Turning Red/Ships

= MeiCarter = 

MeiCarter is the het ship between Meilin Lee and Carter Murphy-Mayhew.

Canon
Mei was talking to her friends; Miriam, Priya and Abby and then Carter walks by past Mei and Mei stops talking and then stare at Carter. Suddenly, there's some 'Shojo love bubble' frame around Carter while Carter opens his locker (Which shiny on the inside) and Mei's eyes turns into a puppy dog eyes/cute eyes (Like how Abby's when she see Mei in her panda form for the first time or when Mei sees cute kittens). When Miriam distract Mei, Mei gasps and Miriam asks "Why are you staring at Carter Murphy-Mayhew?", Mei quickly crosses her arms and awkwardly smiles while saying "I-I wasn't!"

Carter, along with the Goth Girl and his another friend got a photoshoot with Mei in her Red Panda form, and when Mei and Miriam waves a goodbye to a group of friends after a photoshoot, Mei, in her panda form crashes into Carter. Mei and Carter's face are really close and Mei quickly moves and look at the paw print on Carter's clothes that formed because of the crash while frowning, worried that he would get mad. After Carter give Mei a thumb up while nodding instead, showing that Carter is actually appreciate the paw print, Mei give him a very wide grin as a sign of her relief. Carter had also given Mei and her friends the idea to sell red panda merchandise.

Mei and Carter have a very different personality, Carter being an emo boy that probably is a rebel and Mei being a literal sunshine 'perfect' girl.

Moments

 * Carter had watch an angry Mei attack Tyler in her panda form and became scared of her. Mei calmed down after seeing the scared look his and the other kids faces.

Fanon
MeiCarter isn't particularly popular due to Carter's lack of screen time. Most of the ship's support from Mei devolving a crush on Carter, and those who didn't felt comfortable with pairing Mei up with her former bully or her celebrity crush. Along with people who simply live good girl-bad boy couples, with Carter being an emo and Mei living her life as her mother's perfect little girl. That is why girls in Mei's position would fall for guys that could bring a sense of adventure into their lives, or simply want to find someone who can help them embrace their rebellious side. Like Mei's friends had helped her to.

Because Mei's crush on Carter probably didn't started until after her magical puberty kicked in, some people believe that Mei's feelings for him might just simply be teenage hormones. Subjecting that Mei might fine herself liking someone else in the future. Since she did fall for Carter the morning after she found herself drawing Devon from the mini mart. Which is why not many people have high expectations for this ship.

Due to the way some of the early concept art of Mei had her possessing a punk-like style, the idea of her dawning on an emo look to impress Carter or to up her chances of catching his way, wouldn't be too far fetch. Since she has a friend who as some some emo-like interests and will be able to help Mei step into Carter's world.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

= MeiLuca =  MeiLuca is the het ship between Meilin Lee and Luca Paguro from the Turning Red and Luca fandoms. Aka, Meicua

Fanon
The ship started after Turning Red was announced and people got the idea to ship Mei with Luca, due to them both being child Pixar characters that happen to have a similar ability. Being able to turn themselves from a human into a type of animal/creature. Its popularity rose soon after the 2022 film was released. Resulting in it becoming one of the most popular crossover ships, between two Pixar characters, of that year.

Most fanworks of the ship commonly have the two as their human selves, while making references to their none human forms. Like having Mei with her panda ears and tail beside human Luca. Along with featuring the two in ship related memes on DeviantArt. Some of those memes and other kinds of fanworks have MeiLuca be placed other Pixar crossover ships, like Mirialberto and Ianlet. There have also been times when the ship is featured in an AU or mirror-like setting of The Little Mermaid. That has Mei be placed as a mermaid beside sea monster Luca, or have the two play out the Little Mermaid storyline. Since Luca already has some Ariel-like traits, but his male gender sometimes has him as Eric, while Mei plays the part of Ariel.

