Characters / Turning Red: Secrets of the Panda

Characters from the Turning Red fanfic: Turning Red: Secrets of the Panda.

For characters from the original film, see here.

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Catherine Moore (SPOILERS)

A zoologist and teacher who serves as the deuteragonist of the story, and has a hidden link to Mei's family.

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• Action Girl: As a skilled fighter with the ability to turn into a giant red panda, she certainly qualifies.
• Anti-Hero: She starts off this way, as she does some immoral things such as experimenting on people, and removing Mei's panda spirit, but she's only trying to help people and soon realises her actions have caused more harm than good.
• Single Tear: She sheds a tear after she learns that Mei has lost her panda spirit. This also serves to foreshadow the fact that she is the one who took away Mei's panda, showing that while she did it for the right reasons, Mei's reaction did start making her slowly come to regret it.
• Badass Teacher: She is the school's science teacher who teaches her students about different animals, and is also shown to be a competent fight. doubly so once it's revealed she's actually Xia Lee, a member of the Lee family and, as such, has their signature panda transformation ability.
• Classy Cane: She has a cane which has images of red pandas engraved down the side, and a gem at the top. it also contains her red panda spirit.
• Dark Is Not Evil: When she's first introduced, she's dressed in fairly dark clothing. However, she's quickly revealed to be a heroic (if somewhat morally ambiguous) character.
• Everyone Has Standards:
  • After seeing that Mei is upset during her lesson, she decides to end it early to give Mei enough room to calm down. This shows that, while she tries to be a good teacher who wants people to learn about different animals, she also cares greatly about her student's wellbeing enough to help them calm down if they ever get too upset by something.
  • During the auction at which Jason's selling the red pandas, she is visibly horrified that Jason's own corrupted panda spirits have gone berserk and are killing almost everyone in sight, prompting her, along with Mei, to try and help as many people as possible, even if said people weren't the nicest.
• Friend to All Living Things: She's a keen animal lover who tries to educate her students about them, and shows a certain fondness for red pandas. Justified, as she is a member of the Lee family, who have a high devotion to red pandas. The Panda Conspiracy reveals that her house also doubles as an animal sanctuary.
• Handicapped Badass: She's a skilled fighter and has the ability to turn into a red panda, but also walks with a slight limp.
• Heroic BSoD: She falls into one when she realises how much her actions have affected Mei, as well as the others she tried to help.
• Mama Bear: Whatever you do, do not even ‘’think’’ about hurting Mei, or any other members of her family. Jason learns this the hard way.
• My God, What Have I Done?: This is actually part of her whole character arc, starting from when she sees Mei being upset over losing her red panda spirit, slowly making her become deeply horrified after learning that she took away the one thing that made Mei happy. It gets worse when Howard gets her to stop her experiments, telling her that what she's doing is cruel, she then undergoes an even bigger one when she learns of Ping's (faked) death, after Ping got rid of her own panda spirit, causing Xia to realise that she, herself, removed the one thing that also allowed Mei to protect herself.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: If she hadn't removed Mei's panda spirit, Mei would have been more able to protect herself from the PCA.
• Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Gives one to Jason before fighting him in her red panda form on top of a moving freight train.
  "Oh, you want to fight the panda, Jason? So be it!"
• Rage Breaking Point: She’s generally quite calm, even when being threatened by Jason and his team. However, when Jason shoots Mei and almost kills her, she completely snaps.
• Spotting the Thread: She correctly deduces that Howard Mitchell is working for the PCA when she sees he is both wearing the silver ring that serves as Mei's talisman, and carrying a pistol which she's never seen him use before.
• Sword Cane: Her cane is revealed to be one when she uses it at the auction.
• What the Hell, Hero?: she's one the receiving end of one from Mei, who calls her out for taking away her panda spirit.

Jason Vaugn (SPOILERS)

The head of the Panda Control Agency.

