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The annual celebration for Cinco de Mayo, aka the Fifth of May, is here, and everyone couldn’t be more excited about the same. A vibrant celebration of Mexican resilience and heritage, it commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over French forces on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. To say the least, it’s a great time to appreciate the country’s rich cinematic heritage.

That said, what better way to enhance activities for the same than to watch films that reflect and showcase Mexico’s resilience, heritage, tradition, and history? For the same, here are some of the top picks for the holiday, ranging from historical dramas to animated adventures, which provide both entertainment and education at the same time. Without further ado, dig in!

Classic Mexican Films to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo The Magnificent Seven. | Credits: United Artists.

The Magnificent Seven: Though a Western classic, this...

Harry Potter and Twilight opened up the apetite of readers for many other fantasy series in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Many book series received adaptations, and A Discovery of Witches is one of them.

The AMC series, which premiered in 2018, was based on Deborah Harkness' trilogy All Souls, which debuted in 2011 with A Discovery of Witches. The book series also featured Shadow of the Night, published in 2012, and The Book of Life, released in 2014. Despite its stunning reviews, the series flew under the radar but is now finding a new life on Netflix, Tudum reveals.

A Discovery of Witches just premiered on Netflix globally, and it has already attracted a lot of attention. Season 1 debuted in fifth place in the Top 10 charts globally, attracting 3.4 million views, with 19.7 million hours viewed. Even with little to no promo on Netflix, the highly underrated series is now a hit.

A Discovery of Witches...

“Andor” Season 2 is back and with it, several familiar faces.

The second season of the Star Wars prequel series picks up after the first with Cassian (Diego Luna), Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård) and the rest of the group doing what they can from the shadows to fight the Empire. The show’s return brings back a number of the mainstays from Season 1.

Below are the stars of “Andor” Season 2 and where else you might have seen them outside a galaxy far, far, away.

Diego Luna in “Andor.” (Lucasfilm) Diego Luna as Cassian Andor

Diego Luna plays the titular spy Cassian Andor.

Luna is most known for starring in “Y tu mamá también” and first appearing as Cassian Andor in the 2016 Star Wars film “Rogue One.” He’s also appeared more recently in “Narcos: Mexico,” “The Book of Life,” and “Open Range.”

Stellan Skarsgard in “Andor” Season 1 (Lucasfilm/Disney+) Stellan Skarsgård as...

This article contains spoilers for the premiere of "The Last of Us" season 2.

"The Last of Us" has an interesting approach when it comes to video game adaptations. For the most part, the show plays like a shot-for-shot remake of the video game of the same name directed by Cruce Straley and Neil Druckmann and developed by studio Naughty Dog. Except the series does something unexpected every so often, from dedicating an episode to telling the backstory of a minor character whose nuance most gamers miss, or wholly original prologues that show how the Cordyceps fungal infection started abroad.

When it comes to meta references to the games, "The Last of Us" finds a good balance between winks at the audience and just loving tributes to the people who helped make the game. Take the casting of Ashley Johnson as Ellie's mom, a beautiful cameo that works on many levels...

Prepare for a mutant attack, as Night of the Zoopocalypse invades Premium Video on Demand on April 4 from Viva Kids.

Inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, the animated family film will be available to buy for $14.99 and rent for $6.99.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) lead the voice cast.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct from a script by James Kee (A Christmas Horror Story...

Felix the monkey is attacked by a creepy, crawly army of zombie tree frogs in the new clip from Night of the Zoopocalypse below.

Inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, the animated family film escapes into theaters tomorrow from Viva Pictures.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) lead the voice cast.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct from a script by James Kee...

A seemingly harmless squeaky toy leads to the reveal of Buzzy Zero, the source of the zombie outbreak, in a new clip from Night of the Zoopocalypse.

Watch it below, along with two more clips: one introducing “Stranger Things” star David Harbour as Dan the mountain lion and another featuring Poot, a sneaky pygmy hippo.

