Gonzalez is incredible as Miguel, displaying a wide range of skills for an actor so young. He manipulates his voice in multiple ways to convey sadness or joy, and it speaks to his transformative abilities as an entertainer. An example of this can be found when Miguel is playing his guitar and singing along with his favorite musician, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). As he sings, the longing in his voice for a life outside the confines of his hometown is palpable. His emotions come through with each note that he belts out. There’s not a single moment where his performance falters.Miguel’s companion through most of his journey in the Land of the Dead is Hector, played by the talented Gael Garcia Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle). Like Gonzalez, Bernal is fantastic, as he deftly creates Coco’s most complex character. He’s equal parts charm and insecurity, but to delve deeper into why the character is so rich would be to invite spoilers. The Mexican actor gives a weight and distinction to Hector’s voice that makes him seem wiser than his years. For someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience in voice-over work, Bernal distinguishes himself here.
The directors made an interesting and successful creative decision to include the prevalent use of Spanish language without including subtitles. It’s used in just the right way, so the viewer won’t feel lost in the moment, and with enough context clues for the audience to understand what is happening even if they don't know what is actually being said. It's one of many effective ways that the filmmakers embrace and celebrate the movie’s Mexican roots.As fine as many of the voice actors are, none of this gorgeous tale would work so well if not for its stellar animation. Disney Animation and Pixar keep one-upping each other year after year: Disney's Moana was dazzling, but Pixar's Coco kicks it up several notches with character models that look almost too real. The way the orange glow of the candles at a cemetery casts shadows over the faces of people visiting their loved ones is simply exquisite. Every frame -- from Miguel’s hometown to the Land of the Dead -- is brilliantly realized. The fact that you can see every wrinkle that outlines Mama Coco’s face in particular highlights the level of depth the animators are able to create. It’s scary at times how good Coco looks.
