Adrian Molina on the Pixar movie “Coco”
My notes from an appearance by the movie’s co-writer and co-director.
My notes from an appearance by the movie’s co-writer and co-director.
On November 15, the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts hosted Adrian Molina, co-writer and co-director of the latest Pixar Animation Studio’s movie Coco.
Plot summary: Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to work out the mystery.
I screened the movie last night and it is spectacular. I saw this tweet yesterday which pretty much sums up my reaction:
Here are my notes from Adrian Molina’s appearance at DePaul:
Movie is six years in the making, Adrian on it for the last four.
Working as story artist for 11 years.
Worked on Toy Story 3 — first time as story artist at Pixar.
Movie delves into the meaning behind these traditions.
Researched in Mexico.
Day of the Dead.
First two days of November in Mexico.
Tradition of family and remembrance.
Research is vitally importance.
Went to Mexico several times to see how Day of the Dead is celebrated all over the country.
Research is where it always starts.
Miguel: 12 year old boy who dreams of being a musician.
Dante: national dog. Tend to lose teeth which is why tongue hangs out.
Strapped GoPros to musicians so his fingering is accurate.
Miguel conflicted.
Indigenous instrumentation.
Ticking clock: Before sunrise, he will turn into a skeleton.
Re dealing with Spanish language. Did do simultaneous translation. Many of the actors played both roles. Extra layer of meaning from English to Spanish.
Re pressure: All Latino cast. What if people don’t see it? Is that our whole shot? Did everything to infuse film with entertainment, beauty, family. People who have seen it get the traditions. Thirst for diversity.
Re research: What parts of Mexico did you visit? All over to learn what differences were. Not about all of Mexico, but specific. Oaxaca as base of real world. Land of the Dead represent all regions of Mexico. Go to the original source.
Re Mexican movies: Golden age of Mexican cinema 30s-50s. Nostalgic roles.
Re people unfamiliar with holiday: Last thing we wanted was to feel like a college lecture. Iterative process. Too much info. Too little info. Key was older generations teaching younger generations.
Re films of afterlife: How to create stakes when people are dead. What Dreams May Come and Defending Your Life. Also Billy Elliott, Whale Rider about child wanting to do something adults don’t want them to.
Coco is a classic hero’s journey and has echoes of other great movies including The Wizard of Oz and Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Wall-E, and Inside Out.
I took to Twitter last night to let co-directors Molina and Lee Unkrich how much I enjoyed the film:
Got this reply:
I strongly encourage you to check out Coco, one of Pixar’s finest movies ever.