© 2019 Disney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Look: Debut Set for Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Second VR Short, ‘a kite’s tale,’ at SIGGRAPH 2019 ‘a kite’s tale’ Combines Hand-drawn Animation With VR Technology

CHICAGO—Walt Disney Animation Studios, for the second year in a row, will debut an all-new VR short film at the SIGGRAPH conference. Part of the third-annual SIGGRAPH 2019 VR Theater, the experience hails from within the studio’s Short Circuit experimental program. Directed by Bruce Wright, “a kite’s tale” combines classic hand-drawn animation and the latest innovations in virtual reality to tell this whimsical tale of two kites; a playful puppy (with a wagging tail) and a pompous dragon who clash, tangle, and ultimately must learn to live with one another subject to the winds of fate. “I'm thrilled that ‘a kite's tale’ is premiering at SIGGRAPH 2019's VR Theater,” said Wright. “Virtual reality has the ability to bring us into new worlds of story, and touch the hearts of the audience in never before dreamt of ways. It's an honor to showcase our film at SIGGRAPH for the innovators and artists who are shaping the future of this medium.” “a kite’s tale” was created within Disney Animation’s innovative Short Circuit program, which gives anyone within the studio the opportunity to participate in a blind submission and be selected for the opportunity to direct their short film idea. The program has produced 20 short films, thus far, with “a kite’s tale” being the second VR film (the first, “Cycles,” debuted at SIGGRAPH 2018). “We’re still on the cusp of a powerful new medium, and I cannot wait for audiences to experience what Disney has done with its second VR short,” said SIGGRAPH 2019 VR Theater Director Maxwell Planck. “It’s encouraging and exciting to see studios and artists with proven success in more traditional computer graphics contribute to the next evolution of storytelling, and further proves that the seeds we are planting are strong.” Born in Los Angeles, and raised in Redondo Beach and Lomita, California, Bruce Wright’s interest in animation was awakened in 1985 when, as a high school newspaper reporter, he attended a special screening of the Disney classic, “Fantasia,” followed by a discussion with legendary Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Inspired, he purchased a Super-8 film camera and started making movies. After attending Cal State, Long Beach, where he majored in film and television studies, he went on to work at Paramount Pictures, where he founded an experimental desktop graphics and visual effects lab, and contributed to such projects as “Addams Family Values” and “Star Trek: Generations.” He began his association with Disney in 1996 as a live-action visual effects animator at Dream Quest Images, where he worked on “Armageddon” and “George of the Jungle.” His Disney Animation feature credits include effects animation on “Tangled,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” and, most recently, “Frozen 2.” Bruce and his wife, Tekla, have a teenage daughter. An accomplished magician, he can often be found dabbling in sleight of hand as a member of the world-famous Magic Castle.

VR Theater Screenings are open to conference participants with Full Conference and Full Conference Platinum registration and are available by ticket only. Click here for more information about VR Theater ticketing. Register for SIGGRAPH 2019, 28 July–1 August: s2019.SIGGRAPH.org/register.

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Lion King & Toy Story 4 Standees

Wreck-It Ralph 2 - Ralph Breaks The Internet Movie Standee

News from SIGGRAPH 2018 VR, AR and MIXED Reality Program

SIGGRAPH 2018 TO DEBUT IMMERSIVE PAVILION WITH VRCADE AND VILLAGE:

Pavilion To Host Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality Projects -

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ First VR Short, “Cycles,” to Make World Debut

Chicago, IL, June 27, 2018 - SIGGRAPH 2018, the world’s leading annual interdisciplinary educational event showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques, has announced information about this year’s Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality program. The 45th SIGGRAPH conference will take place 12–16 August at the Vancouver Convention Centre. To register for the conference, visit s2018.SIGGRAPH.org.

As virtual reality (VR) expands into the consumer market, and augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) get ready for prime time, SIGGRAPH 2018 stands as a prime place for these emerging media and experiences to offer a glimpse into the future from innovators around the globe. Cementing its status at the cutting-edge, SIGGRAPH 2018 will feature a brand-new space: the Immersive Pavilion. The Pavilion is devoted exclusively to these three mediums and will contain: the Vrcade, a space for VR, AR, and MR games or experiences; the well-known Village, for showcasing large-scale projects; and the VR Theater, a storytelling extravaganza that is part of the Computer Animation Festival.

