L.A. Proclaims “Coco” Day February 27th, 2018 to Honor Disney-Pixar Film
Hi everyone!
The City of Los Angeles declared February 27th, 2018 “Coco Day in L.A.” to celebrate the home entertainment release of Disney-Pixar’s Oscar nominated film Coco. Many of the cast reside and/or grew up in Los Angeles. Director Lee Unkrich joined producer Darla K. Anderson to receive the honor, along with Anthony Gonzalez (Miguel), Renee Victor (Abuelita), Gabriel Iglesias (the Clerk), Alfonso Arau (Papa Julio), Selene Luna (Tia Rosita), Lombardo Boyar (Mariachi/Gustavo), Blanca Araceli (Emcee), Dyana Ortelli (Tia Victoria) and Carlos Moreno Jr. (the voice of a handful of characters including Corn Man).They received the honor from L.A. City Councilmember Gil Cedillo.
Photo by B.L., Mousesteps
Unkrich told us the proclamation was an “incredible honor”. He continued, “We wanted to make a film that was a love letter to Mexico and the Latino community” and he and Anderson are happy that it has been embraced the way it has. Unkrich said that Pixar has never had an honor like that and, “this is really just icing on the cake”.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
We asked Unkrich also how Epcot inspired him to make Coco. Unkrich has long been interested in the holiday of Día de los Muertos and he took his family to Epcot after directing Toy Story 3. He said that he was with his family in the Mexico boat ride (Gran Fiesta Tour) and noticed the paper machete skeleton mariachi band on the bridge. He continued, “I remember that moment specifically being the moment I had the idea to tell a story that was set against the holiday of Día de Muertos”.
Gonzalez beautifully sang two Coco songs – “Remember Me”, which is up for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, and “Un Poco Loco”, another terrific song from the soundtrack. Here is our video of that. He is backed by the Mariachi Divas, who we last saw at Disney California Adventure during “A Musical Celebration of Coco” (they play at the Disneyland Resort regularly) along with mariachi dancers.