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• And Your Little Dog, Too!:
  • Threatens to kill Tyler if he finds out the latter’s dad is lying to him
  • He later captures Mei’s friends and family in order to lead her into a trap
• Ax-Crazy: Not so much at the start of the story, but as it progresses he shows himself to be a murderous psychopath who will kill anyone who gets in his way in order to achieve his goals.
• Badass Driver: He shows some pretty good driving skills during the chase from Ottawa to Toronto: He manages to pull a 180 degree drift turn immediately after having to swerve quickly to avoid hitting Mei, and also avoid oncoming traffic while driving in reverse, without even looking behind him.
• Badass Normal: Other than being able to control corrupt red panda spirits, he's still a fairly normal guy. However, he's also capable of fighting the giant red pandas by himself. He's not the leader of the PCA for nothing, now.
• Berserk Button: If you value your life, don't try hiding any of the giant red pandas from him.
• Big Bad: The one responsible for hunting down the giant red pandas, which is the main plot of the
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Dear god, this guy can’t go anywhere without betraying someone.
• Disney Villain Death: He dies by falling through a broken window in the observation deck of the CN Tower, falling several hundred feet to the ground below while trying to charge at Xia and Mei.
• The Dragon: Even though he's the head of the PCA, he's actually a servant of Xióngmāo shāshǒu, making a deal with the latter to elliminate the Lee family.
• Dragon-in-Chief: While he is a follower of Xióngmāo shāshǒu, he still serves as the main threat to the heroes, and is the one leading the crusade against the Lee family.
• Dragon with an Agenda: While he is a servant of Xióngmāo shāshǒu, he’s only working with him simply so he can gain wealth and glory.
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Jason, during his "The Reason You Suck" Speech to Xia and Mei, calls out the latter for using her red panda transformation ability to entertain other as opposed to using it like a weapon as intended, not understanding how Mei could be so fun and kind.
• Evil Costume Switch: Downplayed, since he was already shown to be evil to begin with, but after his true nature as a demon-worshipping psychopath who couldn't give a damn about anyone but himself is revealed, he drops his usual suit jacket in favour of a sleeveless dark red jacket adorned with outlines of panda spirits.
• Fantastic Racism: He has a deep hatred for the giant red pandas, referring to them as "freaks".
• Faux Affably Evil: He's often shown acting fairly polite towards others, but his true nature often comes through when he doesn't get what he wants. This trait slips away entirely once he's been exposed as a traitor who will do anything to make a profit, and has his entire black market auction ruined.
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: Jason Vaugn's body is covered with scars, and he is as vile as they come.
• It's All About Me: It's made quite clear as the story goes on that he only cares about himself and the profit he gets, and doesn't give a damn about what happens to the civilians of Toronto.
• Jerkass: He's often rude and aggressive to others, even his own men, when they don't give him what he wants.
• Know When to Fold 'Em: Yes, even he knows there are times trying to kill the giant red pandas isn't a good idea, mainly since he doesn't want to ruin is reputation.
• Living Lie Detector: He can easily tell when someone is lying to him. However, this also means he suspects nearly everyone is lying.
• Manipulative Bastard: He is quite skilled at manipulating people in order to get what he wants. He even manages to manipulate the government simply so that he could overthrow the original leader of the PCA.
• Noodle Incident: It is never stated how he got his scars.
• Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: He claims to be simply trying to protect the city. However, as Mei points out, he only cares about himself, and is later revealed to be trying to sell the giant red pandas, aka Mei's family, at an Auction of Evil.
