Coco (2017 film)

Coco (2017 film)
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Name	Coco
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Lee Unkrich
Producer	Darla K. Anderson
Music	Michael Giacchino
Production companies	Pixar Animation Studios
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date	November 22, 2017
Runtime	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English, Spanish
Budget	$175 million
Box office	$807.8 million

Coco (2017 film) is a 2017 American computer-animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Lee Unkrich and co-directed by Adrian Molina, the film follows a young boy who dreams of becoming a musician and is swept into the Land of the Dead during the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos. The film features themes of family, memory, and music, and received widespread critical and commercial success, including multiple awards.

Plot

A brief overview: In the town of Santa Cecilia, aspiring musician Miguel Rivera defies his family’s ban on music, inspired by the legacy of Ernesto de la Cruz and the legacy of the Rivera family shoemaking tradition established by his great-great-grandparents. On Día de los Muertos, Miguel is mysteriously transported to the Land of the Dead where he meets charismatic trickster Héctor and encounters the specter of Ernesto de la Cruz; Miguel must seek the blessing of an ancestor to return to the living world and solve his family’s history. Miguel’s journey weaves through themes of remembrance, identity, and ancestral reconciliation against landmarks inspired by Mexican culture, including familial ofrendas, marigolds, and alebrijes modeled after Mexican folk art and traditions associated with Oaxacan woodcarving and Day of the Dead iconography. The narrative culminates in revelations about Miguel’s lineage, the restoration of familial bonds, and a public recognition of artistic truth that transforms local perceptions of music within the Rivera household.

Cast and characters

The voice cast is led by Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel Rivera; the ensemble includes Gael García Bernal as Héctor, Benjamin Bratt as Ernesto de la Cruz, Alanna Ubach as Mamá Imelda, and Renee Victor as Abuelita. Supporting voices feature Edward James Olmos as Chicharrón, Ana Ofelia Murguía as Mamá Coco, Lupita Nyong'o in a cameo influence on visual development, and Cheech Marin among additional cast members contributing to the film’s cultural texture. Animation supervisors and casting directors coordinated global talent to represent Mexican and Latin American heritage, while music production involved performers linked to Mexican music traditions and contemporary artists who shaped performance authenticity.

Production

Development began after Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina pitched a story rooted in Mexican culture and Día de los Muertos traditions; they collaborated with Pixar Animation Studios story teams, art directors, and cultural consultants to design environments inspired by Oaxaca, Guanajuato, and Mexico City architecture. Research trips included meetings with practitioners of Mexican folk art, visits to museums such as the Museo Nacional de Antropología and fieldwork with families observing Día de los Muertos, while producers engaged advisors including historians and artists to guide representation of ofrendas and marigold symbolism. Technological advances at Pixar were applied to render vibrant color palettes, cloth simulation for traditional garments, and complex crowd and lighting systems to depict the Land of the Dead’s bioluminescent avenues; production design referenced works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and folk artisans to balance authenticity and fantastical elements. The screenplay underwent multiple drafts balancing family drama, musical set pieces, and cultural specificity, with co-director Adrian Molina contributing key story elements and character arcs reflecting intergenerational dynamics.

Music and soundtrack

The score was composed by Michael Giacchino, with original songs written by songwriters including Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and performances reflecting ranchera, mariachi, and contemporary pop influences; the film’s original song "Remember Me" won major songwriting awards. Soundtrack production involved collaboration with musicians experienced in Mexican music traditions, archival research into historic song forms, and arrangements that integrated traditional instruments such as the guitarrón, vihuela, and classical guitar. The soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records and featured vocal performances recorded to match the film’s emotional beats, contributing to the film’s resonance with audiences and its recognition during awards seasons.

Release and box office

Coco premiered in Los Angeles and was theatrically released in the United States on November 22, 2017, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, timed for the Thanksgiving (United States) holiday and the lead-up to Día de los Muertos observances. The film grossed over $800 million worldwide, becoming one of Pixar’s highest-grossing films and achieving strong box office performance across markets including Mexico, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan. The release strategy included localized dubbing and marketing campaigns tailored to Latin American markets and partnerships with cultural institutions for educational screenings and promotional tie-ins.

Reception and accolades

Critics praised the film’s storytelling, visual design, and cultural representation, with endorsements from major publications and film critics; it holds strong ratings on aggregator platforms and was cited in year-end lists by critics from outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Remember Me" at the 90th Academy Awards, and received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and wins across animation and original song categories. It garnered awards from industry groups including the Annie Awards and recognition from cultural organizations for its depiction of Día de los Muertos and contribution to representation in mainstream animation.

Category:Pixar films Category:2017 films Category:Animated films