“We are so excited about the new Immersive Pavilion — it will instantly become the place for our attendees to experience, play, and learn about the latest technological advances across all areas of these rapidly emerging media platforms,” said SIGGRAPH 2018 Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality Chair Pol Jeremias. “This year’s VR and mixed reality offerings will include innovative experiments, research, games, music videos, and more that are focused on the exploding and immersive interactive experience.”

Highlights of the 2018 Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality program include:

Cycles (Village)

Jeff Gipson, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first VR short film, “Cycles,” centers around the true meaning of creating a home and the life it holds inside its walls. The short makes its world debut at SIGGRAPH 2018.

Welcome to Light Fields (Village)

Ryan S. Overbeck, Daniel Erickson, and Daniel Evangelakos, Google Inc.

“Light Fields” lets us experience the freedom of motion, realistic reflections, and translucence like never before in VR. Explore the Gamble House, Mosaic Tile House, and Space Shuttle Discovery. These navigable light field stills showcase the emerging technology Google is using to power its next generation of VR content.

Wolves in the Walls: Chapter 1 (Vrcade)

Peter Billington and Jessica Shamash, Fable Studio

Hailing from a new studio that recently join content creation for virtual reality cinema, not everything is at it seems when 8-year old Lucy's imagination proves to be a reality. “Wolves in the Walls” is an immersive fable that asks; what would it be like to interact, have a relationship, and go on a quest with a character inside a virtual reality movie?

Multiplayer Augmented Reality: the Future is Social, presented by Niantic (Village)

Si ying Diana Hu and Niniane Wang, Niantic, Inc.

As the creators of Pokémon Go, Niantic takes AR to the next level by enabling multiple mobile devices to experience the same AR objects in real-time! Watch people play pong against each other, where the ball and paddles exist in AR for all users. Shared AR experiences is essential for keeping AR mainstream in the future.

Crow: The Legend (Vrcade)

Larry Cutler, Eric Darnell, Nathaniel Dirksen, Michael Hutchinson, and Scott Peterson, Baobab Studios

“Crow: The Legend” is a re-telling of a Native American folk tale about a bird with the most dazzling plumage and mellifluous voice, who, after the planet turns dark and cold, must journey far from home to bring light and warmth back to the world.

For highlights from the VR Theater, check out this blog post. Access to Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality programming is open to Exhibits Plus registration and above. The SIGGRAPH 2018 Immersive Pavilion is sponsored by NVIDIA.*

*No members of the NVIDIA team were involved in jury selection.

About ACM, ACM SIGGRAPH and SIGGRAPH 2018:

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM SIGGRAPH is a special interest group within ACM that serves as an interdisciplinary community for members in research, technology, and applications in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH is the world’s leading annual interdisciplinary educational experience showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2018, marking the 45th annual conference hosted by ACM SIGGRAPH, will take place from 12–16 August at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C.

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Disney's PETER PAN SIGNATURE COLLECTION on Digital May 29 & Blu-ray June 5

In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Disney's beloved flight of fantasy, "Peter Pan," joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection, landing in homes on Digital and Movies Anywhere on May 29 and on Blu-ray June 5. With a little faith, trust and pixie dust, every member of the family will let their imagination soar on this epic adventure to Never Land, sparkling with legendary animation, extraordinary music and both all-new and classic bonus features.

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of "Peter Pan" invites adventures of all ages to believe in magic once again and experience a timeless treasure from Disney's golden age of animation that has stirred the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers worldwide since its original 1953 release. The Signature Collection edition offers over two hours of classic bonus features plus never-before-seen extras, including the latest installment of "Stories from Walt's Office," which explores Walt's love of flying and the company planes; a nostalgic reunion between Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John); and new "Oke" renditions of the classic song "You Can Fly" and deleted song "Never Smile at a Crocodile" accompanied by on-screen lyrics and the film's unforgettable animated characters.

Check out a new trailer for Peter Pan Walt Disney Signature Collection here:

Disney Pixar's COCO on Digital Feb 13 & Blu-ray Feb 27

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2018 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS WINNER

FOR BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Host an Unforgettable Family Reunion in Your Home!

