oscar-award winning director Domee Shi, streaming March 11 only on Disney+. Turning Red, the first solely female directed Disney and Pixar feature film, tells the story of Meilin Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky teenager, living in Toronto, Canada, 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!

The film, which starts streaming March 11 on Disney+, showcases key landmarks and elements of Toronto. It also highlights the rich array of cultures and people living in the city. Audiences are invited to discover and find inspiration in the city where Meilin Lee lives and experience the creativity and diversity that it fuels.

"Turning Red shines a bright spotlight on Toronto. More than just the setting for the film, the city comes to life as a character full of vibrancy, iconic locations and local flavour," said Scott Beck, President and CEO of Destination Toronto. "Turning Red is an opportunity for potential travelers of all ages to get a taste of Toronto and fuel their desire for more."

Destination Toronto is also giving one Canadian family, and one American family the chance to win a trip for four to Toronto to experience the vibrancy and excitement of the city for themselves. The contest* is open from February 28 to March 27, 2022. Visit www.destinationtoronto.com/disney-pixar-turning-red to enter, and learn more.

Toronto continues to be a creative, and innovative hub fostering and uplifting up-and-coming talent and voices from all cultural backgrounds. In recent years, rising Canadian talent has shone a light on the influence that Toronto has had on their work and their creative processes. Notably, Mississauga-born actress and star of Never Have I Ever, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, lends her voice to the film as one of Meilin's best friends, Priya.

Growing up in the heart of Chinatown, Shi takes inspiration from her Chinese heritage and the city of Toronto to produce a relatable, heart-warming and creative story. "Turning Red tells the universal theme of the awkward and cringey moments of puberty with a culturally specific paint brush that is Mei, a Chinese Canadian living in Toronto's Chinatown", says Shi. "At the end of the day, we're all just trying to figure out our furry messes." And in true Toronto spirit embracing diversity and inclusivity, Shi directs Disney and Pixar's Turning Red with an all-female leadership team, alongside a female producer, visual-effects supervisor, production designer and lead voice cast.

"Toronto has so much to offer, and this movie is a true reflection of that. We are a vibrant place that fosters creativity, and embraces diversity and we are so proud to see our city represented on the big screen in Disney and Pixar's Turning Red," says Mayor John Tory. "A big congratulations to Domee Shi for the release of her film Turning Red – this film further proves how special Toronto is, and demonstrates that it is the innovative and cultural heart of the country."

ABOUT DISNEY+ 
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, as well as the general entertainment content brand in Canada and other select international markets, Star. As part of Disney's Media and Entertainment Distribution segment, Disney+ is available on most internet-connected devices and offers commercial-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. Alongside unprecedented access to Disney's incredible library of film and television entertainment, the service is also the exclusive streaming home for the latest releases from The Walt Disney Studios.  For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

ABOUT DESTINATION TORONTO
Toronto's visitor economy is a vital economic engine for the city, generating more than $10 billion in economic activity and supporting 70,000 jobs in 2019. Destination Toronto's mandate is to reflect the breadth and diversity of Toronto's people, places and culture to inspire residents and visitors to meet, visit and explore our city. Operating in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Greater Toronto Hotel Association and the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Destination Toronto markets and promotes the city to global travellers, attracts and supports major meetings and events, and supports local businesses to maximize the opportunities of visitor spending. For more information, please visit DestinationToronto.com.

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SOURCE Destination Toronto