On Wednesday, Disney-Pixar released the first trailer for its upcoming Day of the Dead-themed animated film, Coco, currently slated for a Nov. 22 release date. From the two-minute trailer, Coco looks to have all the dazzling visuals, charm and heart of the studio’s best films. But wait, did touching that guitar kill that kid? Why doesn’t anyone see him?
The hero of the film is Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), a 12-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), but music is forbidden by his family. The first spoken dialogue in the film gives us some clear insight as to why Miguel looks up to de la Cruz so much. On an old black-and-white VHS recording, the musician says, “I have to sing. I have to play. The music… it’s not just in me, it is me.” Gosh, he’s earnest. No wonder he’s named Ernesto.
In his eagerness to prove himself, Miguel ends up in the land of the dead, after what the official Disney-Pixar description calls “a mysterious chain of events.” Maybe this means, y’know, dying a little? The iDigi staff are debating the trailer’s meaning, but I’m choosing to assume (for the purposes of the film) that the land of the dead is more of a friendly place, a parallel reality that is always there but not always seen, with friendly caterinas and fun outfits. The living can sneak a peek once a year on dia de los muertos, but that doesn’t mean they’re dead too. Not permanently.
Decide for yourself by checking out the trailer for Coco below.
If Miguel does depart this mortal coil in Coco, it wouldn’t be outside of the Pixar playbook. Despite the generally kid-friendly nature of its fare, the studio’s never been one to shy away from taking on weighty issues -- case in point: that tear-jerking montage from 2009’s Up.
What do you think of our first look at Coco? What do you think happens to Miguel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