The animated family film is inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, who serves as executive producer.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct...

A new Night of the Zoopocalypse character spotlight introduces Xavier. Meet the movie-buff lemur in the video below.

Inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, who serves as executive producer, the animated film escapes into theaters on March 7 from Viva Pictures.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct from a script by James Kee (A Christmas Horror Story) and producer Steven Hoban.

David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), and...

Disney and Pixar’s 2017 hit Coco may have been the first time many audiences truly experienced the beauty of Dia de los Muertos, but it’s far from the first time mainstream media has brought Latin American culture to the forefront. It may be the most popular depiction of the holiday, but its gorgeous visuals and catchy songs followed the success of George Gutierrez’s similarly themed The Book of Life. That’s not to say either film is better than the other. Both have their merits, and their stories are dissimilar enough to qualify as mostly unique experiences.

However, fans of the 2017 hit are always looking for something new to enjoy. Fortunately, Gutierrez’s work stretches back further than The Book of Life. Before the beautifully stylized film hit theaters, Gutierrez worked on a lesser-known venture — a Nickelodeon cartoon — called El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera. Like its later theatrical relatives,...

Clive Barker is back at it again, except this time it's for the kids. Shocking, right? The creator of the sexual and gory series, Hellraiser, is about to bring his horror expertise to the world of PG animation. A teaser trailer for the upcoming film Night of the Zoopocalypse was released in November 2024, leaving audiences craving more. With National Popcorn Day is right around the corner (January 19), the animated PG horror film has released a popcorn-centered clip and a new poster.

The animated clip shows off the wacky cast of characters, voiced by star actors David Harbour of Stranger Things fame, Scott Thompson from The Kids in the Hall, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee from The Mandalorian, and Gabbi Kosmidis of Netflix's Unicorn Academy. Centered around popcorn, of course, the clip offers a sneak peek into the wild world of the talking zoo animals. The children's film is inspired by a...

January 19 is National Popcorn Day, but Night of the Zoopocalypse is celebrating early with a new clip in which displaced zoo animals try the critical element of the cinema.

The clip is accompanied by a new poster for the animated film, which opens in theaters on March 7 from Viva Pictures.

Inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, who serves as executive producer, the script is written by James Kee (A Christmas Horror Story) and producer Steven Hoban.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct.

David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) lead the voice cast.

In the movie, “After a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies, a mountain lion (David Harbour) and wolf (Gabbi Kosmidis) lead a team of...

The best cartoon girl duos have ensured that generations of young women fell in love with animation as a medium. What’s more, pairings of female characters also account for some of the most iconic presences in cartoons and animation of all time. While male duos and boy-girl teams in cartoons are common, the world of animation is surprisingly light on pairs of female characters. Girls in cartoons tend to come in trios, groups, or on their own. However, this only ensures that the very best cartoon girl duos stand out.

Whether it’s classic characters from shows like The Flintstones or Scooby-Doo or pairs of heroines from animated movies from powerhouses like Disney or Pixar, each of the best cartoon girl duos brings something unique. They share a range of dynamics, with some being best friends, others sisters, with mother-daughter duos also being present too (and even some granddaughter-grandmother...

The Costume Designers Guild has fashioned its 2025 Spotlight Award recipient. Emilia Pérez co-star and Lioness lead Zoe Saldaña will pick up her prize at the 27th annual CDG Awards hosted by Jackie Tohn on February 6 at The Ebell in Los Angeles.

The Spotlight Award celebrates an actor whose talent and career personify an enduring commitment to excellence, including a special appreciation of the importance of costume design. The guild notes that Saldaña is a fitting honoree in that she can inhabit a costume and make the character come alive no matter how elaborate or otherworldly — from Neytiri in the Avatar films to Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and beyond.

She plays cartel lawyer Rita Mora Castro in Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical crime comedy Emilia Pérez, which is riding huge awards-season buzz. Saldaña is nominated for Golden Globe, Critics Choices and other awards for the role. She...

