Pixar’s Oscar-winning tale of a boy who journeys to the Land of the Dead was made at the studio in Emeryville, California – and inspired by real trips across Mexico.
Where was Coco made?
Coco is a computer-animated Pixar film, created at the studio’s campus in Emeryville, California – it was never shot on location. Its world was inspired by real trips the filmmakers took across Mexico.
How Coco was made
The studio – Emeryville
Pixar built the film at its headquarters in Emeryville, California, where its artists and animators work.
Computer animation
Every frame was rendered on Pixar’s computers – there are no live-action sets or cameras.
Directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina
The pair spent years researching Mexican culture, colour and music to shape the film.
Inspired by Mexico
The story is set around Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, and draws on towns like Oaxaca and Mexico City.
Where you can go instead
You cannot visit a Pixar set, but the film’s inspiration is very real: the Day of the Dead celebrations across Mexico, especially in Oaxaca and Mexico City, light up every autumn.