Disney•Pixar’s “COCO”

Crosses Over Digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 13

and 4K Ultra HD™ & Blu-ray™ on Feb. 27

The critically acclaimed animated film celebrates the importance of family, honoring your ancestors and following your dreams, and includes extensive extras for the whole family

BURBANK, Calif. (Jan. 12, 2018) — Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” —the story of a 12-year-old aspiring musician’s extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors—won a 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Motion Picture, topped the domestic box office Thanksgiving holiday weekend, became the highest grossing film of all time in Mexico, broke records in China and earned widespread praise, receiving 96 percent from critics and 97 percent from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Now this vibrant tale filled with love and laughter arrives home Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and on Movies Anywhere on Feb. 13, and on 4K Ultra HD,™ Blu-ray,™ DVD and On-Demand on Feb. 27.

Through fresh and fascinating bonus material, adventurers of all ages will tag along with filmmakers as they soak in Día de los Muertos in Mexico; explore the essential role of music in “Coco;” and learn how the cast and crew personally connect with the film’s message. They’ll step behind the scenes to discover the inspiration behind the film’s creative costuming; Miguel’s beautifully complicated family; Dante the loyal Xolo dog; and the stunning worlds of both the dead and the living. Features also include deleted scenes, insightful filmmaker commentary, the music of Coco and more. 

"Coco" is packaged several ways to ensure viewers get the most out of their in-home viewing experience. The Multi-screen Edition (formerly the Blu-ray Combo Pack) includes Blu-ray, DVD and a Digital copy, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices. Those with 4K Ultra HD capability may opt for Digital 4K Ultra HD or the 4K UHD Combo Pack, which includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a Digital copy. 4K Ultra HD provides four times the resolution of HD, bringing the rich color, textures and sounds to life and immersing viewers in two fantastically animated worlds. Dolby Atmos audio heightens the memorable score created by Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino and his 83-piece orchestra, as well as original songs like “Remember Me” by the Oscar®-winning team behind “Frozen,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

BONUS FEATURES*

                Blu-ray & Digital:

·         Deleted Scenes with Introductions - Director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina talk about the deleted scenes and the part they played in the development of “Coco.”

o    Día de los Muertos - In this musical extravaganza, the colors and excitement of Día de los Muertos come to life as we meet superstar Ernesto de la Cruz.

o    The Way of the Riveras - A musical number in which Abuelita and Miguel prepare their Día de los Muertos celebration while she teaches him Rivera family history and traditions.

o    Celebrity Tour - Héctor, a Land of the Dead tour bus guide, agrees to help Miguel, revealed to be a living boy, on his quest to find de la Cruz.

o    The Bus Escape - The Rivera family catches up to Miguel and Héctor and attempts to halt their mission to find de la Cruz.

o    Alebrije Attack - Miguel and Héctor are interrupted on their journey to find de la Cruz by a fierce alebrije.

o    The Family Fix - After de la Cruz reveals his true colors, the Rivera family puts their dismay aside and comes together to repair the smashed guitar needed to send Miguel home.

o    To the Bridge - As the Land of the Dead counts down to the end of Día de los Muertos, Miguel and de la Cruz come head-to-head on the marigold bridge.

·         Filmmaker Commentary – Presented by Lee Unkrich (director), Adrian Molina (co-director) and Darla K. Anderson (producer).

·         The Music of “Coco” - Collaborating with musicians of Mexico and some unique instrumentation, this documentary explores the beautiful fusion of music essential to the story of “Coco.”

·         Paths to Pixar: “Coco” - Explore how the film crew’s personal stories resonate with the themes of the movie itself.

·         Welcome to the Fiesta - A musical exploration of the skeletons that make the Land of the Dead in “Coco” so wondrous and intriguing.

·         How to Draw a Skeleton - Pixar artist Daniel Arriaga gives a lesson on the quick and easy way to draw skeletons using simple shapes.

·         A Thousand Pictures a Day - Join the “Coco” crew on an immersive travelogue through Mexico, visiting families, artisans, cemeteries, and small villages during the Día de los Muertos holiday.

·         Mi Familia - Developing the Riveras was a labor of love that took the cast and crew on a deep dive into the meaning of family.

·         Land of Our Ancestors – Watch Pixar artists lovingly construct layer upon layer of architecture from many eras of Mexican history, bringing the Land of the Dead to life.

·         Fashion Through the Ages – The cast of characters in “Coco” are from many different eras, making for some magnificent costuming opportunities.

·         The Real Guitar – The majestic guitar that spurs Miguel on his journey through the Land of the Dead is a unique creation. Watch as it is initially designed by a Pixar artist and ultimately realized as a real instrument by a master luthier in this poetic ode to craftsmanship.

·         Dante - How the crew fell in love with the uniquely Mexican breed of Xoloitzcuintli (or “Xolo”) dogs that inspired Dante.

