Oh, Coco do I love you so… let me count the ways. Well, we’re not going to actually count them, but as the Disney-Pixar smash hit lands on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download, if we were to list everything we adore about the Oscar nominee (soon to be Oscar winner), this article would be 3,000 words!
The animated gem tells the story of a 12-year-old boy, who aspires to be a musician. Problem is, he is growing up in a family that has barred anything sonically soothing or inspiring to be played, expressed or discussed even. Trying to ignore what is in his blood, is proving difficult for Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez). His family isn’t evil, this isn’t the familial version of the town in Footloose! It’s just that his great, great grandmother was left behind to raise a little girl (Coco) by herself because Miguel’s great, great grandfather hit the road to be a successful musician. So, to paraphrase an iconic Seinfeld quote… “no music for you!” And it would remain that way for generations as the family built up their shoe making business that every member of the clan would join and succeed.
Miguel’s parents are on the verge of having their son become an apprentice when Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) arrives. It is the day where families unite and remember those who have gone to a better place. Miguel makes a realization that he has discovered who his cast out great, great grandfather is and winds up on a spiritual-familial journey to the land of the dead where he visits with all his passed-on relatives and simultaneously discovers the truth about his ancestral past, the supreme importance of family and teaches us – the audience — the importance of never forgetting those who have come before us. It is a uniquely Mexican tradition that by the end of Coco had me believing that we all ought to adopt it in some shape or form. It is beautiful and that is putting it mildly.
Coco itself is utterly beautiful too, how it is artistically animated, how the script the penned, how it was directed, the voice cast performed and the music that permeates the lifeblood of the cinematic gem throughout. Directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina have crafted one of those rare films that will be seen repeatedly. Therefore, we cannot recommend enough purchasing Coco and not simply renting it to see what all the buzz is about. This is a journey that warrants multiple visits over the decades. It is an experience that all will seek to share with relatives and serve as the centerpiece of many a familial gathering. That is rare indeed.
As we learned on many visits to the Pixar campus in Northern California, the journey from script to screen always begins with a trip (if not several) to the locale that will serve as the landscape for the story. For example, filmmakers and animators went to Scandinavia for Frozen and Scotland for Brave. A Thousand Pictures a Day takes viewers along with the Coco crew as their dive into Mexico. They visit all sorts of walks of life, including small villages, families, artists and yes, cemeteries, as they get to the heart of the Día de los Muertos holiday. One can see why the Pixar execs insist on these scouting trips. After witnessing this bonus feature, one can witness its power on every frame of the film itself. It’s a love letter of the highest order to a cultural tradition steeped in history.
Normally deleted scenes can be taken or left. But, there is something extraordinary about the deleted scenes on the Coco Blu-Ray. Directors Unkrich and Molina discuss each clip before it plays and as such we understand clearly why each of the seven scenes were cut, but also it adds layers to the movie just witnessed in a manner that is unique and surprisingly powerful. After all, we are talking about scenes that DIDN’T make it into the film!
The just over thirteen-minute The Music of Coco is a priceless look at how the score and songs of the film added layers of colors to an already stunningly colorful film. Smartly, filmmakers worked with various musicians from the sonically storied country and again, that effort pays off in droves.
One of the most incredible aspects of the entire film is when Miguel goes to the Land of the Dead and you will not want to miss the featurette Land of Our Ancestors. Pixar animators detail how they built this world, brick by brick, flower by flower and brilliantly mixing a varied swath of Mexican history to reflect the countless peoples and all the eras they represent. Also important in the Land of the Dead is artists had to envision what these people would be wearing… thankfully the featurette Fashion Through the Ages gives insight into how artists had to do their homework and capture decades of costuming to ensure historical accuracy for all the eras that the dead came from.
After enjoying Coco, your little ones may want to explore the art of animation and there is a fantastic featurette, How to Draw a Skeleton, that finds Pixar artist Daniel Arriaga imparting his knowledge on the subject. We may just see our next generation of animators siting this little bonus feature as how it all got started!
Speaking of skeletons, Welcome to the Fiesta is a magnificent musical exploration of the skeletons that make the Miguel’s visit to the Land of the Dead so glorious.
A fascinating featurette (especially for music fans) is The Real Guitar. The instrument that sends Miguel on this jamming journey had to be pitch perfect. Witness the creation of the guitar by a Pixar artist and then how it comes to life as a real instrument by a master luthier.
Animals lovers should treasure Dante and its look at this uniquely Mexican breed of dog, the Xoloitzcuintli (or “Xolo”) dogs that inspired Dante.
We also quite enjoyed Paths to Pixar: Coco as the film’s crew shares their own personal stories and how they are mirrored in Coco. Mi Familia – Developing the Riveras also explores how the creation of the central family in this story allowed the cast and crew to venture into their own personal lives and reflect on their own definition of family. Do not be surprised if you too find yourself going down your own familial path after enjoying the entire Coco experience.
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: A+