A fresh teaser has been released for the animated feature ‘Night of the Zoopocalypse’, spotlighting a zoo turned upside down by mutant creatures.

The concept, inspired by renowned genre author Clive Barker’s imaginative mind, promises a blend of humor and horror in a family-friendly package.

Scheduled for a theatrical release by Viva Pictures in the US on March 7, 2025, and by Elevation Pictures in Canada, the film features the direction of seasoned animators Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro.

This duo brings their rich background from projects like ‘The Incredibles’ and ‘The Book of Life’ to craft a story filled with quirky and endearing characters.

Set in the seemingly tranquil Colepepper Zoo, the plot revolves around a meteor strike that introduces a bizarre virus, transforming the zoo animals into a variety of slobbering zombie mutants.

Amid the chaos, Gracie, a plucky young wolf, joins forces with a rugged mountain lion to restore order.

A new teaser gives a closer look at the mutant chaos invading a zoo in upcoming animated feature Night of the Zoopocalypse, inspired by a concept from best-selling genre author Clive Barker (The Thief of Always).

Viva Pictures will release Night of the Zoopocalypse only in theaters on March 7, 2025. Elevation Pictures will distribute the film theatrically in Canada.

Night of the Zoopocalypse is co-directed by veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life).

The film’s synopsis: “One night, a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo unleashing a virus that transforms the animals into strange and hilarious slobbering zombie mutants. Gracie, a young quirky wolf, teams up with a gruff and fearsome mountain lion to find a way back to her pack. As the zoo is overrun, they must come up with a plan to get all the animals back to normal. Together...

Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro’s CG-animated family feature “Night of the Zoopocalypse” is making its market premiere at this year’s AFM, co-represented globally by Anton and Charades.

Viva Pictures handles distribution in the U.S. and will release the film on March 7, 2025. Elevation Pictures will release the film next year in Canada, and Apollo Films will release it in France.

In the incandescent family horror comedy, a meteor unleashes an alien virus that transforms the animals of Colepepper Zoo into slobbering zombie mutants. Featuring all the trademarks of the zombie genre, “Zoopocalypse” is expertly animated and features sharp, entirely original character designs. Artists working on the film use clever lighting and the fog associated with low-budget horror films to elevate the film’s aesthetic far beyond traditional indie CG fare.

“Zoopocalypse” stars David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall...

Anton and Charades have sold animated family comedy Night Of The Zoopocalypse in key territories worldwide.

Sales are locked in for Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais (Portugal), The Film Group (Greece), Ufd (Ukraine), Garasu Pasaulio Irasai (Baltics), Ads Service (Hungary and Romania), McF Megacom Film (Adriatics), M2 Films (Poland), Bohemia Motion Pictures (Czech Republic and Slovakia), Arna Media (Russia and Cis), Front Row Filmed Entertainment (Lebanon and Gulf), Bg Films (Turkey), Filmfinity (South Africa), Les Films 26 (French-Speaking Africa), Sun Distribution (Latin America) and Noori Pictures (Vietnam).

The UK sale is currently under discussion.

David Harbour, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Scott Thompson...

For 35 years now, The Simpsons has been turning out bangers each and every Halloween, and last night was no exception.

“Treehouse of Horror Xxxv” opened with a wild couch gag from guest animator Jorge R. Gutierrez before going into its first story, “The Information Rage,” which served as a commentary on our current political climate as seen through the lens of a Pacific Rim movie. Then came a genuinely scary story set in Victorian-era Springfield with Mr. Burns at its center. Finally, the biggest swing of the night was “Denim,” a Venom parody done entirely in stop-motion animation where Homer gets into a symbiotic relationship with a pair of jeans.

The episode was overseen by co-showrunner Rob Lazebnik, who jumped on the phone with me last week to discuss how the writers determined which Simpsons characters were Democrats and which were Republicans, the difficulty with animating jump-scares and what it...

