Disney Pixar’s Coco took audiences around the world on a spiritual journey that brought families closer together. Coco is more than just another great animated film, it is a return to form for Pixar in a world dominated by sequels. And now, this jewel of a film can be yours to cherish forever on Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital HD Combo Pack.

Miguel is the son of a long line of shoemakers, but his dream is to play music like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. His family, however, has banned music due to a family rift several generations ago. On the eve of Dia de los Muertos, Miguel steals a guitar from a mausoleum, unintentionally setting off a curse that traps him in the Land of the Dead that gives him until sunrise to get his ancestor’s blessing to return to our world without any stipulations against playing music for the rest of his life.

With an all Latino voice cast (and John Ratzenburger) and authentic representations of Mexican culture, audiences will feel like they’ve really taken a trip to Mexico during the two-hour runtime. The film becomes somewhat of a love letter to Mexico, which lends itself so beautifully to animation. The familial celebration of Dia de los Muertos comes alive on film like never before.

The music grabs you from the moment the film starts, with a mariachi version of the Disney studio intro, as well as the Oscar nominated song, “Remember Me.” Michael Giacchino’s memorable score perfectly plays against every story beat and emotion. Music is such a vital part of the film and it’s so perfectly executed, creating a beautifully harmonious piece.

With immaculate detail and hidden gems throughout the film, you and your family will want to share Coco together again and again. With over 2-hours of advertised bonus features, fans who want to step behind the scenes can learn everything there is to know about the behind the scenes process. And for those who just want the Coco experience, rest assured that Olaf is nowhere to be found in this release.

Bonus Features

Disc 1

• Welcome to the Fiesta (2:16) – A musical presentation reel that moves through the streets of the Land of the Dead that originally debuted at the D23 Expo in 2015.
  • Commentary (2:16) – Director Lee Unkrich, Co-Director Adrian Molina, and Producer Darla K. Anderson discuss this “Diarama,” which was produced as a proof of concept for Disney to get the project approved.
• Mi Familia (10:00) – Pixar artists discuss their own family rules and how learning about traditional family dynamics in Mexico played a key role in the story.
• Dante (6;14) – Miguel’s loveable canine companion, Dante, is highlighted in this short feature about how Xolo dogs became part of the film’s mythology.
• How to Draw a Skeleton (3:18) – Danny Arriaga, Character Art Director on Coco, teaches viewers how to draw a Pixar-style skeleton.
• Feature Commentary (1:45:02) – Director Lee Unkrich, Co-Director Adrian Molina, and Producer Darla K. Anderson lead this feature-length commentary. It provides a great look at the production process, with lots of discussion about story changes and Easter eggs.

Disc 2

• A Thousand Pictures a Day (20:03) – The Mexico research trips were captured on film and the creative team talk about how they embraced the culture in the film, as well as how Mexico has embraced Pixar films.
• The Music of Coco (13:12) – An exploration of the musical styles and instruments in the film from the songwriters and producers, including Oscar-nominated “Remember Me.”
• Land of our Ancestors (6:19) – The creative team talks about how they created the Land of the Dead to celebrate Dia de los Muertos and how they came up with the rules and logic of the afterlife.
• Fashion Through the Ages (8:39) – The animators talk about the variety of costumes they had to create for the Land of the Dead due to the centuries of history beyond the veil.
• The Real Guitar (3:08) – German Vasquez Rubio created a real world version of Ernesto de la Cruz’s guitar from the film, which is highlighted in this featurette.
• Paths to Pixar: Coco (11:44) – Pixar artists who worked on Coco discuss how they came to work at Pixar, as well as that Latino identity and how they infused that into the film.
• How to Make Papel Picado (2:19) – Pixar Artist Anna Ramirez shares how to make Papel Picado like in the opening to Coco, a skill she learned as a kid in Mexico.
• You Get the Part! (2:12) – Anthony Gonzales, voice of Miguel, was offered the part in a unique way, which was captured on film.
• Deleted Scenes (33:07) – Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina present seven deleted scenes in storyboard form, some of which contain unused songs written by Rober Lopez and Kristin Anderson-Lopez.
  • Introduction (1:07)
  • Dia de los Muertos (5:25)
  • The Way of the Riveras (5:55)
  • Celebrity Tour (5:09)
  • The Bus Escape (4:38)
  • Alebrije Attack (3:12)
  • The Family Fix (4:31)
  • To the Bridge (3:08)
• Trailers – Five trailers from around the world are presented to show how the film is marketed differently between countries.
  • Feeling – United States Trailer (2:11)
  • Dante’s Lunch – Web Exclusive Trailer (1:57)
  • Destiny – Mexico Trailer (2:32)
  • Journey – Brazil Trailer (1:59)
  • Belong – Australia Trailer (2:11)
• Un Poco Coco (3:05) – A sizzle reel of character animation created to promote the film.

Digital Exclusives

• “Remember Me” Music Video (2:51) – Miguel performed the Oscar-nominated song along with Natalie Lafourcade in candlelit rooms set against clips from the film.

The only bonus features on the DVD are “Dante” and the audio commentary.

Video

The Blu-Ray presentation of Coco is stunning. The colors are so bright and vivid, particularly in the Land of the Dead sequences, and black levels are perfectly rendered. I didn’t detect any flaws, such as banding or aliasing, in the Blu-Ray transfer.

On DVD, detail is softened all around, losing a lot of detail. For example, individual strands of hair on Miguel’s head are easy to see on Blu-Ray, whereas the DVD becomes a blurred blend of black. The color spectrum also feels compressed, never achieving the same level of brightness or darkness in standard definition. Shots of the City of the Dead almost look blurry, including in the main menu.

Audio

Audio options on Blu-Ray include English 7.1, 5.1, 2.0, and a stereo Descriptive Audio mix. There are also French and Spanish 5.1 tracks. For this review, I experienced the film in the 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio mix, which feels so immersive. It’s amazing the way the mix throws sound around the room, often mid-sentence when a character runs off screen. It really feels like their voices travel and the effects and music fill the rear speakers well.

DVD audio options include English 5.1, 2.0, descriptive audio, and Spanish 5.1. Compared to the 7.1 Blu-Ray mix, the 5.1 track feels less impressive. However, it’s a solid 5.1 mix for those lacking the extra speakers.

Packaging & Design

Inserts include a code for your digital copy through Movies Anywhere, which also earns 150 points through Disney Movie Rewards, and a flier for Disney Movie Club.

Both discs open with an ad for The Incredibles 2. Selecting “Sneak Peeks” from the menu plays additional ads for Disney Movie Rewards, Disney Now, and Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (a whole short – “Ewok Escape”). The menu features score set to a panning shot of the Land of the Dead.

Final Thoughts

Disney Pixar’s Coco is nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Song at the Academy Awards for good reason. Now you can bring home the Golden Globe winning animated feature that has touched so many families. The Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital combo pack comes with hours of bonus features, dazzling picture and sound, and is sure to be a treasured part of your movie collection.