Over three jam-packed days, D23 – the Disney expo that gives insight into every project the company has on deck – took over the Anaheim Convention Center. This year’s event saw all Disney princesses on one stage to announce the Wreck-it-Ralph sequel, the first clip from Avengers: Infinity War, and a sweet moment between Oscar Isaac and the late Carrie Fisher in a behind-the-scenes video from the set of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We also learned a little bit more about Pixar’s Día de Muertos-themed movie, Coco.
The production got off on the wrong foot when Disney attempted to trademark the phrase Día de los Muertos in 2013. Since then, Pixar and Disney have diligently worked to involve more Latinos, so that the finished product can truly resonate with filmgoers. Along the way, Disney and Pixar have given us little hints. In the past two years, we’ve learned that Lalo Alcaraz – who previously criticized Pixar and Disney’s effort – signed on a consultant, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Edward James Olmos, and Ana Ofelia Murguía make up the all-Latino cast, and we’ve gotten a look at Dante, the Xoloitzcuintli (the ancient dog breed dating back to the Aztecs) who will be main character Miguel’s faithful companion.
At D23, we got a few more puzzle pieces. Here’s everything Coco-related that went down at this year’s D23.
Coco opens in theaters on November 22, 2017.
1
Miguel breaks into the tomb of his idol.
Miguel longs to become a musician like his abuelito, but his family has banned music. One clip shown at D23 shows Miguel break into the tomb of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, so that he can steal a guitar and participate in a talent show that his family is highly opposed to. When he strums the guitar, he becomes a spirit that goes unnoticed by the living, according to The Wrap.
2
A new poster was revealed.
In a new poster, we see GGB, who plays Hector, stands back to back with Miguel. Papel picado and lights adorn the background.
3
Miguel has to reverse a curse.
In a more dramatic clip, we learn that Miguel’s presence in the Land of the Dead is worrisome. Miguel meets his ancestors, who take him to the Bureau of Family Reunions. There, they learn that the family is cursed, and if Miguel doesn’t reverse it, he’ll become a skeleton and remain in the Land of the Dead.
4
Benjamin Bratt and co-star Anthony Gonzalez sang their hearts out.
As Coco‘s creators stated, the movie is filled with a lot of music – both traditional Mexican songs and original tunes. Benjamin Bratt and co-star Anthony Gonzalez sang “Remember Me,” a brand new song written by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez (the Oscar-winning duo behind Frozen.) The performance featured 160 dancers.
July 18 at 1:10 p.m.: This post has been edited. A previous version stated that Miguel broke into a church. He broke into the tomb of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz.