Image courtesy of Red Carpet Refs

After months of sneak peeks and buzz about the project, Disney-Pixar has finally released the first trailer for their animated film ‘Coco,’ and we’re excited! The film, which is heavily inspired by Mexican culture, seems to have all the Pixar elements we have come to know and love- stunning animation, an emotional storyline and a little something out of this world.

‘Coco’ has been on our radar ever since the film’s cast and storyline were announced. ‘Toy Story 3’ director Lee Unkrich co-directed the project with writer Adrian Molina, and was produced by Darla K. Anderson. Unkrich’s inspiration for the film came from, ‘Dia de los Muertos’, and the film features an all-Latinx cast, including ‘Mozart in the Jungle’ star Gael García Bernal and ‘Weeds’ actress Renée Victor. Unkrich calls the film his “love letter to Mexico.”

The plot in ‘Coco’ deals with a young boy’s devotion to music and a chain of events which leads him to an unusual family reunion. 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 mystical 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. Renée Victor joined the cast as Abuelita, Miguel’s grandmother.

From the beginning, Unkrich stated he sought to involve members of the Latino community so the film’s voice could be as specific and authentic as possible. That authenticity is doubtlessly touched upon in the film’s trailer. Not only is the all-Latino cast something worth celebrating, but so is what appears to be a genuine portrayal of the Latino culture- one that is free of stereotypes.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Unkrich addressed how he hopes Coco will resonate with audiences. “The best way to bring people in and have them empathize with others is through storytelling,” he said. “If we can tell a good story with characters audiences can care about, I’d like to think that prejudices can fall aside and people can just experience the story and these characters for the human beings that they are.”

‘Coco’ writer Adrian Molina added, “I think that nothing bad can come from opening your heart to a story. I think only good can come from putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

Disney, who has been a long-time NALIP supporter, and sponsor, screened ‘Elena of Avalor’ at the 2016 Media Summit. The screening was a huge success among attendees who applauded Disney for portraying the first Latina princess. As one of the leading studios across the globe, it’s outstanding to see Disney’s commitment to creating inclusive films and changing the industry’s landscape to fit its audience. We are eager to see what’s to come from Disney/Pixar’s 19th feature film ‘Coco.’

The film’s release date is set for November 22, 2017. To watch the trailer, click here.