Pixar’s “Turning Red”, “Braceface” and the 1946 Disney short resolved the period “taboo”.

when to pix turn red Debuting on Disney+ in March, there was an expected response to Y2K’s teen tale about May, a Chinese-Canadian teenager who turns into a red panda when she hits puberty, was a celebration.

But in the weeks after the film’s release, the conversation around it shifted dramatically from a step forward to an inclusive narrative: the film was the studio’s first director for a single Chinese-Canadian woman and its first major Asian character, and turned into a heated argument. debate. Controversy will eventually revolve around whether there should be a right for children to make an animated film, even metaphorically, that targets menstruation.

in an interview PolygonDirector and co-writer Dom Shim explained that the red panda metaphor speaks not only of puberty, but also of what we inherit from our mothers and how we behave with what we inherit from them.

“Not every member of the team has apologized for these real conversations about menstruation and these moments in the girls’ lives,” said producer Lindsay Collins.

That decision was not to the liking of some parents who went to critics like Common Sense Media (which focuses on the media’s suitability for children) and accused the Pixar film of crossing the line between young audiences and their “periods”. references. Pillows”, as noted by one of the reviewers.

“It was extremely disappointing! “We’re all ready to watch it with friends on a snowy day, and that’s completely inappropriate for kids under 13,” wrote another adult critic, who referred to the film as “having too much sex.” “Sexual maturity, crazy boy, cheating on parents, running away and unhealthy ways of dealing with emotions.”

(According to the Cleveland Clinic, puberty can begin at age eight, about 12 years before menstruation.)

for that Support For creator Melissa Clark, the answer sounded all too familiar. Her animated series, which ran for three seasons on Disney-owned ABC Family network, was about menstruation in 2001 in the show’s first season, “Worst First Date: Period”.

“I received many letters from angry mothers,” recalls the writer and series creator. One said: “My 13-year-old daughter and I thought we were sitting around watching a funny cartoon and then we had to explain what a period was like.” We used to say, “Oh, this is a thank you note for what you say.”

Written by show producer Alice Rosenberg and “hosted” by Studio Nelvana, the story was seen by its main character, Sharon, on their first date when she got her period. Finally, the episode attempts to show how pregnant women can respond, from anxiety to pride, to the experience of puberty.

“He’s kind of conquered taboo subjects, what life is all about,” Clark said of his series as a whole. “I really wanted Support Being the TV version of Judy Bloom’s book, making it a landing point for a kid like me who needed that story.”

Lauren Rosewarn, author Periods in Pop Culture: Menstruation in Film and TVHe says the negative reaction to these stories was a constant theme, caused by the perception of menstruation as an “adult” topic.

“Some people, generally conservative, often with strong religious beliefs, tend to think that all sex education should be delivered at home and not through third parties such as schools or the media,” Roswarn said. THR. “Menstruation combined with other perceived ‘adult’ topics such as sex or masturbation is considered a sensitive, personal and often embarrassing or embarrassing discussion.

One of the consequences of this position has historically been the negative perception of periods, associating them with “shame, moodiness and sometimes even guilt,” she said. Furthermore, both live and animated films and television portray the existence of menstruation as a strategic use – A useful excuse to get out of the gym or overeat.

But not all shows have adopted such approaches, including sitcoms. rosanaWho saw Darlene’s first period as “a positive thing” that allowed her to become a mother, Roswarn said THR. The representational processing of periods in TV and film can also be gender-dependent, comedies tend to allude, and teen-oriented media focuses more on education, expectations, and even activism.

“I think animation aimed at young audiences is more likely to avoid participation if it’s not consciously intended to function as sex education,” Roswarn said.

This was the 1946 Disney short film, menstruation history, which was produced in association with International Cellucotton Products Company, the marketing group of Kimberly-Clark, maker of Kotex products. One of the first branded films to be used in schools and eventually screened to 100 million students, The Walt Disney Company oversaw early script drafts and visual conceptualization, the producers hired a consulting gynecologist to ensure accuracy. scientific.

The focus on “biological themes” in the script, directed by KC, helped to make its tone objective and emotionless. Kotex, Kleenex, Huggies: Kimberly-Clark and the Consumer Revolution in American Business. Along with the short text, the ICPC published an additional teaching guide that offers teachers an informal discussion of menstruation in fourth grade, rather than a more “systematic” approach in seventh.

This more refined approach, shaped in part by the screen testing that led to the master edit, was Bob Batchelor’s design, Kotex, Kleenex, Huggies co-author said THR. “There were a lot of cultural factors that KC and Disney had to consider when creating menstruation history“As well as showing the genitals and showing the blood,” he explained. “They had to be discreet and sensitive, especially if they wanted to get broad approval. Then, as now, much of the nation was clearly conservative about sexuality and sex education, so the film had to avoid potential barriers.

Roswarn points out that the US film and television industries have historically worked with production codes, which make it difficult to depict menstruation. Male dominance in media production, as well as issues of classification and network, also influenced the representation of the period. “In general, producers want their material to be seen by as many people as possible, so they generally avoid adding content that restricts who can see it,” he said.

They dated decades apart, History of menstruation, turning red. s Support They eventually fought the same reaction. But unlike its more modern counterparts, the short menstrual reflex and its accompanying materials were accepted as intended for people under the age of 13. He has been praised by teachers, administrators and parents for “striving for high quality educational resources”. Said bachelor. One student even described it as something that could be enjoyed “instead of silence”.

“Schools played a more direct role in preparing young people for life than going to university, so health and sex were very important,” said the Bachelor of Sex Education, which was then more central to the school’s education system. which is today. of the day.

Despite her mixed approach to menstrual animation, Rosemary says the stigma of on-screen periods has “absolutely diminished over time” thanks to the internet, social media, cable TV and now streaming services. “They just don’t live up to the tastes or ratings that have plagued film and television broadcasts,” she concluded.

For Clark, this shift is important as a creative person who wants to help those looking for answers.

“When I looked back at my childhood, I was filled with shame and everything seemed strange and strange to me. I think because my parents weren’t comfortable with any of us. “So I was really embarrassed about it and I feel like there was absolutely no need to do that,” Clark said. “Why is it so busy for some people when it’s just part of being alive?”