The Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that has long captivated the rest of the world.
The joyous celebration of remembrance for those who have gone before has its roots in indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl.
Now director, producer and author Guillermo del Toro, and director Jorge R Gutierrez have teamed up to create a delightful family animation feature, in which the star is undoubtedly the extraordinarily vivid visual language, inspired by Day of the Dead art (though star vocal turns by the likes of Christina Applegate, Channing Tatum, Zoë Saladana and Ice Cube are pretty great too).
The colourful look of the film was created by Gutierrez with production designer Simón Vladimir Varela and art director Paul J. Sullivan. Gutierrez is an ardent fan of both Mexican folk art and Latin American folklore. “I love Mexican folk art because so much of it is handmade and it’s art by the people, for the people, about the people. It’s really accessible and a reflection of who we are.”
The Book of Life tells the legend of Manolo, a conflicted hero and dreamer who sets off on an epic quest through magical, mythical and wondrous worlds in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village. But Manolo and his equally courageous best friend Joaquin are not your typical Prince Charmings, and the object of their affections is far from being your average princess. Torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, before choosing which path to follow, Manolo embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
Watch the trailer here:
The Book of Life is in UK cinemas from 24th October – just in time for the Day of the Dead on the 1st / 2nd November. Grab some churros and check it out why don’t you.
www.BookOfLifeMovie.co.uk
