'Coco' is about a 12-year-old boy with big dreams," says director Lee Unkrich. "It's about a hardworking family with great traditions and a lot of love. But what's so cool about 'Coco' is that the boy could be my son. That family could live next door. The sweet, bossy grandmother who insists on one more bite might be your grandma. There's something familiar to us all in this story. That's what makes it so special."
The universal theme of family resonated with filmmakers. "We are all part of a family," says co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina. "Those relationships are beautiful and complicated. But our family shapes who we are, which made us wonder-if you had an opportunity to meet your ancestors, what would you recognize in them that you see in yourself?"
Adds Unkrich, "We recognized a common need to be remembered-to feel that we'll matter long after our time here. Likewise, there's a strong desire to keep alive the memories of our loved ones. By sharing their stories and creating our own, we build this connection across generations that is bigger than our day-to-day lives."
Pixar Animation Studios' 19th feature film introduces Miguel, an aspiring singer and self-taught guitarist who dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, the most famous musician in the history of Mexico. But Miguel's family forbids music. Many years ago, his great-great-grandmother and great-great-grandfather came to an impasse: She wanted to raise their family together in Santa Cecilia, but he couldn't let go of his dream, leaving his family behind in his quest to be a musician. Passed down from generation to generation, great-great-grandmother Mamá Imelda's consequent ban on music is strictly enforced-much to Miguel's dismay. "When Miguel unearths a secret from his family's past-a connection to Ernesto de la Cruz, he rushes to share the news with his family, thinking it will clear the way for him to be a musician," says screenwriter Matthew Aldrich. "To his surprise, it only makes matters worse."