“Coco” – A dazzling celebration of animation, music, and heartfelt storytelling

Coco’s legacy as one of Pixar’s most soul-stirring achievements was cemented when it won the 2018 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. It found success around the world, but nowhere more so than in Mexico where the film broke box-office records, becoming the highest-grossing film in Mexican history. Drawing inspiration from Mexican culture and the traditions of Día de los Muertos, the film delivers a vibrant feast for the eyes and ears — all while telling a story about family, memory, and the power of music. 

On October 16 and 18, the family-friendly film comes to the Lyric Opera House for two screenings with live orchestra. Experience the movie like never before, when conductor Gonzalo Farias leads the Lyric Opera Orchestra in its lively score.

A symphony of soul: the music of Coco

Music isn't just a backdrop in Coco — it’s the heartbeat of the story. Critics applaud both the authentic incorporation of Latin sounds and the emotional power of its original songs. With the Oscar and Grammy-winning songwriting duo of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez behind its most memorable hit, and an all-star cast of singers, the soundtrack received two Grammy nominations for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Song Written for Visual Media for "Remember Me."

“Coco is arguably the most musical Pixar film, with a host of catchy tunes… ‘Proud Corazón’ is an emotionally packed showstopper… ‘Remember Me’ gets reprised in various ways by different characters yet feels fresh every time.”
— USA Today, Brian Truitt

“‘Remember Me’… the greatest tear-eruption mechanism to accompany a Pixar release since ‘When She Loved Me.’”
— RogerEbert.com, Matt Zoller Seitz

“Michael Giacchino’s score is unsurprisingly excellent, as are the original songs… ‘Remember Me’ has the potential to join the stacked pantheon of much-loved Disney songs.”
— The Guardian, Benjamin Lee

“Not adhering to the traditional formula… allows Coco to dive deep into authentic Latin music, like ranchera and corrido. Many numbers are sung entirely in Spanish or Spanglish.”
— NY Post, Johnny Oleksinski

“Such rousing, touching music. Set-piece production numbers drive the narrative while they uplift the spirit.”
— Seattle Times, Soren Andersen

Critics praise the film’s musical authenticity and emotional resonance. From jubilant duets like “Un Poco Loco” to the heart-wrenching power of “Remember Me,” Coco doesn’t just include music — it speaks through it.

A visual masterpiece: animation that glows with life (and death)

Critics are unanimous: Coco is among Pixar’s most visually striking films — a vivid explosion of color, imagination, and intricate detail. From photorealistic living towns to the fantastical Land of the Dead, the film is packed with visual splendor.

“Coco is one of Pixar’s most gorgeously animated outings in some time. The Land of the Dead pops like an afterlife Las Vegas.”
— USA Today, Brian Truitt

“Pixar outdoes itself in the afterlife, which looks like a towering confection made of light… warm, inviting colors… glowing neon alebrijes — fantastical spirit guides that can take the form of anything from a tiny monkey to an enormous flying cat.”
— Mashable, Angie Han

“Such rich, glowing colors. You can lose yourself in Coco’s extraordinary imagery.”
— Seattle Times, Soren Andersen

“The bridge to the Land of the Dead — easily Pixar’s most beautiful landscape — is covered in bright petals that drizzle down like rain.”
— NY Post, Johnny Oleksinski

“A neon-colored nonstop fiesta that’s a blast even if you’re just a bag of bones.”
— Rolling Stone, Peter Travers

From dazzling marigold bridges to kaleidoscopic spirit animals, Coco redefines what animated fantasy can look like. It's not just beautiful — it's meaningful, woven tightly with the story and the culture it celebrates.

Critical acclaim: a classic in the Pixar canon

Beyond its technical achievements, Coco has been hailed as one of Pixar’s most moving and thoughtful films. In the wrong hands, the story could be dreary, as characters and audiences wrestle with ideas of memory, mortality, and familial duty; however, co-directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina handled the topics with such sensitivity that the slew of awards that followed came as no surprise.

“Effervescent, clever and thoughtful… Coco is Pixar’s best effort since Inside Out and, like the studio’s greatest works, makes you laugh and cry in equal doses.”
— USA Today, Brian Truitt

“This film is a classic.”
— RogerEbert.com, Matt Zoller Seitz

“The visuals and deeply moving storytelling make Coco one of the best pictures Pixar has ever produced.”
— Seattle Times, Soren Andersen

“Coco brims over with visual pleasures, comic energy and emotional wallop. The climax is a real weeper.”
— Rolling Stone, Peter Travers

“One of Pixar’s sweetest and most soul-satisfying movies ever.”
— NY Post, Johnny Oleksinski

“A glorious tribute to Mexican tradition… Effortlessly gliding between kid-friendly spectacle and heart-tugging emotion.”
— Time Out, Phil de Semlyen

“It’s playful and transporting, an absolute riot of color and sound fueled by love and passion — love of music, love of family, love of tradition, romantic love, love of self, even the love of a good dog — but all the same, this is also a story about death, cruelty, and missed opportunities.”
— Consequence, Allison Shoemaker

“Profound existential questions are delivered in a brightly colored package, alive with wit, action set pieces and, most importantly, music.”
— The Guardian, Benjamin Lee

As Christopher Orr of The Atlantic puts it simply: 

Coco is among Pixar's best movies in years.

And if the tear-streaked faces leaving theaters are any indication, audiences agree. Don’t miss your chance to experience the film with live orchestra on October 16 and 18. It will be a performance to remember.