MONTREAL — In celebration of Disney and Pixar’s highly anticipated animated film, ‘Turning Red,’ Air Canada has unveiled a newly themed aircraft that will fly across the country.

The film, set in Toronto and directed by Academy Award winner and Canadian Domee Shi, will premiere exclusively on Disney+ across Canada on March 11, 2022. It tells the coming-of-age story of 13-year-old Meilin Lee who, when excited, ‘poofs’ into a giant red panda.

Air Canada will be promoting the film by way of a themed livery on a Canadian-built Airbus A220. In addition, it is launching ‘Air Canada’s Contest Celebrating the Release of Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red,’ offering five prize packages, each featuring a trip for four people to Toronto to attend the Canadian premiere special event of the film on March 8. The contest runs from Feb. 8-20 for residents of Canada. Click here for contest details and to enter.

Moreover, starting this month, passengers onboard Air Canada aircraft will enjoy a special ‘Turning Red’ video inspired by the film’s trailer. On select aircraft, passengers can discover director Shi’s favourite places in Toronto in Air Canada’s seatback city guide. On aircraft destined for Toronto, an animated landscape of the city will also be featured on seatback screens as passengers board.

Plus, next month, the March issue of Air Canada enRoute magazine will feature a custom-illustrated cover of Toronto with Meilin Lee as the panda gazing across the city, as well as a feature interview with director Shi.

“As Canada’s largest airline and the country’s flag carrier, our collaboration with Disney and Pixar for ‘Turning Red,’ directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Domee Shi, is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Canadian talent and bring the best of Canada to the world,” said Andy Shibata, Vice-President, Brand at Air Canada. “We wanted customers of all ages to be able to enjoy the special livery and be a part of the excitement around this very special Canadian moment.”

Shi, who said she’s “absolutely stoked” to collaborate with Air Canada, added: “I made ‘Turning Red’ a love letter to Toronto and everything Canadian, and now to see the film celebrated on the airline that literally brought by family and me over from China when I was little is especially meaningful to me. I cannot wait for Canadian audiences and people around the world to see the film, and hopefully fall in love with Canada just like I have.”