Animation has been conceived as “for children” for decades even though animation pre-dates cinema (the magic lantern show, for example) and was originally made for adults. However, while these films might be for children and often are about children, it’s not always the children who choose these films but the parents.
The complexity of this has been exposed recently with Pixar’s new film, Turning Red. The film focuses on 13-year-old Mei Lee who has followed her mother’s strict guidance throughout her life but is now craving a wilder teenagehood. Her version of this includes hanging out with friends her mother disapproves of and attending a concert by her favourite boy band.