• Psycho Knife Nut: He often uses knives when fighting, and is completely insane and psychotic.
• Rage Breaking Point: He reaches it at the end after Xia and Mei expose his crimes to everyone at the auction, causing the PCA members to turn against him.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: He gives one to both Mei and Xia during his Auction of Evil black market auction.
  Xia:"Prize, Jason, is that what you think of us, is it? We aren’t prizes, Jason, and what you’re doing is illegal, selling innocent people for money! It’s clear, now, you truly don’t care about anyone but yourself!"
  Jason:"Says the one who performed horrific experiments on people, and claimed to be helping them! You claim to protect people, yet you take away something that apparently exists to do just that, Xia. You’re just as responsible as I am! And you, Meilin Lee, you were given the same ability to defend yourself, and instead you use it to entertain others and raise money. And you still decided to keep it even after you attacked your friend Tyler, after you knew how dangerous it is? Yeah, you exploit the pandas just as much as I do!"
• Sanity Slippage: He loses all of his sanity during the confrontation at the CN Tower, leading to him trying to attack Mei and Xia in a blind fury.
• Shock Stick: He uses one of these during his fight with Xia at the auction.
• Soft-Spoken Sadist: He generally keeps a calm demeanour, but is still a complete Ax-Crazy sociopath.
• The Starscream:
  • In chapter 8, he's revealed to actually be the second-in-command of the PCA, who overthrew their original leader by fooling the government into thinking he had performed treason, simply to make a profit and because he didn't like the way the PCA did things.
  • He also reveals to Xia and Mei that he was planning on betraying his master, Xióngmāo shāshǒu, as soon as he had no more use for him.
• Tattooed Crook: Towards the end, he is revealed to have several tattoos of demons and dead red pandas over his body.
• Villainous Breakdown: He slips into one after Mei and Xia expose his true colours at the auction, prompting his own men to turn against him.
  "You know what? You are all traitors, every single one of you in this room, and you shall all share the same fate! I've spent enough time trying to expose these freaks for what they are, yet you're now accusing ME of being the dangerous one even though these pandas are literally walking weapons of mass destruction? Perhaps now it is time for me to finish my ancestors' work!"
  • He goes through a bigger one during the climax, where he gives Mei and Xia (as well as the rest of their family, including Sun Yee) a "The Reason You Suck" Speech, and starts attacking them in an Unstoppable Rage after they interferred with his plans too many times, leading to him trying to attack the two of them with his knife, and shooting Mei in the stomach. Thankfully, both Xia and Mei survive, whereas Jason does not.
    "Because your miserable, freaky family, with its pathetic devotion to those hideous red pandas, should have gone extinct ages ago, Xia, along with the animals you so adore! What, did you think your treacherous ancestor Sun Yee died from old age or an illness, young lady? No, it was my ancestors who did that, Lee!"
    "Don't you see how weak and pathetic you lot are, Xia? This is why you should have died long ago, Lee! But soon, I will exterminate all of you, and I'll be known as this cities saviour! I don't need that foolish demon to help me, anymore. His work is done, and he'll soon be elliminated as well!"
• Villainous Valour: He shows no signs of fear, even when facing foes much larger than him. Then again, when you’re in charge of an organisation tasked with hunting down giant red pandas who are at least eight feet tool, you’ve pretty much got to have this.
• Weak, but Skilled: He's not the strongest character in the story, but he's still a fairly skilled fighter who can easily go toe-to-toe with the giant red pandas.
• Would Hit a Girl: considering the giant red pandas he tries to hunt are all women, this is a given. He also has no qualms about going after Mei's friends.
• Would Hurt a Child: He is all too willing to hurt Mei and her friends. At one point, he also attacks an entire school while there are still children there.