Do you carve pumpkins for your Halloween tradition? Here, we watch The Simpsons’ annual “Treehouse of Horror” episode. And this week’s Season 36 installment on Fox is filled with jump-scares and jests. First, get ready for a special couch gag intro, created by The Book of Life‘s Jorge Gutierrez and composer Juan Carlos Enriquez that puts a Simpsons spin on Día de los Muertos with lucha libre visuals and punk rock sounds. And then no matter what side of the ballot you’re on, you’ll appreciate the first story in the episode: Bickering siblings Bart and Lisa must battle giant monsters created by political rage using a Pacific Rim–style robot. “Both sides will be offended,” teases executive producer Matt Selman with a laugh. “Rather than weigh in on one side or the other, I guess [writer Rob Lazebnik, who wrote the segment and co-ran the episode] wanted to...

“The Book of Life” writer/director/animator/actor Jorge Gutierrez is putting his spin on the opening to this Sunday’s annual “Treehouse of Horror” edition of “The Simpsons.” Gutierrez and composer Juan Carlos Enriquez have put together an intro/couch gag to “Treehouse of Horror Xxxv” (or in this case “El Treehouse del Horror Xxxv”) that includes a version of the Jarabe Tapatío with Día de los Muertos and lucha libre-style imagery. Scroll below to watch.

The opening, features stylized versions of Bart Simpson and Otto rocking out, Marge and Lisa taking down Jailbird, Bart facing off with Krusty the Clown, a Maggie-operated Homer going after a Smithers-led Burns and Bumblebee Man smashing Sideshow Bob (as Comic Book Guy wears a T-shirt that proclaims “Worst Intro Ever”). Finally we see that it has all been controlled by aliens Kang and Kodos, who have been playing a game of “Los Simpsons Fighter!

Zoe Saldaa has made a name for herself as one of the most dependable and versatile stars in cinema, becoming the second highest-grossing lead actress in history (via ticketsource.us). Her work is a stellar mix of creativity, subtlety, and physicality. Since 2009, she has starred in more than one of the biggest movie franchises of all time, smashing box-office records and defining a new age of cinema with larger-than-life action and a unique array of characters she flawlessly embodies.

Saldaa's filmography of the past 15 years is franchise after franchise, having starred in four of the highest-grossing films ever made. She has played iconic characters like Neytiri in the revolutionary Avatar series and Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy. Saldaa utilizes every technique and technology combined with her immense talent, enabling her to carry a superhero universe or portray more intimate characters in a catalog of films that make her one...

This week on The Anime Effect: To celebrate 10 years of The Book of Life , filmmaker Jorge R. Gutierrez joins the show to talk about his love for anime, including how Spirited Away inspired his celebrated film and the surprising place he first watched Akira . Plus, the latest news on One Piece , SK8 the Infinity and much, much more, including recommendations from our resident anime experts! Episode 36 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 36 Summary In this week's episode, LeAlec, Nick, and returning guest host Josellie Rios chat about their Fall 2024 anime watchlist so far, a new Goku balloon gets ready to debut in New York City, and we chat about My Hero Academia announcing its final season.

Hulu's La Mquina is finally here, and here is a complete cast and character guide for the Spanish language boxing show. Gael Garca Bernal and Diego Luna are reuniting once again for the six-episode miniseries that follows the story of boxer Esteban "La Mquina" Osuna and his manager Andy Lujan. The series has received critical acclaim, with the performances being one of the most beloved parts, and here is who stars in Hulu's La Mquina.

La Mquina follows an aging boxer who, after finding it harder to schedule matches, gets involved with a criminal organization. Esteban's manager gets him tied up with a plot where, if Esteban doesn't lose his next match, he and his manager will be killed. The sports crime drama is one of Hulu's best shows of 2024, with the show having an all-star cast.

