How much does Disney tailor its stories depending on the platform—and the age of its audience? That question is back in the spotlight after Turning Red (2022) premiered on Disney Channel on May 25, 2025, with several content edits drawing renewed attention to how the company navigates its image and audience expectations.
The Walt Disney Company has not been a stranger to cultural scrutiny. From the release of Strange World (2022) to the recent Snow White (2025) adaptation, Disney’s evolving storytelling—especially its increased inclusion of diverse characters and themes—has prompted widespread debate. Some critics argue that recent box office stumbles can be traced back to these choices.
Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the controversy head-on in a CNBC interview in April 2024, stating, “Infusing messaging is not what we’re up to […] We need to be entertaining.” That comment came after mixed receptions to projects like 2022’s Lightyear, Turning Red, and The Marvels (2023), all of which tackled complex ideas from puberty to gender dynamics.
Still, not everything has been a commercial question mark. In 2024 alone, Disney released three billion-dollar titles—Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Moana 2—demonstrating that audiences still turn out in force for projects that balance heart and accessibility. In the case of Inside Out 2, some anticipated it would lean into themes of identity and adolescence, potentially echoing Turning Red. Though it steered clear of overt puberty narratives, concept art revealed an early pitch for a “Puberty Park” sequence.
Originally released directly on Disney+ due to pandemic-era distribution changes, Turning Red was a bold, personal story from director Domee Shi, whose previous work on Bao earned her an Academy Award. The film follows Mei Lee, a spirited 13-year-old growing up in a Chinese-Canadian household in Toronto. As Mei undergoes a magical transformation into a red panda whenever she’s overwhelmed by emotion, she’s forced to confront the chaos of growing up.
The film was celebrated for its cultural depth and emotional candor, particularly the central relationship between Mei and her overbearing yet loving mother, Ming. But it also attracted criticism, especially for directly addressing puberty—most notably in a much-discussed scene about menstrual products.
When the film was re-edited for its Disney Channel airing, several moments were softened or changed. A line from Ming that originally read, “This is what happens when you don’t wear sunblock and do drugs all day,” was altered to replace “drugs” with “things.” Mei’s startled exclamation, “Oh, crap!” was excised altogether. Slang references also shifted—Mei’s phrase “the bomb dot com” was truncated to “bomb,” and a line where Abby describes 4*Town’s music as “stripper music” was rephrased to “strong music.”
These edits are in line with Disney Channel’s demographic focus, which targets viewers aged 2 to 14. Adjusting language and cultural references is a familiar practice for the network, designed to ensure content aligns with parental expectations and Disney’s family-friendly standards. However, the move has reopened a broader dialogue about censorship and how content is adapted based on viewing platforms.
The X post documenting these edits quickly circulated, with fans split over whether such changes were reasonable safeguards or unnecessary revisions that diminish the film’s message.
For audiences wanting the unaltered version, Turning Red remains available in full on Disney+. The voice cast includes Rosalie Chiang as Mei, Sandra Oh as Ming, Ava Morse as Miriam, Hyein Park as Abby, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya. The film was produced by Lindsey Collins and written by Domee Shi, Julia Cho, and Sarah Streicher—representing Pixar’s first feature directed entirely by a woman and produced by an all-female creative team.
The conversation around these edits—whether justified or excessive—continues to echo across social media and parent forums alike. For Disney, the balancing act between bold storytelling and broad appeal may be more complicated than ever.
How do you feel about the changes made to the movie? Let us know in the comments down below!
It’s definitely a step in the right direction. For too long Disney has leaped over the line of Family Friendly in the content of their films and programs. This is a refreshing step in the right direction.