Turning Red’s funny, sweet, and empathetic portrait of cultural identity, gentle teen rebellion, and tetchy mother-daughter relations gets an extra boost from fake boy band 4*Town.

This is a movie for anyone who has experienced the turmoil Mei experiences, which is to say just about everyone.

I think it chickens out a little bit from telling [a story about puberty] to tell a more universal one... All of that is kind of fun, but slight.

From its arresting animation, to its sensitive and honest portrayal of friendship and girlhood, “Turning Red” proves that specificity is key in storytelling, amplifying emotions that a more vague approach would render impotent.