Gael Garca Bernal As Esteban La Mquina Osuna Born On November 30, 1978

Active...

Inspired by a concept from best-selling genre author Clive Barker (The Thief of Always), upcoming animated feature Night of the Zoopocalypse is set to unleash mutant chaos in a zoo. A first look clip introduces the spooky fun and an all-star voice cast.

Viva Pictures will release Night of the Zoopocalypse only in theaters on March 7, 2025.

The film’s synopsis: “One night, a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo unleashing a virus that transforms the animals into strange and hilarious slobbering zombie mutants. Gracie, a young quirky wolf, teams up with a gruff and fearsome mountain lion to find a way back to her pack. As the zoo is overrun, they must come up with a plan to get all the animals back to normal. Together with the help of a motley crew of survivors – Xavier the movie-obsessed lemur, Frida the fiery capybara, Ash the sarcastic, fabulous ostrich and Felix the...

“Night of the Zoopocalypse,” the spooky animated family comedy featuring the voices of David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”) and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) has been picked up by Viva Pictures for the U.S. The deal was brokered with Charades and Anton, who were handling sales, ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival on Oct. 6.

“Night of the Zoopocalypse” will be released across North America on March 7, 2025. Elevation Pictures will distribute theatrically in Canada.

Inspired by a concept from best-selling genre author Clive Barker (“The Thief of Always”), the film sees a meteor unleash a virus that turns zoo animals into mutants. A mountain lion (Harbour) and wolf (Kosmidis) must lead a team of surviving animals to stop the virus and rescue their zoo.

The film was directed by veteran animators Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro.

A Discovery of Witches is finding a new audience on Netflix, six years after its original release. The British fantasy drama appeared on the U.S. most-watched Netflix chart after arriving as part of the streamer's deal to host several shows that originally aired on AMC in North America. The series is an adaptation of the All Souls Trilogy written by Deborah Harkness. The show stars Teresa Palmer as Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch forced to embrace her magical identity, and Matthew Goode as Matthew Clairmont, Dianas vampire mentor.

The series premiered on Sky in 2018 and aired in the U.S. via AMC network. A Discovery of Witches received positive reception while airing, steadily building a devoted audience but never managing to break into the mainstream. The show currently has three seasons and an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. The series has a high rating in comparison to other series like AMCs massive hit,...

Andor, a Disney+ series, is set as a prequel to Rogue One, showcasing the early days of Cassian Andor and the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Andor is the longest Disney+ Star Wars series, known for its darker tone, adult themes, and a talented cast of familiar and breakout stars. The series features iconic characters such as Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and K-2So, alongside new faces like Bix Caleen and Syril Karn, adding depth to the storyline.

The beloved Star Wars Disney+ series, Andor, has a cast of characters packed full of faces both familiar and new to audiences. Andor serves as a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, following the character of Cassian Andor long before he meets Jyn Erso and steals the plans for the Death Star. Taking place five years before the events of Rogue One, it follows a cast of characters as they...

The Simpsons is bringing some huge names to Springfield this fall! At San Diego Comic-Con last month, producers spilled the details on celebrity cameos and creative collaborations coming up in Season 36.

Kicking things off is Conan O’Brien in the episode “Bart’s Birthday.” Conan was actually a Simpsons writer way back when, so it’ll be fun to see him back where it all began. Danny DeVito is also stopping by the party – he first played Homer’s brother Herb years ago, so viewers will be curious to see what role he plays now.

Another big name making his Simpsons debut is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I mean, John Cena! The former wrestling-turned-movie star seems like a natural fit for the show’s silly humor. And can you believe they got Tom Hanks too? The Oscar winner has never appeared on the show before now.

“Bart’s Birthday” should be...

Ever since Diego Luna initially showcased his talent as Cassian Andor in the Star Wars lore in the mid-2010s, fans have been nothing short of perplexed by his star-studded performances. Then came his titular solo show for his character by showrunner Tony Gilroy, and fans just knew for sure that they had found the most immaculate actor to join and lead the live-action Sw saga.

