Through fresh and fascinating bonus material, adventurers of all ages will tag along with filmmakers as they soak in Día de los Muertos in Mexico; explore the essential role of music in "Coco"; and learn how the cast and crew personally connect with the film’s message. They’ll step behind the scenes to discover the inspiration behind the film’s creative costuming; Miguel’s beautifully complicated family; Dante the loyal Xolo dog; and the stunning worlds of both the dead and the living. Features also include deleted scenes, insightful filmmaker commentary, the music of "Coco" and more.
About the Movie:
In Disney•Pixar’s "Coco," Pixar Animation Studios’ 19th feature film, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt) -- despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.
Review of "Coco" by D.T.
Family, respect, music and tradition are the four words underlining Pixar's latest adventure, "Coco." First, an introduction. Our protagonist, Miguel, must explore what family really means despite only searching for the musical background his family has forgotten. At the beginning, Miguel is a curious soul, who loves music against his family's wishes. He decides to enter a contest to express his musical talent. This all happens on Dia de Muertos, the Day of the Dead, which is a Mexican holiday dedicated to remembering the family who is no longer with us and everything that they loved. It turns out that the dead, who are all colorful, skeletal versions of themselves, also love Dia de Muertos because they are able to cross back into the real world and spend time with their family and receive gifts, even though the real world family cannot see them. In Miguel's rush to find an instrument for the contest, he commits to a bad choice: stealing from the dead. This has magical consequences, transporting him to the land of the dead, a haven populated by the spirits of family members who have passed away and their assorted guardian spirits. Here, he meets Hector, a man who is desperately searching for a way to visit his own family in the real world. Together, Miguel and Hector search the land of the dead, trying to solve their unique problems, and find out that, despite their differences, they are really meant to be together for this quest.
"Coco" has deep, deep roots in Mexican culture. From an all-Latino cast to traditionally written music and the whole premise of the movie revolving around a Mexican holiday, I have met some who wonder if they could relate to this movie when they know nothing about Mexican culture. The truth of the matter is that this movie brings its lay audience up to speed on Mexican traditions without ever disrespecting those who already understand what the movie is all about. Miguel must slowly realize that respecting his family is something that transcends who they were, what they accomplished, or even who he wanted them to be. His love for music, displayed by an excellent, award-winning soundtrack, is a connection that he shares with many family members and non-family members alike, and it can be used to show excitement, comedy, love, and even regret. Miguel even learns that his family traditions, though he may think they hamper his personal goals, are truly important for preserving that which meant so much to the people who shaped him. And he is not alone in that discovery throughout the movie. In the end, "Coco" is a lesson in humanity and love.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this movie and a paint kit as a thank-you for posting about this movie. This post contains my Amazon affiliate link, and I will receive a small commission on sales made through my link.