Coco (Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, 2017)
Coco is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt animated films I’ve ever seen. I try not to be too hyberbolic when I write about things I love, but sometimes, that’s just not gonna happen. I’d been anticipating this movie since it was first announced (six years ago!!) - Pixar and Dia de los Muertos?! Sign me up immediately! And as more details about the project came out, the hype only grew - a story based around music and family, voices by Gael Garcia Bernal and Benjamin Bratt, and some of the most intricate animation the studio has ever attempted.
Well, it didn’t disappoint. And in fact, Coco is full of many beautiful surprises. Beyond the somewhat familiar story of a boy who feels like an outcast and chooses to follow his dreams into a fantastical world, is a much deeper story of sacrifice, regret, memory, and connection. The end result is incredibly moving. The journey is lively and imaginative, full of clever references to Mexican folklore and culture both old and new, which give the filmmakers license to truly run wild with the depiction of the Land of the Dead. It is populated by gorgeous beasts known as spirit guides, stunning architecture, and thousands of uniquely designed skeletons, some of which are cleverly depicted Mexican celebrities.
As colorful and exciting as the world building is, the anchor of this movie is one of Pixar’s most endearing characters, Miguel, an adolescent coming into his own under the watchful eye of his family and the more loosely protective Hector, a skeleton desperate not to be forgotten. it is a joy to watch Miguel learn about compassion, sacrifice, and the depth of his own talent. The relationships he forms and grows within the film feel as real as any live action film, even if the character he’s talking to randomly loses limbs and eyeballs. I dare you not to cry at the sweetness of the finale of this film. It truly is a beautiful blend of traditional storytelling and wild imagination. I can’t wait to see it again.
