Pixar’s latest movie tells the story of 12-year-old Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), who has a dream of becoming a famous singer/guitarist like his idol and Mexican legend, Ernesto de la Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt). Unfortunately Miguel’s family has forbidden music of any kind and would rather see him follow in the footsteps of his ancestors – the shoemakers. As you can imagine, Miguel has difficulty accepting this, especially after learning the reason his family forbid music involves his hero, de la Cruz. Fed up with his family’s rules, Miguel runs away, only to be swept up by a series of magical events that transport him to “The Land of the Dead.” This takes Miguel on a coming-of-age journey to uncover the mystery behind his family’s hatred of music and his connection to de la Cruz.
Disney Pixar’s Coco
While his name is new to me, Anthony Gonzalez is now officially on my radar. I was really taken aback by how charismatic and passionately contagious Miguel’s love of music was conveyed throughout the film – it made for a extremely memorable performance. Children are really going to relate to and sympathize with Miguel’s desire and passion for performing. I also thought the connection between Miguel and Dante (street dog) was significant, because it provided numerous hilarious and touching moments that were pivotal to Miguel’s growth throughout his journey in “The Land of the Dead.”
The other major character –Hector (voiced by Gael Garcia Bernal), introduced in “The Land of the Dead” — is the hilariously pathetic but lovable friend of Miguel. Hector comes across very selfish initially, but Miguel’s spirit wins him over and Hector vows to help him meet Ernesto de la Cruz, regardless of how that affects his future in the ‘The Land of the Dead.” Much like Miguel, Hector shows an incredible amount of growth throughout the film, learning to forgive, trust and even care for someone other than himself.
Disney Pixar’s Coco
