"So. It's a period piece."
— Reported reaction of Bob Iger, then Disney boss, after Domee Shi pitched the film to him.
"As you know, our ancestor Sun Yee had a mystical connection with red pandas. In fact, she loved them so much that she asked the gods to turn her into one. It was wartime, the men were all gone. Sun Yee was desperate for a way to protect herself and her daughters. Then one night during a red moon, the gods granted her wish. They gave her the ability to harness her emotions, to transform into a powerful mystical beast. She was able to fend off bandits, protect her village, and save her family from ruin. Sun Yee passed this gift to her daughters, for when they came of age, and they passed it to theirs. But over time, our family chose to come to a new world, and what was a blessing became... an inconvenience."
— Ming Lee on Sun Yee's red panda blessing
"People have all kinds of sides to them, Mei, and some sides are messy. The point isn't to push the bad stuff away, it's to make room for it, live with it."
— Jin Lee
"Red is a lucky color."
— Jin Lee
Ming Lee: No, Mei-Mei, please, come with me.
Mei Lee: I'm changing, mom. I'm finally figuring out who I am. But, I'm scared that will take me away from you.
Ming Lee: Me, too. I see you, Mei-Mei. You try to make everyone happy, but you're so hard on yourself. And, if I told you that, I'm sorry. So don't hold back, for anyone. The farther you go, the prouder I'll be.
Mei Lee: I'm changing, mom. I'm finally figuring out who I am. But, I'm scared that will take me away from you.
Ming Lee: Me, too. I see you, Mei-Mei. You try to make everyone happy, but you're so hard on yourself. And, if I told you that, I'm sorry. So don't hold back, for anyone. The farther you go, the prouder I'll be.
