Turning Red – here’s where to spot it. Pixar has a long history of concealing references to earlier and future projects within its films. Looking out for these Easter eggs is part of the fun, especially for viewers eager to learn clues as to the next story the animation studio has envisioned.
Released in June to positive reviews, Luca is a charming coming-of-age story set on the Italian Riviera. Taking place in 1959, the film follows shapeshifting sea monsters Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer) as they pretend to be humans and spend the summer exploring the human world. Although centered in the fictional town of Portorosso, Luca is based on director Enrico Casarosa’s childhood in Genoa and takes inspiration from local myths of the Italian coast.
Pixar’s tease for Turning Red is just one of several references throughout Luca and an exceptionally discreet one that’s easy to miss. Turning Red is set for release on March 11, 2022, and will be the feature-length directorial debut of Domee Shi, who was also the first woman to direct a Pixar short film with Bao. The movie will follow Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a teenager struggling through adolescence who transforms into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited. Meanwhile, as detailed by Pixar Post, a fan on Twitter discovered the movie’s reference in Luca, which was confirmed by Casarosa himself.
Turning Red’s hidden Easter egg appears in the background of Portorosso Cup contestant Giulia Marcovaldo's (Emma Berman) bedroom. There is a music record in her room that reads “4 (Star) Villaggi,” meaning Villages. The fan compared the record label to a badge on Mei Lee’s lanyard in Turning Red's poster, which sports the very similar logo of “4 (Star) Town”. The logo most likely refers to a boy band Mei Lee is interested in and seems in keeping with the film’s early 2000s setting. This Easter egg is one of the hardest to spot in Luca and can go unnoticed, in part because you would have to be particularly in tune with Pixar’s projects to understand the reference. There’s also the fact that Giulia’s bedroom contains another, significantly more recognizable, Disney reference – a soft toy Donald Duck.
It is doubtful viewers would catch Soul.
The Turning Red Easter egg in Luca is perhaps one of Pixar’s most difficult references to date, partly because it doesn’t reveal much at all about the film’s story. Not too much else is known about the film, except that it is set in Toronto, Canada, and Sandra Oh will play Mei Lee’s overprotective mother, Ming. Regardless, it will surely be another emotional coming-of-age story packed with many more easter eggs for audiences to discover.