Because Mei had pictured two of the guys she fancies as mermen, the idea of shipping her with a cute looking sea monster wasn't too far fetch. Along with this fact pleasing fans of the crossover ship, as it means that Mei wouldn't mind becoming close to someone like Luca. Who can connect to her with the other things they also have in common, than just the struggles they had with having to hide one of their two forms. Before they and those forms got expected by others.

Mei's red hair and coming from the human has got people to think that Luca would view Mei as his second Giulia. As they picture Mei teaching Luca things about her world, culture and what kids their age are in to. Even though most fanworks of the ship commonly place it in Luca's timeline or simply in Portorosso. While moving it to the Turning Red timeline. Just as Luca wanted to attend Giulia's school, he may also like to enrol in Mei's and become part of her gang of friends. Who would also expect Luca's sea monster form, since they already expect Panda Mei.

Fandom
Fan Art

Trivia

 * Both of of their films were originally set to be released in theatres, but COVID forced Pixar to turn them into Disney+ originals.

= MeiMing =  MeiMing is the family ship between Meilin Lee and Ming Lee. Aka, Meiling, MingMei, MingMeilin

Canon
The photos shown in the film's opening reveal that Mei and Ming have a close relationship, and how they have done many things together. Like sports, make up and other mother-daughter activities. Mei's opening intro having her state that her family's number one rule is honouring them, before explaining why that is and that she doesn't have a problem of forgetting to honour herself. Even though she does from doing whatever it takes to keep her mother as her perfect little Mei Mei. From keeping her grades up at school to assisting Ming with caring for their family's temple. Knowing what Ming will disprove of forces Mei to keep half of her teen interests, like boys, load music and other things that her friends got her into a secret from her mother. Who already sees Mei's friends as a bad influence. When Ming's over protective side embarrassed Mei after seeing her daughter's sexy drawings of a boy, Mei kept her true thoughts on the sense her mother a secret. From not having the heart to hurt her feelings and ends up blaming herself for what happened. Devoting herself as her mother's pride and joy has kept Mei from truly thinking about what she wants.

Ming had told Mei things about their ancestor, Sun Yee as part of their family history and when they are telling visitors to their temple about her love for red pandas. So Mei would be prepared for when the magical puberty of their family arrives. Believing that watching Mei like a hawk would help Ming spot the signs and get things ready for it, while thinking that she had enough time before she can inform her about it. Because Ming waited too long and still wasn't ready for when Mei is no longer her little girl anymore, however, Mei was left wondering why she woke up as a giant red panda. Along with Mei not wanting her mother to see her as a "gross red monster." That is why Mei makes Ming think that the "red pee" had bloomed. Which Ming was prepared for and tries to help Mei with it, while having no idea that Mei's red panda was what truly bloomed. Until Ming trying to give Mei the pads she forgot to pack caused Mei to break her calm and transforms for Ming to see.

At Mei was upset that Ming didn't tell her of their family's indecision blessing, until Ming explains that she had gone through the same thing and that there is cure to rid herself of the panda and the struggles it comes with. With the next red moon a whole month away, Ming promises Mei that they'll wait it out together and that her room's new arrangement is only temporary.

Fanon
Even though many people from the West weren't very sure of their mother-daughter bond, as one group of people began to compare Ming with Alma Madrigal from Encanto, there are those who like to think of them as the second Merida and Elinor. From how Turning Red is also a mother-daughter story created by Pixar and has members from the film's main family be turned into a type of animal. After the relationship Ming had with her own mother was revealed and that see too tried to be perfect for her, some people gained an understanding why she ended up doing the same thing to Mei. Since some mothers end up raising their the children in the same way they were raised, along with Ming not wanting to recreate the rift she made with her mother.

Some people like the way that parts of Mei and Ming's relationship is based on the experiences that the creators of the film have from being mothers themselves, the times they spent with their kids and the relationships they have with their mothers during their teen years. Creating some authenticity for the film and helping the audience feel a connection with Mei and Ming.

Fandom
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