·         How to Make Papel Picado - Join Pixar artist Ana Ramírez González as we learn how papel picado is made traditionally, and then try your own approach to this beautiful art form.

·         Un Poco “Coco” - A montage of original animated pieces used to promote “Coco.”

·         “Coco Trailers” - Trailers include “Feeling,” “Dante’s Lunch,” “Destiny,” “Journey” and “Belong.”

                        DVD:

·         Filmmaker Commentary

·         Dante

About “Coco”

In Disney•Pixar’s “Coco,” Pixar Animation Studios’ 19th feature film, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt)—despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

The voice cast of “Coco” includes characters from the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. From the Land of the Living, Anthony Gonzalez (“Ice Box,” TNT’s “The Last Ship”) lends his voice to Miguel, Renée Victor (“Weeds,” “The Apostle”) provides the authoritative voice of Abuelita, and Jaime Camil (CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” Disney Junior’s “Elena of Avalor,” “The Secret Lives of Pets”) is the voice of Papá. Lombardo Boyar (“Happy Feet,” TNT’s “Murder in the First”) voices a town mariachi, and Ana Ofelia Murguía is the voice of Miguel’s cherished great-grandmother Mamá Coco. Sofía Espinosa (“Gloria”) provides the voice of Miguel’s loving Mamá, and Luis Valdez (“Which Way Is Up,” director “La Bamba” and “The Cisco Kid”) lends his voice to Tío Berto, Miguel’s hardworking uncle.

From the Land of the Dead, Gael García Bernal (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”) helps bring to life charming trickster Héctor, Benjamin Bratt (Fox’s “Star,” “Doctor Strange”) is the voice of Miguel’s idol Ernesto de la Cruz, and Alanna Ubach (“Meet the Fockers,” Bravo’s “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”) provides the voice of Miguel’s great-great-grandmother Mamá Imelda. Alfonso Arau (“¡Three Amigos!” director/ producer “Like Water for Chocolate,” director “A Walk in the Clouds”) is the voice of Miguel’s late great-grandfather Papá Julio, Herbert Siguenza (“Larry Crowne,” “Ben 10: Alien Swarm”) lends his voice to both Tío Oscar and Tío Felipe, Miguel’s late identical twin uncles, and Gabriel Iglesias (“Planes,” “The Nut Job,” “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature”) lends his voice to the Clerk. Natalia Cordova-Buckley (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”) provides the voice of legendary artist Frida Kahlo, Selene Luna (“My Bloody Valentine,” “Celebrity Wife Swap”) voices Miguel’s aunt Tía Rosita, and Edward James Olmos (“Blade Runner,” “Stand and Deliver”) lends his voice to Chicharrón.

Also lending their voices are Carla Medina, Dyana Ortelli, Blanca Araceli, Salvador Reyes, Cheech Marin, Octavio Solis and John Ratzenberger.

Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”) and co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) from a script by Molina and Matthew Aldrich (“Spinning Man”). Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”) produces, and John Lasseter is executive producer. “Coco” features an original score from Oscar®-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“Up,” “Rogue One”), a song by Oscar winners Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (“Frozen”), and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco (“Dope,” “Shovel Buddies”) and Molina. Also part of the team is musical consultant Camilo Lara of the music project Mexican Institute of Sound, as well as cultural consultants Lalo Alcaraz, Marcela Davison Avilés and Octavio Solis.

Disc Specifications

Product SKUs:                          Digital = 4K UHD with HDR (HDR-10 or Dolby Vision), HD, SD

                                                        Physical = 4K UHD Combo Pack (4K UHD+Blu-ray+Digital HD/SD), Multi-screen Edition (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital HD/SD) and DVD

Feature Run Time:                                Approximately 109 minutes

Rating:                                                                                         PG in U.S., G in CE, and G in CF

Aspect Ratio:                            2.39:1

Resolution:                                4K UHD = 3840 x 2160, HD = 1920 x 1080, SD = 720 x 480

Audio:                                         4K UHD Blu-ray = English Dolby Atmos, English, Spanish and French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio; 4K UHD Digital = English Dolby Atmos (platform dependent), English 5.1, English 2.0; Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDHR, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio; DVD = English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio

Subtitles:                                     Blu-ray = English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Closed Captions:                     Digital = English; DVD = English

Social Media

Facebook:                                                                  Facebook.com/pixarcoco

Website:                                                                     movies.disney.com/coco

Twitter:                                                                      Twitter.com/pixarcoco

Instagram:                                                                 Instagram.com/pixarcoco

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE (MA):

Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers.  Movies Anywhere brings together the movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Participating digital retailers at launch are Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. Movies Anywhere offers a library of over 7,300 digital movies at launch, including new releases, and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can connect their Movies Anywhere account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku^® devices and popular browsers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere.  

