Matthew Aldrich, the co-writer of Pixar's 'Coco,' shares insights into the film's rich themes of family, legacy, and remembrance. He discusses the early musical version of the film and the significance of the villain Ernesto de la Cruz, who embodies the pitfalls of seeking fame over family. Aldrich delves into the emotional weight of the song 'Remember Me,' which resonates powerfully in the story. He highlights the impact of cultural traditions, like the Day of the Dead, in shaping the narrative and promoting essential conversations about loss.
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Unforgettable Ending
Coco's ending, where Miguel brings back a lost memory through song, remained unchanged throughout production.
A testament to the emotional core of the story connecting music and memory.
insights INSIGHT
Coco's Cultural Impact
Older generations in Mexico worried that Dia de Muertos was being overshadowed by Halloween.
Coco helped distinguish the two holidays, raising awareness and appreciation for Dia de Muertos.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Abuelita's Inspiration
Matthew Aldrich based Abuelita on his own grandmother, incorporating details like her strict demeanor and love.
The Pixar team helped ensure cultural accuracy, changing Abuelita's weapon of choice from a wooden spoon to a shoe.
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For a film built around a song titled Remember Me, Pixar's Coco sure has proven absolutely unforgettable in the seven years since its release. Directed by past Script Apart guest Lee Unkrich, the animation told the story of Miguel – a young boy voiced by Anthony Gonzalez who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead, where he seeks the help of his deceased musician great-great-grandfather to return him to his family and reverse their ban on music. It’s quite simply one of the richest and boldest family movies of all time, confronting ideas around death, legacy and remembrance in a way that moved the needle culturally in this way that only Pixar can. Much like how Inside Out gave parents a framework for talking to their kids about emotions, Coco is renowned today as a text that helps facilitate conversations with children about what it means when someone passes away.
In the conversation you’re about to hear, co-writer Matthew Aldrich drops by to break down the film in detail. We discuss the musical version of the film that was in development before he joined the project. We get into how the film’s villain, Ernesto Del La Cruz, represents the folly of chasing the wrong sort of remembrance: a remembrance of celebrity and fame, rather than family. And you’ll hear about what makes Remember Me such a beautiful part of Coco – the genesis of that astounding piece of music, that lands like a gut punch when we hear it for the final time in act three.
Script Apart is hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, or email us on thescriptapartpodcast@gmail.com.
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