Pixar's COCO Interview with the Filmmakers

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A few weeks ago, I interviewed the Director COCO, Lee Unkrich, Writer and Co-Director Adrian Molina and Producer Darla K. Anderson. They worked extremely hard to put together an amazing story that you will fall in love with just like I did. We only watched 35 minutes of a rough cut of the film and I cannot wait to see how the story comes together.

Coco Co-Director Adrian Molina, Producer Darla K Anderson and Director Lee Unkrich discuss the film production on August 3, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

The Story of Pixar’s COCO

Here is a little about the story of Pixar’s COCO. Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. 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, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

THE LAND OF THE DEAD – In Disney•Pixar’s “Coco,” aspiring musician Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) finds himself in the Land of the Dead—a rich and vibrant community featuring bridges of marigold petals. Directed by Lee Unkrich, co-directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Darla K. Anderson, Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Why did they name the movie COCO?

After watching some of the film, you realize that the film is named after Miguel’s Great Grandmother;. The Writer and Co-Director, Adrian Molina talks about the mystery behind choosing to name the film after the Great Grandmother rather than naming it after the holiday or something else like after the child. COCO is the oldest person in the family and is the “keeper of the stories and the memories.” “She symbolizes the spirit of the themes of this film” – Writer and Co-Director, Adrian Molina The film is very much about connections to family and remembrance. Director Lee Unkrich chimed in to say that “COCO earns and deserves having the movie named after her.” I am dying to find out why!

Co-Director Adrian Molina at “Coco” Long Lead Press Day, which included a filmmaker roundtable, presentations about the music, story, characters and set designs of the film, on August 3, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

Simple Funny Emotional Story

Director Lee Unkrich told us that COCO is a “relatively simple funny emotional story” and that making this film was a “balancing act of telling the relatively simple story on grand stage adventure and trip to the land of the dead.” He goes into the fact that COCO “is one of the most visually complex movies that [Pixar] has made.” I find that most movies that I love have a simple story with an interesting backdrop. For kids and adults, the lesson of family, remembrance, and traditions are extremely important.

Director Lee Unkrich at “Coco” Long Lead Press Day, which included a filmmaker roundtable, presentations about the music, story, characters and set designs of the film, on August 3, 2017 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar)

Love Letter to Mexico

The filmmakers told us that Pixar’s COCO is their love letter to Mexico. Writer and Co-Director Adrian Molina told us “The movie comes from a love of Mexico. Pixar films always get a beautiful response in Mexico. It is a love letter to Mexico.” During the research trips to Mexico it just reaffirmed their love for Mexico – culture, people, and the traditions.