Howard Mitchell (UNMARKED SPOILERS)

Jason Vaugn's top enforcer, and an agent for the PCA.

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• Affably Evil: Unlike Jason, his kindness is actually genuine, and prefers talking as opposed to violence to get information from people. He also rarely lies to anyone (with the only exception being when he masquerades as Xia's assistant), as shown when he tells Abby that he won't harm Mei unless he has to.
• AntiVillain: Howard, while still trying to eliminate the red pandas, isn't technically a bad guy and is just trying to keep the city safe. His only problem is that he's working for the wrong side and going about things the wrong way.
• Bad Ass Normal: Even moreso than Jason, he Howard doesn't have any special abilities to speak of. Howard is able to chase Xia across rooftops, despite Xia being able to jump further than her in panda form, and also fights both Xia (and later Mei) on top of a train, with Mei alternating between her human and panda forms. It's no wonder Jason picked him as his second-in-command.
• Character Tics: At two points of the story, Howard is mentioned to be fiddling with something on his finger. This is revealed to be a ring which serves as the talisman which Mei's panda spirit is stored in, thus making this a case of foreshadowing, as well.
• Conflicting Loyalty: Throughout the course of the story, Howard starts to question his allegiances between protecting the Lee family, and helping Jason eliminate them. Ultimately, he chooses to protect the Lee family, but at the cost of his own life.
• The Cracker: He's an expert hacker, being the one who was able to track Mei's location almost accurately, and also ruin Xia's experiment while making it look like a success simply because he found them horrific.
• Dark Is Evil: as "H", he wears a black leather jacket and fedora.
• The Dragon: To Jason Vaugn. However, as the story goes on, his loyalties start to become conflicted as he slowly learns he fighting for the wrong side.
• Dragon with an Agenda: He's only working for Jason as he wants to protect the city.
• Even Evil Has Standards:
  • Despite being Jason's second in command, he's nowhere near as cruel and sadistic as he is, and tries to avoid any civilian casualties if he can, only killing any if he has no other option. He also tries to make the deaths of anyone he kills as quick and painless as possible.
  • While he is tasked with hunting down the giant red pandas, he only takes down those who are actually posing a threat to the city, since he realises they are simply an innocent family trying to make a living. This leads to him turning agains Jason during his final scene, trying to take him down to protect Mei and Xia and getting (unintentionally) killed by Mei in the process.
  • He's also horrified at the way Xia was treating people in her experiments, and frees them as a result.
• Hidden Depths: He is a fan of the Boy band 4*Town.
• I Gave My Word: He is not a man to go against his word unless he has to. When he tells Abby that he won't harm Mei unless he has no other option, he isn't lying.
• The Mole: He's introduced as Xia's assistant, but he's later revealed to be an agent for the PCA.
• My God, What Have I Done?:
  • After he reveals his true colours, he becomes remorseful over the fact he had betrayed Xia, whom he genuinely saw as a friend.
  • During the Traintop Battle, he starts feeling remorseful for hunting down innocent people and believing Jason's deception.
• Never Hurt an Innocent: He only goes after the giant red pandas (but only those he knows are a threat to the city), and never tries to hurt anyone else (which includes Mei's friends).
• Not So Above It All: Despite being a generally serious and professional government agent, he also happens to be a 4*Townie, as evident when he listens and hums along to "U Know What's Up" in Xia's lab.
• One-Letter Name: He is usually referred to as "H" by Jason, in order to hide his identity
• Pet the Dog: He has his moments of this, such as when he asks Mei's friends for her location and tells them he won't hurt her if he doesn't have to, and he's actually being honest about this. Too bad Jason had other ideas, though.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Somewhat. While still working for Jason as his second-in-command, he is a lot more honest and well-meaning than his boss, and only tries to kill people (including members of the Lee family) if he has no other option.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech:
  • He gives one to Jason, calling him out for seeing all members of the Lee family as dangerous.
  I will, sir. I don’t see why you hate them so much, though, Jason. They’re an innocent family trying to make a living, like all of us are. I only take down those who I know are posing a threat, unlike you. You’re clearly paranoid and delusional, you see everyone as a threat when it’s clear you’re the threat. Not just to others, but to yourself
  • He gives Jason another one (combined with a My God, What Have I Done?) for deceiving everyone in the city (including members of the PCA).
  You want to know who the real monster here is, Jason? It’s you, and I’m not letting you harm innocent people again! You’ve lied to me, you’ve lied to all of us. Mei’s right, Jason, I was on the wrong side. I’ve been hunting down innocent people simply because of a deception, your deception, Jason!
• Redemption Equals Death: During the Traintop Battle, he fires at Jason, trying to take him down and protect Mei and Xia. However, Mei accidentally takes a step back and knock him off the top of the train and onto the tracks below.
• Villains Never Lie: Almost everything he says is the truth, with his only "lie" being his disguise as Xia's assistant.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Unlike Jason, who only cares about himself and the profit, he genuinely cares about the people in the city and wants to protect them. While he does try to kill Mei and her family, he's only doing so because he thinks it's the right thing to do, and doesn't take any pleasure in it. He also only goes after any members of the family whom he knows are posing a threat to the city. He also only fights Xia on top of the train since he had orders to take her down, and tries to convince Mei to stand down as he doesn't want to hurt her.
• What the Hell, Hero?: a villain-to-hero example; he calls out Xia for the horrific experiments she is performing on other people. This gets Xia to reconsider her own actions.