Diego Luna. | Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson/Wikimedia Commons.

But while that was that, Luna is once again winning hearts through his personal take on his character that he connects with showrunner Gilroy about, and how he should be portrayed on the screens. And, unarguably enough, his remarks on the same make him everything one needs to become the ultimate perfect heir to George Lucas’ legacy.

Diego Luna Shares His Visionary Thoughts on Star Wars Characters

While Diego Luna as an actor gives off some true pieces of excellence,...

Diego Luna and Tonatiuh join Jennifer Lopez in the Kiss of the Spider Woman remake. Luna will play Valentin Arregui in the upcoming movie. Tonatiuh will play the main character, Luis Molina.

Andor star Diego Luna has joined the cast of Kiss of the Spider Woman. The upcoming movie is a remake of the 1985 Argentinian movie of the same name, which was based on the 1976 Manuel Puig novel and followed two very different prisoners learning about one another while trapped in a prison cell. The new movie will be a big screen mounting of the 1992 stage musical adaptation starring Jennifer Lopez as Aurora, an imaginary personality that is taken on by imprisoned LGBTQ+ hairdresser Luis Molina while daydreaming during a long prison sentence.

Per Deadline, Diego Luna and Tonatiuh have joined the cast of the Kiss of the Spider Woman remake. Tonatiuh will be playing Luis, who is serving an...

A critically praised and commercially successful Pixar movie, Coco was all the talk back in 2017. Inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, it was particularly praised for its respect and representation of Mexican culture as well as its animation, music, voice acting, and impactful story.

Movie fans can be eternally happy for their beloved film to be universally acclaimed and admired. Critics have praised Coco heavily, and it's quickly become a household name. Yet, this can make some people long to enjoy a similar movie in atmosphere, premise, or even just the characters. Luckily, there are other great movies similar to Coco.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on March 12, 2024: Seven years after its release, Coco is still celebrated as one of Pixar's best films in recent history. Viewers who enjoyed the animated endeavor into the underworld can chase the same high with these similar films.

Inside Out (2015) Is...

Exclusive: Australia’s Odin’s Eye Animation (Oea) has boarded sales on caveman comedy Rock Bottom, starring the voices of top comedy actors Rob Schneider and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.

The movie is the latest production from Mexican animation powerhouse Huevocartoon Studios, for which Oea previously sold Little Eggs: An African Rescue and Little Eggs: A Frozen Rescue.

Schneider has voiced a raft of animated features and series across his career, including most recently Adam Sandler’s Leo. Gabriel Iglesias’s many animation voice credits include The Nut Job and The Book Of Life.

Rock Bottom is a co-production with Dario Sanchez’s 3DoublesProductions, the Spanish studio based in Tenerife known for its work on 100% Wolf, Inspector Sun and upcoming movie SuperKlaus.

Oea has acquired world-wide rights to the picture excluding Latin America which will be handled by Videocine; Televisa/Univision) and Spain (3 Doubles Productions).

As per the synopsis, Rock Bottom follows the story of Gungo,...

Before Netflix started decimating its production teams, and canceling every show, it was once the land of second opportunities. The streaming platform not only produced great shows, but also offered a place where underappreciated and underseen titles could finally find an audience. In the case of TV shows, some even got a chance to finish their stories. "Breaking Bad" became a global hit thanks to people being able to binge on Netflix, and "Arrested Development" was brought back to life almost a decade after being canceled, as were "Lucifer" and "Manifest."

Sadly, the streamer doesn't seem to be in the business of reviving titles anymore, and Netflix originals often get scant promotion and slip under the radar. And yet, the platform does still provide a platform for underappreciated titles to find a larger audience even years after their initial release. Case in point: the sudden resurgence in popularity of "The Book of Life,...

