Disney Pixar Classic Graphic Novel: Turning Red

by Amy Chu

POWER OF THE PANDA - relive the magic of Disney/Pixar Turning Red in this vibrant, full-color graphic novel adaptation of the movie!

Meilin Lee, an overachieving student and dutiful daughter who helps maintain her family’s temple in Toronto’s Chinatown, strides confidently through life. But when Mei turns thirteen, she’s suddenly swimming in a sea of chaos, torn between remaining her mom’s perfect little girl and unleashing her true self—which may just happen to resemble a giant red panda! Backed by her loyal besties, Abby, Miriam, and Priya, Mei must work up the courage to face—and embrace—her inner beast!

64 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2025

About the author

Winner Bram Stoker Award, Gold Anthem Award. Writer for DC, Vertigo, Marvel, IDW and more, including: Poison Ivy, Ant-Man, Deadpool, Red Sonja, Green Hornet, Sensation Comics Wonder Woman, X-Files. KISS and DMC Comics. Cofounded Alpha Girl Comics, publisher of Girls Night Out and other comics. Frequent comic-con panel speaker and moderator.

Follow me on amychu.bluesky.social, @theamychu tiktok, @amy_chu instagram

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Papercutz and Amy Chu for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Disney Pixar Classic Graphic Novel: Turning Red by Amy Chu is a vibrant and heartfelt adaptation of the beloved animated film. It retells the story of Meilin "Mei" Lee, a spirited 13-year-old navigating the chaos of adolescence, friendship, and family expectations while dealing with a magical family trait that turns her into a giant red panda whenever her emotions run high. The graphic novel stays true to the movie’s storyline, capturing all the key moments and emotional beats with clarity and charm.

Amy Chu’s writing preserves the humor and warmth of the original, while the illustrations bring the characters to life with expressive detail and dynamic layouts. The artwork is colorful and energetic, perfectly matching the tone of the film and making it a joy to read. It’s especially appealing to younger readers, but fans of all ages will appreciate how well it translates the movie’s themes of identity, cultural heritage, and growing up into comic form.

Overall, this graphic novel earns a solid five stars for its faithful storytelling, excellent artwork, and emotional resonance. It’s a delightful companion to the movie and a great way to experience Mei’s journey in a new format.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turning Red tells the story of Meilin Lee, a young girl who, aside from dealing with her mother's expectations and expected changes in her body, now has to manage turning into a giant Red Panda. The famous Disney movie is now adapted into a graphic novel, allowing children to engage with the story in a different format.

Sadly, I think this adaptation pales in comparison to the original. The story is condensed and, instead of action-packed, told through narration. The movie is constantly flipping through scenes and montages, but the action being described rather than shown, somewhat takes away from the story.

I believe children will enjoy it regardless, since the story is fun and the panda is beautifully drawn and extremely expressive. I do however recommend it be read by/with the parents, since the font is a bit hard to read and the narration inconsistently jumps through POVs.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Chu, and Papercutz for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turning Red brings Mei Lee’s hilarious and heartfelt story to the graphic novel format, letting readers experience her struggles with growing up, parental pressure, and the unexpected chaos of turning into a giant red panda.

While the adaptation doesn’t fully match the movie’s fast-paced energy—often relying on narration instead of action—the illustrations are expressive and fun, especially Mei’s panda form. Kids will still enjoy the humor and warmth, though parents may want to read along since the text can feel a little uneven.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Chu, and Papercutz for the advanced copy. This review is given honestly and voluntarily.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this ebook.

This graphic novel takes the Pixar film Turning Red and translates it to a graphic novel.

I appreciate this is whole new artwork, instead of film screenshots. I thought it translated to text well, and would be a great tool to get young readers into books.
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[Vale ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story!
It’s exactly like the movie, and the drawings are super cute. What I really loved is that it’s not just the usual story, but one made of choices, growth, and true friendship. A sweet and meaningful read that brought me back to the same emotions of the film.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sweet story about learning to love yourself. I think it will be super relatable to middle schoolers. I have never watched the movie, but I really enjoyed the comic.

4 stars

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork—as with the film—is gorgeous. However, the story has been abridged, and I think, at the expense of the story—especially key scenes that really make the story funny, memorable, and heartfelt. While I still think that it was an enjoyable read, I fear that I was only able to fill in the blanks story-wise because I saw the movie, and that some jumps from scene to scene won’t necessarily make sense otherwise. The cuts in the plot make the story feel like vignettes as opposed to a cohesive story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Papercutz, and Amy Chu for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Disney Pixar Classic Graphic Novel: Turning Red will be published on November 11, 2025.