Turning Red Merchandise is Bursting with Emotion (and Red Pandas)

Disney and Pixar’s latest film, Turning Red, is now available to stream on Disney+ and there are plenty of goods already available for purchase. Boasting a unique art style with an anime flair and set in the early 2000s, Turning Red has the opportunity to do something particularly special with its merchandise. Does it pull it off or let that chance slip by? Let’s take a look at the goods…

Toys

Turning Red Suprise Collectible Mini Figure – Series 1 ($4.99)

Hidden within this cardboard box is one of ten 2.25-inch figures of Mei as a human girl or red panda (5 designs for each). Interestingly, these mystery boxes are listed as “Series 1.” Could more designs be on the way? And are there any of these figures that you would hope to get?

Mei Panda Plush ($34.99)

There are three different Mei plushes that we’ll look at and the first comes to us by way of shopDisney. Of the trio, this is the only version that has a fixed sitting pose. Measuring at just over 18-inches tall, Mei sports embroidered details on her face and paws and a fittingly fluffy tail.

Build-A-Bear Workshop’s Red Panda Mei Plush ($32)

Build-A-Bear Workshop’s 16-inch tall plush has a perkier expression (shopDisney’s looks a tad confused in my opinion) and also offers the interactive bonus of fans being able to stuff their own at their local Workshop. If you order online, you can have the plush pre-stuffed so you can get right to cuddling once she arrives, or opt to receive the unstuffed version and personally stuff it once you get to a store. I always like under-stuffing mine a bit; they are much easier to pose and comfier to hug.

Panda Mei Plush Pillow Buddy ($19.99)

The last of our plush toy trio is made by Jay Franco and sold at Target stores. Like Build-A-Bear’s, this Mei is 16-inches tall. I love her anime-style eyes and the way she is posed, as if she is daydreaming about her favorite boy band, 4Town. Mei’s fur looks pinker and more peach in hue than red and orange like the others. This one is my favorite of the three. What was yours?

Home Decor

2-Pack Meilin Lee Throw Pillows ($19.99)

Like the Red Panda Mei Pillow Buddy, this 2-Pack of pillows (and the set immediately after this one as well) are made by Jay Franco for Target. This pair of throw pillows has Mei’s doodles on one side and fuzzy fabric on the other.

2-Pack Panda Mei Throw Pillows ($19.99)

Instead of middle school scribblings, the artwork on this pair of pillows focuses on two of Mei’s many moods as shown in Red Panda form. Who knew being upset could look so cute?

Apparel

Woven Shirt for Women ($59.99)

I love a good flannel shirt. They are great for layering and adding an extra bit of color to an outfit. And this Turning Red Woven Shirt for Women is definitely up my alley. Made of an acrylic-based flannel, the garment is decorated with embroidered art (in red thread) on the front and back, designed to look like Mei’s hand-drawn doodles. Above one of the breast pockets, it says “RPG,” which stands for “Red Panda Girl” (my knee-jerk response for that abbreviation is “role-playing game”). The shirt uses metal snaps to close rather than buttons, so keep that in mind if you have a preference. This shirt also comes in kids’ sizes for $39.99.

Corduroy Skirt for Women ($44.99)

A great accompaniment to the above shirt is this Corduroy Skirt for Women (Not much for men so far; hopefully more styles are incoming). The skirt’s fabric is a blend of cotton, viscose, and elastane, and has some stretch to it. Like the Woven Shirt, Mei’s “doodles” are embroidered are the piece. The skirt’s buttons have sweet little red panda faces engraved on them and I can’t help but wish they were on the shirt’s snaps, too. All the same, this skirt would be darling either by itself or paired with the woven shirt.

Sock Set for Kids ($14.99)

This set of three kid-sized pairs of socks is full of color and character. Each sock is a blend of polyester and elastane with intarsia-knit designs. The styles include in this set are blue with red panda Mei, pink with red panda and human Mei, and yellow with human Mei.

Other Fun Turning Red Merchandise Finds

The Art of Turning Red ($42.50), available from Amazon and Chronicle Books

This art book not only has a forward by Pete Docter (Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer) but also an introduction by Domee Shi (Director of Turning Red). It’s packed with tons of exclusive behind-the-scenes information, such as production art, anecdotes, and other never-before-publishes details. There are also storyboards, character designs, and more in this 160-page tome.

Mei’s Little Box of Big Feelings ($13.99)

This set of five books was written by Aimee Murata and illustrated by Jerrod Maruyama (Disney Parks merchandise collectors will recognize his work). Each volume in this box set describes a different emotion: excited, embarrassed, angry, lonely, and confident. Aimed at fans aged 2-5, they aim to help children better understand and express their emotions while entertaining them.

Turning Red Cast Pin – Limited Release ($17.99)

Mei as Panda Pin ($9.99)

Hoping for trading pins? You got ’em! The first is a limited release pin featuring Red Panda Mei with her group of friends clinging to her back. The second is an open edition pin with Mei as a red panda in an anime-like art style. Both pins have a different kind of charm to them. Do you have a favorite or would you just buy both? 

Recommended Reading

Get your game on with Ravensburger’s latest Villainous board game expansion, Bigger and Badder. Take a look at the new playable baddies and all the pretty game pieces here:

Disney Villainous Game Gets Bigger and Badder

Let’s Hear from You

What do you think of the Turning Red merchandise? Are you planning on watching the movie (or have you already)? And for a movie set in the 2000s, would you have wanted to see some throwback items added to the mix? Let us know in the comments below!