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; and Lucasfilm. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

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©2018 Disney/Pixar

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

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FUN FACTS

THEM BONES – Filmmakers included subtle nods to the skeleton residents in the Land of the Dead. For example, the cobblestone streets feature some bone-shaped paving stones.

CHANGE OF PLANTS – Artists at Pixar Animation Studios like to add vegetation—grass, trees, bushes—to exterior environments. But “Coco” filmmakers felt the Land of the Dead should be different. The only living plants in the vibrant fantastical world are marigolds.

·         Filmmakers learned during their research trips to Mexico that the color and aroma of marigold petals are believed to help guide the spirit of a family’s loved one home during Día de Muertos.

RECYCLED – Miguel’s loyal canine companion Dante is a Xolo dog—short for Xoloitzcuintli—the national dog of Mexico whose origins are deeply rooted in Mesoamerican civilization. The Xolo was regarded as the representative on Earth of the Aztec god Xolotl, the god of fire and lightning. Nearly hairless, Xolo’s also often have missing teeth and for that reason their tongue naturally hangs out. Filmmakers wanted to include this into Dante’s design and have his tongue behave like a character itself. To achieve the look, they borrowed the rig used in “Finding Dory” for “septopus” Hank’s dynamic tentacles.

·         Filmmakers invited local Xolo dogs to Pixar so artists could interact with the lovable dogs and study their anatomy.

·         Xoloitzcuintli comes from the Aztec god Xolotl and the Aztec word for dog, Itzcuintli.

·         Archaeological evidence found in the tombs of Aztec Indians, among others, indicates the breed may go as far back as 3,500 years.

·         Many consider Xolo dogs to have healing abilities.

PULLING STRINGS – In “Coco,” Miguel recycles an old guitar, patching it up and painting it to mirror Ernesto de la Cruz’s signature guitar. But filmmakers knew that if they assigned an adult artist to do the design, it wouldn’t look right. Director Lee Unkrich called on his son to tackle the project and create the recycled guitar’s design.

·         All of the guitar playing in “Coco” is technically accurate. Filmmakers videotaped musicians playing each song and strapped GoPros to their guitars to give animators reference footage.

·         Ernesto has an ofrenda room in his grand tower in the Land of the Dead where he keeps all of the offerings people have given him over the years. There are giant spirals of guitars and other instruments among the gifts.

HIT THE RIGHT NOTE – Additional facial rigs were added to Ernesto de la Cruz that enhanced his Adams apple, throat and cheek vibrations when he sings.

A LEG UP – When Miguel and Héctor pay a visit to Chicharrón in hopes of borrowing his guitar, it becomes clear that it’s not the first time Héctor has borrowed from his friend. Chicharrón sports a pipe where his femur once was—a bone forever loaned to Héctor.

·         Chicharrón is the least remembered character in the Land of the Dead. Artists wanted to showcase the effects of being forgotten: his face has more chips and grooves, and his bones are much looser and more weathered than his counterparts.

CLOTHES MAKE THE CROWD – More than 500 pieces of clothing were made to dress the crowd characters—from the residents of Santa Cecilia to the skeleton-attendees of Ernesto de la Cruz’s party in the Land of the Dead. Pixar artists spent time drawing in life sessions with Mexican folkloric dancers. Artists shaded, shaped and combined the 500 individual pieces in a variety of ways to outfit thousands of crowd characters.

CHIN UP – Character artists spend months finding the right look for each character. And because Ernesto de la Cruz is a larger-than-life character known around the world, they wanted to give him identifiable attributes, including a cleft in his chin—visible in both the living and dead versions of the character.

·         Artists gave the character a distinctive curl of hair that falls across his forehead.

·         He sports a pencil-thin mustache, which was common in the era Ernesto was popular.

·         Ernesto wears all white in the Land of the Dead. With so many vibrant colors surrounding him, it helped ensure that Ernesto would be the center of attention—just the way he likes it. Even his bones are pristine because he’s so well remembered. 

·         Animators gave Ernesto a bit of a swagger to showcase his celebrity status.