Last night, I watched Dreamworks’ Turbo. This may be my new
favorite movie with a transgender theme.
What? You thought Turbo was just a silly movie about a
racing snail? If you look beyond that façade,
you’ll see a film that captures the transitioning process for a transgender
person. Don’t believe me? Then follow along.
The main character of the film is Theo. He calls himself Turbo and longs to move at
lightning speeds. On the outside, he’s
just another garden snail, but he knows and feels that he is fast.
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| Turbo, realizing his true self and his physical self are at odds |
He is ridiculed by his peers for the painted
race car numbers and checkered flags that adorn his shell. His brother, Chet, tells him that he is not
fast and will never be fast, because that’s not how nature designed him. He also tells Theo/Turbo that he needs to
learn to accept his nature and limitations for his own good and the good of
their community.
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| Chet telling Turbo it's better to fit in than be one's self. |
A despondent Theo/Turbo then ventures away from home,
where he undergoes a chemical transformation and suddenly has the ability to
move at speeds over 200 mph. He meets a
group of racing snails and societal misfits who help him complete his physical
transformation.
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| Turbo, realizing for the first time that's he's not alone |
He embraces his new,
true self and flourishes in the support of others. Initially, Chet refuses to address him as
Turbo and tries to get him to suppress his new found speed. Eventually, though, Chet embraces his brother
for who he really is, and Turbo is able to enjoy the love and respect of his
family and his new friends.
 |
| Turbo, fully transformed |
See what I mean? Turbo is basically a transitioning story
with an “It Gets Better” ending. And, honestly, I like my animated features to end happily ever after, because life too often doesn't.
