Who doesn’t love going to the movies? They offer fascinating plotlines, personable characters and conversation starters between fellow movie lovers. The new Pixar movie “Coco,” directed by Lee Unkrich, is one of these new conversation starters. The movie is about Día de Los Muertos, Day of the Dead, which is celebrated throughout Mexico, allowing Hispanics to honor their deceased loved ones. “Coco” brings a riveting twist to the portrayal of this holiday and its traditions, making it relatable to people from all walks of life.

“Coco” tells the heartwarming story of Miguel Rivera (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), a young boy who dreams of becoming like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt), a popular musician.  However, this is quite the feat for Miguel, given that the Rivera family prohibited all music when his great-great-great-grandmother, Mamá Imelda’s (voiced by Alanna Ubach) husband abandoned her to become a musician. This conflict forces Miguel to go on a journey to the Land of the Dead, home of the afterlife, helping him to discover the true meaning of family.

“Coco” has almost exactly the same as the plot of the movie “The Book of Life,” from 2014, a movie also portraying a story about the traditions from Day of the Dead. Both movies have a main character that has a passion for music despite what their family thinks. Also, both utilize the idea of sending the main character into a place for the afterlife, making the characters look like a skeleton among many others. Therefore, it is hard to differentiate one movie from the other. After watching “The Book of Life,” seeing “Coco” will give you an undeniably strong sense of deja vu. However, “The Book of Life” is not nearly as good as “Coco” for many reasons.

One reason would include this movie’s use of vibrant colors. In almost every scene there is a bright color that draws the eye, whether it’s a piece of electric pink fabric, a radiant orange leaf or the brilliantly decorated face of a skeleton. These neon colors made “Coco” much better by displaying a pleasing visual sensation while creating a joyful feeling for the audience. 

Another thing that enthralled me was the music and how it was utilized throughout the movie. Typically in musicals, like “Frozen” or “High School Musical,” the characters just break out into dance and song for no rhyme or reason. But in “Coco,” music helped move the plot along and even aided in resolving conflict. The lyrics of these Hispanic driven songs were extremely heartfelt and so catchy that I found myself singing them the next day.

One monumental aspect of the movie that is also memorable was the animations. The quality of animation in “Coco” was absolutely astonishing, especially with Miguel. He was incredibly life-like from the way he walked, to the dimple on his cheek. All of the skeletons were amazingly crafted, too. One of the most memorable parts was the detail in the architecture when Miguel first enters the Land of the Dead. This scene allows the audience to see a city composed of towers and houses decorated in intricate designs and bright colors.

From refreshing colors to upbeat music and stunning animations, this Pixar movie is a true work of art. It captures the traditions of Day of the Dead while incorporating vivid colors and cheery music to captivate the audience. “Coco” also encourages us to follow our dreams while appreciating family. Audiences of all ages and backgrounds can put this message to good use.