While honoring deceased family members isn’t a common aspect of American culture, the film makes us consider the importance of remembrance. Miguel’s secret passion for music is made even more relatable when we consider the authority and influence elder family members can have, and his yearning for acceptance and support strikes a familiar chord. The importance of family, deceased or alive, is an enormous part of Latin culture, and is an enormous part of this movie. Along the way, he meets the endearing trickster Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), and together, the two of them travel through the Land of the Dead to reveal the secrets of his family heritage.Ĭoco presents a classic coming-of-age story, one that seems all too familiar, especially when looking at Pixar’s past films and yet, it remains fresh and original, presenting a different perspective on familial ties through a new cultural lens. In order to return home, Miguel learns that he must receive a blessing from a family member, and attempts to find them in the afterlife. This act transports Miguel to the Land of the Dead, where he becomes a part of the spirit world. He takes the advice of his deceased idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, and seizes his moment by literally seizing de la Cruz’s guitar from his altar. As his family prepares for the holiday Día de los Muertos, Miguel learns of a music contest: an opportunity to do what he loves most.
After his great-great grandfather had left the family to pursue his own dream of music, the Rivera household, hurt and angry, established a generations-long ban on music. The animated film follows Miguel Rivera (Anthony Gonzalez), a young boy with a lifelong dream of becoming an accomplished musician. The film broke box office records in Mexico, passing The Avengers to become the highest grossing movie in the country’s history, and for good reason. Directed by Pixar veterans Lee UnKrich - director of Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo - and Adrian Molina, who directed Monsters University and The Good Dinosaur, the film featured the voices of Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Berna, and Benjamin Bratt. Lively, heartwarming, and genuine, Coco shows us the importance of family and appreciation for cultural traditions.
Coco took home 11 awards at the 45th annual Annie Awards.“Never underestimate the power of music.” These words, spoken by the main character’s idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), are the heart and soul of Disney Pixar’s latest film, Coco. Miguel Rivera is the second youngest protagonist following Arlo from The Good Dinosaur (2015) to be featured in a Pixar animated film.
This is Jaime Camills' second animated feature post The Secret Life of Pets (2016). Miguel Rivera is the first non-Caucasian human protagonist in a full-length Pixar animated feature film. The Sant Cecilia graveyard is named after Saint Cecilia, the Catholic saint of musicians. Pixar's seventh film to release in November and fifth to release on Thanksgiving.
Southwest Airlines had one of their Boeing airplanes decorated with artwork from the film as a promotion for the film. The caricature of the film's composer Michael Giacchino appears towards to the end of the movie as the orchestra conductor. This film has actively been in production between 20, making it the Pixar animated film with the longest production schedule. The Mexican city of Guanajuato, known for its colorful houses on the hillside is the inspiration of The Land of the Dead. This is Pixar Animation Studios' 19th full length animated feature film.