In Disney*Pixar’s COCO, Miguel's love of music and need to play, is the driving force behind the adventure he goes on in the film. So I...

In Disney*Pixar’s COCO, Miguel's love of music and need to play, is the driving force behind the adventure he goes on in the film. So I'm glad I was able to learn about the films music while in San Francisco for the #PixarCocoEvent.

Note: Disney and Pixar invited me on this all expense paid trip for the Disney*Pixar COCO Event. While I will share different events and activities during the trip, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own. 

During a presentation, Michael Giacchino (Composer), Germaine Franco (Songwriter/Arranger), Camilo Lara (Consultant), Adrian Molina (Writer and Co-Director) & Federico Ramos (Guitarist) shared about the music's behind the scene work, including these fun facts:

• Miguel recycled an old guitar, patching it up and painting it to mirror Ernesto de la Cruz’s signature guitar.
• All of the guitar playing in “Coco” is technically accurate. Filmmakers videotaped musicians playing each song and strapped GoPros to their guitars to give animators reference footage.
• To make sure it was authentic, they used local musicians to help create music you would hear if you went to Mexico.

During the presentation, we also got a first look (and listen) at Ernesto De La Cruz icon guitar, which was recreated by the traditional guitar maker German Vazquez Rubio. It was lovely to see it "live" and hear an actual tune played.

Truly, while watching, you'll be able to feel both the love from the characters for music and from what the filmmakers put into making the music for Disney*Pixar COCO.

Also you can read my interviews and fun facts recap for the Disney*Pixar COCO film:

• Crafting Disney*Pixar’s Coco Video Featurette 
• Disney*Pixar COCO Spirit Animals Fun Facts 
• How Disney*Pixar COCO Honors Family Traditions 
• Fun Facts About Disney*Pixar COCO Skeletons 
• Q&A Highlights from Disney*Pixar COCO Filmmakers Interview 

To learn more about Disney•Pixar’s COCO, visit - www.movies.disney.com/coco

When Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch launched in NYC, we headed over to the Nintendo NY Store at Rockefeller Plaza, which had be...

When Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch launched in NYC, we headed over to the Nintendo NY Store at Rockefeller Plaza, which had been turned into a Super Mario Odyssey fun zone.

Note: I was invited as media to this event. However, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.


There was all sorts of carnival types of activities including hat toss and decorating. Posing for photos with Mario, his hat Cappy and characters from the game.

Driving a MarioCart. A mini one anyway. And at the end we received our very own cappy!


Of course we had to get a first gaming experience with the Super Mario Odyssey game. My son really enjoyed the game and I was impressed with the game feature of how Mario uses the new hat-based abilities.

Super Mario Odyssey is now available exclusively for Nintendo Switch for SRP:$59.99.

Three game-themed amiibo of Mario, Bowser and Peach in wedding-themed outfits are also available as a set for SRP:$34.99, or individually for SRP:$12.99 each.

A bundle that comes with the Nintendo Switch system, a download code for the game, Mario-themed red Joy-Con controllers and a special carrying case is also available for SRP:$379.99.

For more information, visit - www.supermario.nintendo.com

Disney•Pixar’s COCO is now playing in theaters everywhere and I'm so excited for families to see it. It's a great story about honori...

Disney•Pixar’s COCO is now playing in theaters everywhere and I'm so excited for families to see it. It's a great story about honoring families and following your own personal dreams.

Note: I was invited as media to the movie screening. Disney and Pixar invited me on this all expense paid trip for the Disney*Pixar COCO Event. While I will share different events and activities during the trip, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

As you know I visited San Francisco for the #PixarCocoEvent media trip to learn more about the Disney*Pixar COCO film. I learned about

• Crafting Disney*Pixar’s Coco Video Featurette
• Disney*Pixar COCO Spirit Animals Fun Facts
• How Disney*Pixar COCO Honors Family Traditions
• Fun Facts About Disney*Pixar COCO Skeletons
• Q&A Highlights from Disney*Pixar COCO Filmmakers Interview

PLUS I screened a few minutes of the movie. More about that later. But all that behind the scene info really got me excited to see the full film. And when I did recently, it was amazing.


MY REVIEW

While I already knew the story of Miguel struggle to play music against the wishes of his family, when I saw the full story unfold I was in tears. Literally. You'll gonna need tissues when you go to see this film.

Without giving to much away, Disney*Pixar COCO really touches on the issue of what makes a family...a family. The connection. Whatever it may be. In this case it music. But really it's more then just music. It's the LOVE, which is the driving force behind it all.

Miguel goes on an amazing journey to discovery WHY his family both loves and hates music. And it's a journey we all can relate to with it's up and downs. And isn't that what loving our family is about? Loving them through good and bad moments?


In the end, Miguel discovers that the love of family can be a powerful thing. And that's why it's so important to honor and celebrate it. A message that perfect as we get into the holiday season surround by family.


Speaking of surrounding, now that my #PixarCocoEvent is almost at it's end, I want to try and capture all the love and memories. While I don't have an Ofrendas, I did have a code to make a Chatbooks!

While designing my Chatbooks, I was able to capture special moments with my #PixarCocoEvent family. It was easy to design. I just had to pick photos to add to sheet of my "book". I could add little captions, title my book and adjust the sizing and order of each "page".


The finish result came out awesome. I'm now thinking of other types of books I can make. Since each book allows you to add 60 or so photos, you can really fill it up!

Hope you can your family enjoys seeing Disney*Pixar COCO as much as my family did!

To learn more about Disney•Pixar’s COCO, visit - www.movies.disney.com/coco