Review: Coco

Coco is one of Pixar’s most human and magical movies to date, focused around a cast of memorable characters, who all play a meaningful part and propel the plot forward.

The movie follows the incredible journey of Miguel, a twelve-year-old boy who aspires to be a musician and play for the world. The only thing holding him back is his family, who views music as a curse ever since his great-great-grandpa abandoned his wife and child to follow his career as a guitarist. This leads to the whole family banning music and stopping Miguel from pursuing his dream. But when he runs away from home and steals a guitar from his idol’s tomb on Dìa de los Muertos, he is transported to the land of the dead, where he must find his way back home.

The themes of family and identity are fundamental to Coco’s storyline, as Miguel must try to figure out who he is and what he must do, whilst learning the importance of family and the consequences of pushing them away. The film combines humour and conflict to outline the complexity of family, but in the end says that it is the most important thing we have.

The characters are complex and despite appearances, feel alive, and as a result, they are both charming and interesting. The most notable of which is Miguel’s friendly companion and guide through the land of the dead, Hector.

Another reason why this tale is one Pixar’s finest is thanks to its animation which sets a new bar for all animated movies. Coco is simply stunning, and with an immaculate attention to detail, the setting feels almost too real. From the way the candles flicker and Miguel’s clear reflection on the guitar, to the vibrant colours in the land of the dead, the animations are just perfect. Paired with the exclusive Hispanic cast, this allows Pixar to properly delve into Latin-American culture and help us all to learn something new by completely immersing us into it.

Coco is incredible and easily a new rival for other Pixar masterpieces. The characters, the world, and the music are all phenomenal and memorable creations.