Fun facts about Disney-Pixar’s Coco

Disney-Pixar’s Coco is a film that is full of lush color and many details that offer insight into Mexican culture. Knowing what went into those details offers a whole new level of appreciation for the movie. Here are a few fun facts about Disney-Pixar’s Coco.

* Marigolds are the only living plants in the vibrant Land of the Dead are marigolds. That’s a very intentional choice. In Mexico, 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.

* The guitar playing in “Coco” is beautiful, and it’s technically accurate because filmmakers videotaped musicians playing each song. They even strapped GoPros to their guitars to give animators reference footage.

* Danta is Miguel’s loyal pet. He’s a Xoloitzcuintli dog, the national dog of Mexico. (They’re called Xolo dogs for short.) People see the Xolo as the representative on Earth of the Aztec god Xolotl, the god of fire and lightning.

* Yolo dogs typically have a tongue that naturally hangs out because they often have missing teeth. To make Dante’s tongue act like a character itself, animators borrowed the rig used in “Finding Dory” for “septopus” Hank’s dynamic tentacles.

GIVE THE DOG A BONE — An unlikely star of Disney•Pixar’s “Coco,” Dante is a Xolo dog—short for Xoloitzcuintle—the national dog of Mexico. Nearly hairless and missing some teeth, Dante has trouble keeping his tongue in his mouth. But he’s a loyal companion to Miguel, an aspiring musician who hopes to follow in the footsteps of his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Featuring the voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel and Benjamin Bratt as de la Cruz, “Coco” opens in theaters Nov. 22, 2017. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

* There are more than 500 pieces of clothing in the film. Artists created after sessions with Mexican folkloric dancers. Then, they shaded, shaped and combined the 500 individual pieces in a variety of ways to outfit thousands of crowd characters.

* Speaking of clothing, Ernesto de la Cruz wears all white in the Land of the Dead, which makes him stand out in the world with so many bright colors. And he likes to stand out. The bright white of his bones signifies that he is well-remembered.

* In contrast to Ernesto, Chicharrón is the least remembered character in the Land of the Dead. To illustrate the effects of being forgotten, his bones are more weathered than others. Also, his bones are much looser and you can more chips and grooves in his face.