Coco Review: A Festive and Delightful Animated Feature

At this festive time of the year the world of cinema is filled with films commemorating the holiday season. Many a year have the likes of Christmas played a role on the big screen and it tends to go well with moviegoers. Yet of all the holidays to be depicted this year it is surprise to see the likes of Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, to make a cinematic appearance. The Mexican holiday where families pay respect to past relatives can lead to some interesting ideas for(especially when implementing the supernatural aspect of the day) and this is evident in the latest film from Pixar: Coco. Helmed by directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, Coco centers on the ideas behind the Dia De Los Muertos in a fashion that is accustomed to Pixar. The end result to this new animated feature was an experience that was rich with festivity as well as creativity.

The story of Coco centers on Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) a young boy who is eager to become a musician. One Dia de los Muertos Miguel's life is turned upside down when he transported to the Land of the Dead. There Miguel meets his relatives, searches for his great-great-grandfather and befriends Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal): a sly spirit who is desperate to visit the Living World. The plot to Coco was one that relied on simplicity and adventure. This direction was to be expected as it is something that Pixar movies are known for. When it comes to its narrative Coco held few surprises, but it is in the plot's moments and twist is where this movie finds its voice. The turns that the story takes were remarkable as it gave this adventurous tale dimensions in its narrative and themes. To top things off Coco's story created a world rich with imagination and while this is nothing new to the likes of Pixar the film manages to use this plot element to the best of its ability.