Channing Tatum's diverse talents have allowed him to excel in a wide range of roles, from musical stars to action heroes. Tatum's dedication to pushing himself out of his comfort zone and into new genres is evident in each of his standout performances. From comedies like "Hail, Caeser!" and "21 Jump Street" to dramas like "Foxcatcher," Tatum's versatile acting ability shines through in every role.

Channing Tatum has appeared in more than 60 shows and films over his career, with a few standing out as his very best. Tatum is known for his roles in both romance comedy films and action movies. Having former experience as a dancer, performer and model, Tatum is comfortable adapting to a wide variety of roles.

Tatum began acting with roles in music videos before graduating to minor roles in TV and film, but his big break came in 2006, when he appeared as the lead in Step Up.

Maya and the Three is set for new life after its creator confirmed ongoing development for a "semi sequel."

In a post to X, Maya and the Three creator Jorge R. Gutiérrez explained that the fear of Netflix canceling the series early forced plans for season 1 to be a complete story. As ended up being the case, Netflix decided not to move forward with the series. While many believed this meant Maya and the Three would join similar limbos to other TV series pulled early, Gutiérrez unexpectedly added in a follow-up post that a semi-sequel set in present-day Los Angeles was in development.

Related Night Sky More Than Earned The Second Season It Didn't Get Prime Video's sci-fi series Night Sky had one of the most original concepts in a long time - but didn't garner the audience or Season 2 it deserved. *we’re currently developing a semi sequel set...

Disney-Pixar's Coco, a film about Day of the Dead, originally had a deleted opening scene that explained the holiday's significance. Coco follows the story of Miguel, a young musician who embarks on a journey in the Land of the Dead to uncover his family's history. Coco was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, winning awards and breaking records around the world. Happy Day of the Dead!

Disney Pixar's Coco is arguably the most famous film for the Day of the Dead, or el Día de los Muertos (even if some prefer The Book of Life), so we'd love to celebrate today by looking back on a delightfu ldeleted scene from the film.Directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina introduce these new scenes, one of which, the directors reveal, was the original opening scene, a musical number that explains the Día de los Muertos holiday. The directors go onto say...

No one is safe from a zombie apocalypse, not even animals at a zoo in the upcoming animated family feature Night of the Zoopocalypse. Deadline reports an impressive voice cast attached to the ambitious production, which includes genre stalwart David Harbour.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids In The Hall”), and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) are also among the voice cast.

The film’s synopsis: “One night, a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo unleashing a virus that transforms the animals into strange and hilarious slobbering zombie mutants. Gracie, a young quirky wolf, teams up with a gruff and fearsome mountain lion to find a way back to her pack. As the zoo is overrun, they must come up with a plan to get all the animals back to normal. Together with the help of a motley crew of survivors – Xavier the movie-obsessed lemur, Frida the fiery capybara,...

Quick Links Most Recent The Book Of Life 2 News The Book Of Life 2 Was Confirmed The Book Of Life 2 Release Date The Book Of Life 2 Cast The Book Of Life 2 Story The Book of Life 2, the sequel to the animated adventure film, was confirmed in 2017 but its release is uncertain and unlikely to happen anytime soon. Director Jorge Gutierrez expressed that the delay in the sequel is due to the acquisition of Fox by Disney, which affected the progress of the film. The planned sequel would have explored Joaquin's relationship with his father and further delve into the dynamic between the rulers of the Land of the Forgotten and the Land of the Remembered.

The Book Is Life 2 was confirmed back in 2017, shortly after the release of director Jorge Gutierrez’s first movie in the planned trilogy, but the chances of it arriving are looking slim. The Book Of Life...

The Book of Life director Jorge R. Gutierrez gave a discouraging update about a potential sequel to the 2014 animated movie starring Diego Luna.

The Book of Life explores the story of two childhood friends named Manolo and Joaquin as they try to win the love of Maria. Unbeknownst to them, La Muerte and Xibalba, who are both rules of the underworld, made a wager on the outcome of the love triangle.

