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 animated movie COCO, was released in 2017, bringing to life the Mexican celebration and traditions of El Dia De Los Muertos. As I have shared before on the blog for me and for other Latino families the movie COCO brings a sense of hope and pride in a time when negative Latino stereotypes abound as it portrays Mexican culture in a positive and uplifting way for all the world to see.
Our family celebrates the Day of the Dead honoring and remembering loved ones that have passed away. We have also shared many posts on the blog about the meaning of the Day of the Dead as well as numerous Dia de los Muertos inspired crafts and recipes. The Day of the Dead is of great significance to us and one of our favorite traditions. This is why I was so excited to have had the opportunity to attend Disney Pixar COCO press event in San Francisco before the movie was released.
During the 3 day event got the opportunity to learn more about the movie, how it was created and about everything that came into place to ensure that this was a movie that embraced the Mexican traditions and portrayed them in a positive and uplifting light.
The Story Behind COCO
Disney•Pixar’s COCO is a story about family and about honoring your ancestors. “Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer 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 Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.” You can learn more about the movie HERE.
Check out the trailer below and you’ll see that this promises to be an fantastic family movie!
A Sneak Peak Of Disney Pixar’s Coco
We will kick off the event on Wednesday August 2nd. with a screening of footage from COCO at Pixar Animation Studios. I can not wait to get a sneak peak into the movie and visit Pixar Animation Studios; the place where some of the most beloved animated characters of all time have come to life. The footage will be introduced by Director Lee Unkrich himself accompanied by Writer and Co-Director Adrian Molina and Producer Darla K.Anderson.
Interviewing Award Winning Movie Magic Icons
One of the highlights of our trip was attending the COCO press conference with Director Lee Unkrich, who is also the Director of TOY STORY 3 which won the Oscar for Best Animated Film, Writer and Co-Director Adrian Molina andProducer Darla K. Anderson. We also be met Composer Michael Giacchino, who has created the music for many of your favorite movies and TV shows over the past 13+ years and who won the Best Original Score Oscar for UP.
Learning How COCO Was Inspired By Mexican Cultural Traditions
On day two we got the opportunity to listed to a demo and learn about the music of COCO and how it is inspired by Mexican traditional music. The demo was presented by Michael Giacchino (Composer), Germaine Franco (Orchestrator), Camilo Lara(Consultant) Adrian Molina (Writer and Co-Director).
One of the things I was most excited about was learning from the COCO production team about how they where inspired by research and specific cultural traditions and how they infused these into their fantastical story set and into the creation of both the land of the living and the realm of the dead.
From music inspired by el Son Jarocho to magical creatures based on Mexican folk art COCO brings together fantasy and Mexican traditions to create a family movie that tells a loving story about the Mexican culture.
Getting A Glimpse Into The Animation Process of COCO
We also hears about how some of the characters in the movie, like the magical Pepita, where designed and brought to life and what the inspiration was behind them by Alonso Martinez (Character/Rigging Artist), Nick Rosario (Directing Animator), Christian Hoffman (Characters Supervisor). And learned about how the skeletons in the Land of the Dead were imagined, designed, animated and clothed from Daniel Arriaga (Character Art Director), Gini Santos (Supervising Animator), Byron Bashforth (Character Shading Lead), Emron Grover (Simulation Technical Director).
Visiting the Disney Family Museum
As if learning about COCO and visiting the Pixar studios wasn’t enough we also had the opportunity to visit the Disney Family Museum. Where we learned all about Walt Disney’s legacy and got on a guided walk-through.
Having the opportunity to learn about the inspiration and the process that will bring COCO to life fills my heart with happiness as this this is, to this day one of my favorite Disney Pixar movies. It was really interesting to find out what was the original inspiration for creating a movie about the Day of the Dead and what steps the Disney Pixar team took to ensure they portrayed this tradition in a sensitive and positive way. And above all I love being able to share everything I learned about COCO with you in case you love the movie as much as I do or are interested in watching it to learn more about the Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico.
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.
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
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.
- 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.
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.
- Sugar Skull Ginger Spice Cookies Recipe for Day of the Dead - September 19, 2024
- Day of the Dead in Mexico City: The Best Events, Parades, and Festivals in 2024 - September 19, 2024
- Day of the Dead Marigold Sugar Cookies - September 14, 2024
Paula,
It was a real pleasure getting to know you while you were at Pixar. I hope the company treated to a fine time. They have been wonderful with us. And I hope you love the sneak peek we showed you!
I had to check out your blog. So much fun!
Here’s my info if you need to follow up: [email protected]
Best!
o.
Hi Octavio. It was a truly magical experience to be able to see a bit of the process behind the creation of the movie. For me this is a very special movie as it is bringing the Mexican culture into the spotlight in a very positive way and I am thankful to Pixar for involving Latinos like you in the process making sure that the culture and the traditions where treated in an authentic and respectful way. Can’t wait to see the rest of the movie! It was a great pleasure and an honor to get to chat with you about Coco and about culture. 🙂