Mike Smith (MAJOR UNMARKED SPOILERS)

The true leader of the PCA.

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• Ascended Extra: He gains more prominence in The Panda Conspiracy.
• Everyone Has Standards: While he did form the PCA to hunt down any giant red pandas, he only intended for them to hunt down any that were genuinely a threat in the city, and is clearly horrified that Jason wanted to wipe them out completely (or at least sell them for profit).
• Reasonable Authority Figure: He's the head of the PCA, and is willing to help Mei find her friends and family despite being on opposing sides. Justified, as the PCA were initially started to protect the city from any pandas they view as a threat, and he knows Mei isn't a threat.
• Walking Spoiler: His very existence alone is one.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Unlike Jason, he genuinely does want to protect the city. He’s also willing to help Mei and her family, despite having no reason to do so, and only hunts down those who are actually posing a threat to the city.

Xióngmāo shāshǒu (MAJOR UNMARKED SPOILERS)

A demonic entity whom Jason Vaugn is serving.

• Deal with the Devil: And almost literal example; both Jason Vaugn and his ancestors made a deal with Xióngmāo shāshǒu so that they could eliminate the Lee family.
• Evil Sounds Deep: he speaks with a deep, gravelly voice befitting of a demonic entity.
• The Ghost: He is not seen, instead speaking through a statue at Jason's temple, and also via Jason’s corrupted panda spirits.
• Greater-Scope Villain: Despite Jason being the main antagonist of the story, chapter 8 reveals that he is serving Xióngmāo shāshǒu to help him get revenge on the gods who gave the Lee family their powers. He also serves this role in the sequel, The Panda Conspiracy, as Harvey is also a member of the same cult.
• Names to Run Away from Really Fast: His name translates to "Panda Killer".
• Our Demons Are Different: He isn’t shown to have any corporeal form, and communicates by possessing various items (including the corrupted red panda spirits).
• Phlebotinum Rebel: He initially created the red panda spirits to be used for evil. However, they were twisted by the god and given to the Lee family to use for good.
• Religion of Evil: He is worshipped by the Vaugn family, who are highly devoted to killing the Lee family for their abilities.
• Walking Spoiler: It's impossible to talk about him without revealing that he's the master of Jason Vaugn.

Harvey Vaugn

• Abusive Parents: He often abuses his own daughter, Sarah, and even allowed Jason to do the same just because he viewed her as being weak.
• Badass Driver: Not as much as his son, but he is still shown to be highly skilled at driving.
• Cool Sword: He wields the Soul Slayer, an ethereal sword that can kill the red panda spirits which grant the Lee family their abilities
• Egomaniac Hunter: Oh god, is he ever. He takes deep enjoyment in hunting down species, and is even responsible for putting several on the endangered list.
• Fantastic Racism: much like his son, he holds a deep hatred towards Mei’s family for their ability to transform into giant red pandas. He also doesn’t think highly of other animals, either.
• Sadist: His entire motive is fuelled by his sheer excitement of violence and killing.

Sarah Vaugn (‘’’Major Unmarked Spoilers’’’)

• Master of Disguise: For most of the story, she disguises herself as a police officer named Jessica Reynolds.
• My God, What Have I Done?: She feels deeply remorseful after she kills Xia.
• Took a Level in Badass: While she already was a badass (what, with being a member of the PCA and all), she becomes more so when she gains her own red panda spirit.