I received an all-expenses-paid trip to San Francisco for the coverage of this press event for Disney•Pixar. However, all opinions are my own.
Disney Pixar’s COCO debuts in theaters today, November 22nd, and I could not be more excited about this movie. The movie follows 12-year-old Miguel as he follows his dream of becoming a great musician which takes him on an adventure to the Land of the Dead. The movie’s story develops around the Mexican celebration of Dia de Muertos.
With an all-Latino cast, traditional music and a Latino hero Disney•Pixar’s COCO is not just another beautifully made Pixar movie; it’s a special gift for Latinos and it’s touching the hearts of Latino families in the US and beyond.
COCO: Immersing Audiences In the Mexican Culture
Filmmakers collaborated with a team of cultural consultants, including political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, playwright Octavio Solis and heritage and arts author, independent producer and advocate Marcela Davison Avilés.
According to Avilés, the most important thing filmmakers did in their quest for an accurate and respectful representation of the Mexican culture in “Coco” was awareness that it needed to happen. “Then they acted on that awareness,” she says. “They took the time to try to understand. They listened to experts from many different fields—archeologists, musicians, cultural advocates. And they embarked on numerous research trips. It was all done with utmost sincerity, respect, and humbleness.”
“People are going to understand this culture—these traditions—a lot more after they see this film, because Pixar has done its research,” says Alcaraz.
The Importance of COCO for the Latino Community
Not only does COCO deliver many wonderful messages but it also brings the Mexican culture into the spotlight and gives people who are not familiar with it an opportunity visit a small Mexican town and understand the culture from the inside through Miguel and his family. It’s a movie that goes much deeper than entertainment, it gives kids and adults the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Mexican boy and relate to him.
As a Latina doing my best to raise my kids to embrace their roots and their heritage a movie that showcases Mexican culture, music and traditions has an immense value for my family. Watching COCO together not only gives us the opportunity to enjoy family time watching an endearing and beautifully made movie but it has a great educational value as well.
I saw something pretty amazing happen as we watched the new COCO: my kid’s eyes widened with excitement (like they usually do with Disney Pixar movies) but unlike Moana were they were learning about a new culture they could truly identify and understand the meaning behind COCO. The movie made us all feel closer to our heritage, to our roots and to our ancestors. It also highlighted the importance of family traditions and celebrations. Because my kids don’t get to live their Latino culture every day the movie also gave them the opportunity to learn a lot of things of life in a Latin American country, and although my family is Guatemalan there are so many similarities between the Mexican and Guatemalan culture and traditions!
Miguel is not a superhero and has no superpowers, he’s just a Mexican boy who loves family and loves Mexican music, he’s an everyday hero. He is someone who my kids can really identify with because they have so much in common: from the way they look to their traditions to their skin color and Latino names and last names.
My sentiments about the importance of COCO for Latino families are shared by other Latinos across the US. Dania Santana, multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion expert and founder of EmbracingDiveristy.us saw the movie with her children and shared: “COCO paints a beautiful picture of what family bonds mean for Latinos and allows non-Latino families to learn about the sacred Day of the Dead tradition while having the opportunity to discuss cultural diversity and the common thread of the human experience through the love of family.”
Elizabeth Barrutia, Founder, and CEO of BARU Marketing + Media who specializes in understanding and reaching Hispanic audiences says: “The heartwarming new Pixar film COCO is more than a beautifully crafted feature that honors the traditions of Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos. The culturally resonant picture can be a great source of pride for both Latino children and Latino adults.”
COCO Is the Most Successful Movie of All Time in Mexico
Disney•Pixar’s COCO debuted in Mexico before its release in the US as part of the Morelia International Film Festival. The film then had it’s Avant Premier in Mexico City at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the most important cultural institution in Mexico. Director Lee Unkrich, co-director Adrian Molina, and producer Darla K. Anderson participated in both events. This in itself was very meaningful as it was a great gift for the Mexican people. As I read the excited and emotional reactions of people in Mexico after watching I felt so thankful and excited about the positive impact the movie is already having. It was no surprise that after only a couple of weeks COCO was already the most successful movie of all time in Mexico and I can’t wait to see it succeed here in the US as well.
You Can Watch COCO In Spanish
Honoring Mexican and Latino heritage beyond its story, characters and voice cast COCO is available in Spanish in Disney +.
About Disney •Pixar’s COCO
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). 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.
Coco is a beautiful and endearing story filled with excitement and adventure. At its core, it’s a theme that everyone can relate to; a story about family and about making your dreams come true despite challenges. It’s a movie about coming of age and following your own path and about understanding who you are and where you come from as part of finding your own place in the world.
You can read more about Disney•Pixar’s COCO by visiting the Disney Movie website HERE.
For even more fun ways to teach kids about Día de los Muertos and its traditions, be sure to read my article about the best Day of the Dead movies for kids. And for more ways to reinforce and empower kids to celebrate their Hispanic heritage check out my favorite Hispanic children’s books featuring Latino characters that empower kids to embrace their Latino identity. These books, written by Latino authors, highlight the experiences of Latino youth growing up bicultural and bilingual in the U.S., making them perfect for readers of all ages. You can also check out my articles about celebrating Latino culture during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Disney COCO Movie Free Printables and Activities
After watching the movie check out these Coco-themed crafts and free printables, perfect for a fun Coco movie-inspired party or activity. It includes free coloring pages for characters like Dante, Miguel, Ernesto, and Hector, along with a printable template for creating Coco‘s guitar. Additionally, readers can find instructions for making paper marigolds and a fun maze activity. The article also suggests related activities like alebrijes paper crafts and a Coco “Remember Me” lotería game.
