Years before Shi made her feature directorial debut with "Turning Red," she directed a Pixar short film called "Bao," which tells a story about a steamed bun that comes to life. The film was screened before showings of "Incredibles 2" in 2018.
At the start of "Turning Red," a sign for a Bao restaurant can be seen in the background when Mei is introducing herself to us on the bus. Later on in the movie, Mei's mother Ming also brings her dumplings to eat as a snack, which serves as a sweet nod to Shi's previous work.