<p>Domee Shi said she chose to set her animated feature debut Turning Red in 2002 in order to construct the movie as a "love letter" to her childhood.</p><p>The film follows a Chinese-Canadian teenager who turns 13 and begins to experience the effects of a family curse, which means she transforms into an enormous red panda whenever she becomes agitated.</p><p>Bao director Shi's story is set between 2002 and 2003, featuring plenty of cultural references familiar to anybody who was around at that time — including flip-phones and Tamagotchis.</p><p>Turning Red debuts on Disney+ on Friday, 11 March.</p>