Discover More About Disney Pixar’s COCO with These Articles
I got the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at how the movie was created and hearing first hand from the directors and producer about the inspiration behind it was a real treat. I already identified strongly with the movie because of the theme and because my family celebrates the Day of the Dead tradition as part of my Guatemalan culture but now I really feel a special connection to the story and to the movie and watching the movie with my family was truly special and meaningful.
If you’re as captivated by COCO as many are, these additional articles provide a deeper look into the movie’s cultural significance, characters, and the creative work behind the scenes. From learning about the inspiration behind the film to understanding its portrayal of Mexican traditions, these articles will help you appreciate COCO even more. Whether you’re curious about the animation process or how the film shines a light on Latino culture, these articles have something for everyone and will make watching the movie so much more meaningful.
- Getting A Sneak Peek At Disney Pixar’s COCO Movie
This article gives you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Coco was made, including details on the animation process and cultural research. - COCO Takes You On A Musical Journey Through The Sounds Of Mexico
Discover how COCO uses authentic Mexican music to enhance the story, taking viewers on a rich and vibrant musical journey.
- Bringing Skeletons To Life
Learn how Pixar animators created the lively skeleton characters in Coco and made them fun, colorful, and full of personality.
- 10 Interesting Facts About COCO’s Character Dante
Find out fun facts about Dante, the lovable dog in COCO, and how he was inspired by real-life Mexican hairless dogs called Xoloitzcuintli. This is one of my most popular COCO articles, everyone wants to know more about the funny and quirky pup Dante.
- Promoting Positive Latino Role Models
COCO highlights positive Latino role models, showcasing a strong cultural identity and the importance of family values. - COCO Shines A Spotlight On Mexican Folk Art Bringing Alebrijes To Life
This article explores how COCO features Mexican folk art, especially the magical creatures called alebrijes, and their cultural significance.
- A Movie About Ancestors, Memories And Familia
This article delves into the heart of COCO, focusing on the film’s themes of family, honoring ancestors, and preserving memories. - Why This Animated Movie Means So Much To Latino Families
This article explains why COCO resonates so deeply with Latino families, celebrating the culture, traditions, and strong family bonds in the movie. Here I share how important it was for my kids to see a movie where a culture so similar to ours (we are from Guatemala) was celebrated in such a loving way. There are so many things we identified with from our love for tamales and music, to our strong family bonds and honoring and remembering loved ones that have passed away through traditional Dia de los Muertos foods.
More Day of the Dead Activities and Crafts For Kids
Here are some more fun Day of the Dead activities and crafts for kids that will help them celebrate the holiday while learning about its traditions. From creative crafts to festive treats, these ideas are perfect for getting everyone involved in the spirit of Día de los Muertos!
Make a Sugar Skull Quilling Project with Your Kids
This Easy Day of the Dead Craft teaches kids how to make a sugar skull using the art of paper quilling. By rolling and shaping strips of colorful paper, kids can create a fun and decorative sugar skull to celebrate Día de los Muertos. It’s an easy and creative project that helps kids learn about the holiday while making a unique decoration.
Paint Sugar Skull Pumpkins for Day of the Dead
In this Sugar Skull Pumpkins craft, kids can paint pumpkins with bright colors and sugar skull designs for a fun twist on Day of the Dead traditions. This project is easy and perfect for decorating your home for Día de los Muertos while involving children in the creative process. It’s a festive and unique way to celebrate the holiday with a fun craft.
Create a Sugar Skull Paper Garland with Your Kids
The Sugar Skull Paper Garland craft is a simple and colorful way for kids to help decorate for Día de los Muertos. Using colorful cardstock, children can cut out and decorate paper skulls to string together into a garland. This easy craft is perfect for teaching kids about the meaning of sugar skulls and adding festive flair to your celebration.
Bake Pan de Muerto with Fun Variations
This Easy Pan de Muerto Recipe walks you through making the traditional sweet bread used during Día de los Muertos. You can also add fun variations like making pan de muerto calaverita decorated with sugar skull designs, or filling the pan de muerto with Mexican hot chocolate ice cream or marigold cream for a special twist. These playful variations are sure to make your Day of the Dead celebration extra delicious and memorable.
Make Day of the Dead Skeleton Cookies
Day of the Dead Skeleton Cookies are an easy and fun recipe where you decorate skeleton designs on sugar cookies using icing. This simple recipe is great for kids who want to get involved in the kitchen while learning about Día de los Muertos. The cookies are perfect for a festive treat to share with family and friends.
Cook with Marigolds: Easy Recipes for Día de los Muertos
These Easy Recipes Using Marigolds (cempasúchil) are a unique and flavorful way to honor Día de los Muertos. Try delicious options like Marigold Flan, Cempasúchil Cream-Filled Pan de Muerto, or Marigold Atole, each using the bright and symbolic marigold flower. These recipes add a special touch to your holiday table and are a beautiful way to connect with tradition.
Throw a Day of the Dead Themed Party
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with a lively and colorful party featuring fun decorations like a sugar skull piñata garland and and let the kids make their own creative sugar skull masks . Keep the festivities sweet with kid-friendly treats like sugar skull fruit pizza (one of my favorite Day of the Dead desserts), these super easy to make white chocolate-covered strawberries, and if you really want to take your Dia de los Muertos party to the next level this festive Day of the Dead cake with buttercream frosting is a must! For a unique dessert, try making coconut pumpkin budin shaped into into a sugar skull to delight your guests! Get some more Day of the Dead party ideas and free printable here!
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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