The newest animated Disney film “Coco” was released on Nov. 22, earning approximately $71 million throughout the five-day Thanksgiving holiday opening. Directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, the story follows a young boy, Miguel, who makes an unexpected appearance to the Land of the Dead with family members who have passed away. “Coco” captured the range of emotions that are felt on the Day of the Dead, which is vastly celebrated in Mexico.

One of the reasons “Coco” was such a major hit with the audience is because it accurately portrays Mexican culture. Producers consulted with many cultural experts to grasp the authenticity of a Mexican heritage. Unkrich and his colleagues also traveled around Mexico to get ideas for the movie.

For example, the Land of the Dead is based on the Guanajuato City. The movie also features many important figures from Mexico. There is one scene specifically where iconic figures such as Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete are present in. Another interesting aspect of this movie put together is that all the “catrinas” (skeleton figures) took inspiration from the engravings of Jose Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican artist.    

Speaking firsthand from someone who watched the movie in both Spanish and English, I can wholeheartedly say that I enjoyed the movie more in Spanish. Don’t get me wrong, the movie was just as good in English, but I felt as though the movie resonated with the life I’ve experienced in Mexico. I could relate to things more I felt when I watched it in Spanish. Nonetheless, I still cried during both screenings.