NASIONALISME.NET, Tangerang — Turning Red (2022) and Inside Out 2 (2024) are two animated films that share the same issue. Both films deeply explore the issue of identity crisis in adolescent emotional growth. Where both characters are 13 years old, showing the phase where a person enters puberty. According to Cherry (2023), this stage occurs during adolescence between the ages of approximately 12 and 18 years. At this stage, adolescents will explore their independence and develop a sense of identity. These two movies present different stories but still present the same theme of how adolescents deal with emotional changes and social pressures.
Picture 1: Turning red (2022)
In Turning Red, the protagonist Mei Lee experiences drastic changes during her puberty. This triggers a family curse that turns her into a giant red panda whenever her emotions peak. Meanwhile, Inside Out 2 follows the emotional journey of Riley, a teenager who has to adapt to new emotions. Because of this, she also gets 3 new emotions such as anxiety and envy and shame after moving to a new neighborhood. Through these stories, both movies invite the audience to understand the complexity of emotional changes experienced by a teenager that triggers an identity crisis in emotional growth, exploring emotional identity crisis, and self-acceptance.
In the movie Turning Red, identity crisis in emotional growth is shown through the character Mei Lee. When Mei enters puberty, she experiences drastic emotional changes. This triggers a hereditary family curse, turning her into a giant red panda whenever her emotions peak. This extreme physical change becomes a metaphor for the emotional upheaval experienced by teenagers. In addition, the pressure from her protective mother puts an additional burden on Mei, making her have to balance between fulfilling family expectations and discovering her true self. This internal conflict illustrates the complexity of the adolescent period, where people try to understand and define their own identity amidst social and family demands.
Picture 2: Inside Out 2 (2024)
In contrast, Inside Out 2 explores the emotional identity crisis through the character of Riley. After Riley moves to a new environment, she also has to adapt to the emergence of new emotions such as Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. The movie shows how Riley tries to navigate these new feelings, while trying to gain recognition and make new friends at the weekend hockey camp. There is a conflict that Riley faces between the emotions of Joy and Anxiety that causes many things to happen. This reflects the struggle of teenagers in maintaining their emotional balance amidst social pressure and uncertainty. Through this struggle, the movie shows the importance of understanding and accepting the range of emotions that arise during adolescence.
Although the two movies present different stories, they both convey a strong message about the importance of self-acceptance in the face of identity crisis and emotional growth. The movie Turning Red highlights how Mei Lee learns to accept the changes happening within herself and finds inner strength to overcome external pressures. Meanwhile, Inside Out 2 teaches that facing and managing new emotions is a natural part of growth. It shows that it is okay to feel anxious or scared when faced with adapting to major life changes. Both movies invite viewers to appreciate the emotional journey during adolescence and discover who they are amidst the challenges.
In conclusion, Turning Red and Inside Out 2 are animated films that successfully capture the essence of identity crisis in adolescent emotional growth. The messages conveyed by these two films are very relevant to the younger generation of viewers, showing that self-discovery is a complex yet very important process in one’s life journey. Not only the young but also the parents as well, depicting that it is not easy for teenagers. Through the characters of Mei Lee and Riley, both films teach the importance of understanding the complexity of emotional changes that occur, exploring emotional identity crises, and accepting oneself.
References:
Cherry, K. (2023). Identity vs. Role Confusion in Psychosocial Development. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/identity-versus-confusion-2795735
Langford, L., & Bartley, L. (2023). Emotional growth: Definition & lesson quiz. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/emotional-growth-definition-lesson-quiz.html
Pixar Animation Studios. (2024). Inside Out 2 [Film]. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Pixar Animation Studios. (2022). Turning Red [Film]. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Villines, Z. (2020). What is an identity crisis. Medical News Today.
