Pixar Director Lee Unkrich talks about DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich is currently developing a new animated film for Pixar called Dia de los Muertos, which is based on the Mexican holiday also known as Day of the Dead. There's not a lot of information of the movie, but Cinemablend recently asked Unkrich about the movie, and here's what he had to say,
I can't really talk about it, other than that it exists and that I'm directing it. I'm making a film that's kind of set in the world of Dia de los Muertos. All I can say - based on the films that we've made - is that death is a part of life. Yes, it's easy to kind of look away from it and pretend it doesn't exist. But it is kind of the same reality that we all have to face. And it's a powerful thing. I'm proud that we haven't kind of hidden away from it.
He doesn't really say much, but it will basically focus on facing death, which makes sense, because that's what the holiday is about! It will be interesting to see how they end up tackling such a sensitive deep subject, because it sounds like it will be front and center in this movie. If anyone can effectively pull it off, it's Pixar. I can't wait to see how this turns out! The director goes on to say when asked if the film will explore the culture,
It's never kind of a choice to say 'Well, this would be an interesting culture to explore.' It honestly comes down to character first. That's usually where all this comes from, is that we have an idea for a certain character and sometimes it ends up feeling naturally like it should be set in a certain world.
It seems like a project that the director is going to have some fun with. What kind of other things do you hope Pixar includes in this film? The movie should be released sometime in 2015. For those of you not familiar with the Mexican holiday, here's a rundown...
The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1–2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world: In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.