I had the pleasure earlier this month in attending a special sneak peek of Pixar’s Coco movie at Pixar Studios. I was blown away in how beautiful this film looks and how the story-line really touches your soul. We were only given a taste of Coco, but I can’t wait till November when I can take my family with me to see this unforgettable family film…
Here is more about the film that comes out November 22nd, 2018:
Pixar Animation Studios’ 19th feature film introduces Miguel, an aspiring singer and self-taught guitarist who dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, the most famous musician in the history of Mexico. But Miguel’s family forbids music—passed down from generation to generation, their ban on music is strictly enforced. “Miguel feels like he has to choose between his passion for music and his love for his family,” says co-director Adrian Molina. “He really wants to share his talents with his family—to prove to them that making music is both beautiful and honorable. But he goes about it the wrong way.”
Miguel’s impulsive actions spark a magical transformation that renders him visible only to those who have come to visit from the Land of the Dead on Día de Muertos, also known as Día de los Muertos. This lively and colorful parallel world is populated by generations and generations of people who long ago left the Land of the Living—including Miguel’s ancestors, who instantly recognize him and offer to help—but only if he agrees to give up music forever. “That’s just not something Miguel can accept,” says producer Darla K. Anderson, “so, he teams up with a scrappy, streetwise skeleton named Hector and they set out to find Ernesto de la Cruz—who they believe holds the key to Miguel’s baffling and decidedly unmusical family history.”
“The story of ‘Coco’ is inspired by Mexico’s people, cultures and traditions,” says Unkrich. “As soon as we decided that we wanted to tell a story that takes place in Mexico, we immediately booked our first research trip. Over the course of three years, we visited museums, markets, plazas, workshops, churches, haciendas and cemeteries in Mexico City, Oaxaca and Guanajuato. We saw a play in Xochimilco. We spent time with many lovely families in Tlacolula, Tialixtac, El Tule, San Marcos Tlapazola and Abasolo. They welcomed us into their homes and taught us about the foods they enjoy, the music they listen to, their livelihoods, and their traditions. Most importantly, we witnessed the importance they place on family.
“We really wanted to explore the family bonds that tie us to the generations that came before us,” continues Unkrich. “This story is about celebrating our past—even as we look to the future.”
The all-Latino voice cast includes characters from the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. From the Land of the Living, Anthony Gonzalez (“Ice Box,” TNT’s “The Last Ship”) lends his voice to Miguel, Ana Ofelia Murguía is the voice of Miguel’s cherished great-grandmother Mamá Coco, Renée Victor (“Weeds,” “The Apostle”) provides the authoritative voice of Abuelita, Jaime Camil (CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” Disney Junior’s “Elena of Avalor,” “Secret Lives of Pets”) is the voice of Papá, and Sofía Espinosa (“Gloria”) provides the voice of Miguel’s loving Mamá. Luis Valdez (“Which Way Is Up,” director “La Bamba” & “Cisco Kid”) and Lombardo Boyar (“Happy Feet,” TNT’s “Murder in the First”) lend their voices to Miguel’s uncle and a town mariachi, respectively.
From the Land of the Dead, Gael García Bernal (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”) helps bring to life charming trickster Hector, Benjamin Bratt (FOX’s “Star,” “Doctor Strange”) is the voice of Miguel’s idol Ernesto de la Cruz, and Edward James Olmos (“Blade Runner,” “Stand and Deliver”) lends his voice to Chicharrón. Alanna Ubach (“Meet the Fockers,” Bravo’s “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”) provides the voice of Miguel’s great-great-grandmother Mamá Imelda, Selene Luna (“My Bloody Valentine,” “Celebrity Wife Swap”) voices Tía Rosita, Alfonso Arau (“Three Amigos,” director/producer “Like Water for Chocolate,” director “A Walk in the Clouds”) is the voice of Miguel’s late great-grandfather Papá Julio, and Herbert Siguenza (“Larry Crowne,” “Ben 10: Alien Swarm”) lends his voice to both Tío Oscar and Tío Felipe, Miguel’s late identical twin uncles. Rounding out the cast are Octavio Solis (playwright “Lydia, Santos & Santos”), Gabriel Iglesias (“Planes,” “The Nut Job,” “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature”), Cheech Marin (“Cars 3,” “Tin Cup,” CBS’ “Nash Bridges”) and Blanca Araceli (“The Bridge”).
Directed by Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), “Coco” features an original score from Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“Up,” “Rogue One”), a song by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco (“Dope,” “Shovel Buddies”) and Molina. Also part of the team is musical consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound.
Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.
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