The Book of Life (2014) dir. Jorge R. Gutierrez

Before Coco (2017) was The Book of Life. 

Set on El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Manolo follows his heart as he travels across three realms for the love of his life. I cannot possibly recall the number of times I've rewatched this movie, but I can most definitely say it'll continue being my most watched till the end of time >v<

The movie was captivating as it was accessible despite also touching on a heavy subject matter – death. As someone who doesn't share the culture, it was an informative yet lighthearted introduction to Mexican traditions and folklore. The portrayal of love was also multi-faceted, with beautiful depictions of familial, platonic, romantic, and self love. Albeit simple and slightly predictable, the plot and dialogue were still funny and energetic, which I think appeals to both children and adults. 

If I MUST describe the visuals and soundtrack in one word, it's spectacular! From designing the characters to resemble muñecas (traditional wooden folk art  dolls), to the vibrant colours used, the animation not only cemented the essence of the story, but also paid homage to Mexican ancestry.

It was an unexpected surprise to learn that the movie featured a mix of original and existing pop singles, especially the Mumford & Sons one!

Movie Score: 5/5