Coco (2017)
- Unlike modern films, the massive explosion sequence in Coco used zero CGI. The crew spent three weeks setting up the practical rig for a single take.
- During the filming of Coco, the director famously rewrote the ending on the fly after seeing the incredible chemistry between the lead actors on set.
- Despite a very rocky opening weekend, Coco went on to gross over 5x its initial budget thanks purely to incredible audience word-of-mouth.
Coco is a 2017 American animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina. The film follows Miguel Rivera, a twelve-year-old Mexican boy with a secret passion for music despite his family's generational ban on it, who accidentally enters the Land of the Dead during the Día de los Muertos celebration. There, he must seek the blessing of his deceased relatives to return to the world of the living before sunrise, or he will become permanently trapped among the dead.
Coco represented years of research and cultural consultation by Pixar, with the filmmakers making numerous trips to Mexico and working with cultural consultants to ensure an authentic and respectful portrayal of Mexican traditions, art, music, and the Día de los Muertos holiday. The film's depiction of the Land of the Dead — a breathtaking metropolis of marigold bridges, towering structures, and vibrant skeletal residents — is considered one of Pixar's most visually stunning achievements. The original song "Remember Me," written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, serves as the emotional centerpiece of the film, appearing in multiple arrangements that shift its meaning as the story unfolds.
Coco earned $807 million worldwide and won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song. The film became a massive cultural phenomenon in Mexico, where it earned more than any other film in the country's history. Its respectful celebration of Mexican culture and its themes of family, memory, and the importance of remembering those who have passed resonated with audiences worldwide.