The movie garnered mostly positive reviews, with it receiving a critic score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also managed to earn a worldwide box office haul of $99.7 million on a $50 million budget, leading some to wonder if The Book of Life 2 could eventually happen.

Read full article on The Direct.

Spanish mini-major Filmax has picked up international sales rights to “Teresa,” the new feature by Paula Ortiz, a fictional story turning on the prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer Saint Teresa of Jesus.

“Teresa” marks the big screen adaptation of Spaniard playwright Juan Mayorga’s stage play ”La lengua en pedazos,” which narrates a meeting between Saint Teresa of Jesus – also known as Teresa de Ávila – and a character called The Inquisitor.

The feature is not a classic biopic, but rather a free adaptation of the text written by Mayorga – a winner of Spain’s National Prize for Dramatic Literature – which in turn, is based on “The Book of Life,” by Saint Teresa herself.

In the movie, Teresa patiently awaits the Inquisitor’s arrival and judgement. His visit and his words will determine her future. They will hold a religious and dialectical duel, where the question will be if she is set free,...

Few American filmmakers of the last 40 years await a major rediscovery like Hal Hartley, whose traces in modern movies are either too-minor or entirely unknown. Thus it’s cause for celebration that the Criterion Channel are soon launching a major retrospective: 13 features (which constitutes all but My America) and 17 shorts, a sui generis style and persistent vision running across 30 years. Expect your Halloween party to be aswim in Henry Fool costumes.

Speaking of: there’s a one-month headstart on seasonal programming with the 13-film “High School Horror”––most notable perhaps being a streaming premiere for the uncut version of Suspiria, plus the rare opportunity to see a Robert Rodriguez movie on the Criterion Channel––and a retrospective of Hong Kong vampire movies. A retrospective of ’70s car movies offer chills and thrills of a different sort

Six films by Allan Dwan and 12 “gaslight noirs” round out the main September series; The Eight Mountains,...

For director Anthony Stacchi (“The Box Trolls”), re-energizing the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West” for Netflix’s animated feature “The Monkey King” meant turning the titular character into something very modern: an antihero. This was supported by executive producer Stephen Chow (“Kung Fu Hustle”), who previously directed a live-action version of “Journey to the West.”

“Stephen Chow has made a career of making heroes out of really unlikeable jerks,” Stacchi told IndieWire. “And you stick with ’em on their journey ’cause you know why they are the way they are, and you’re hoping for them to redeem themselves. So we did that here. He is a selfish, arrogant jerk from the beginning, and that way through the end. But you understand why he’s fighting for acceptance, you know where his anti-authoritarian attitude comes from.”

They also emphasized a goofy tone throughout the journey, in which Monkey King...

Guillermo del Toro was given a rock star welcome at the Annecy International Animation Festival on Tuesday as he took to the stage to discuss his life long obsession with animation.

The Oscar-winning The Shape Of Water filmmaker and producer is at the French lakeside festival this year as one of the figureheads of special a focus on Mexican animation, alongside The Book Of Life director Jorge R. Gutierrez, producer Sofia Alexander (Onyx Equinox) and Guadalajara Festival head Estrella Araiza

Having recounted his early beginnings in the genre using his father’s Super 8, del Toro said he always thought he would work mainly in animation but instead got caught in live action for close to a decade, on TV show Hora Marcada and the film Cronos and breakthrough classics such as The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth.

“Life had other plans and I didn’t come back to animation...

For his next project for Netflix, Jorge R. Gutiérrez is heading back to the world of Maya and the Three.

The Emmy and Annie-award-winning Mexican animation film director said he is in development on a new limited series that will be set in the same mythological Mesoamerican universe as his 2021 hit Netflix series Maya and the Three and that of his 2014 animated feature The Book of Life.

The project will be Gutiérrez’s third under the overall deal he and his production company Mexopolis signed with Netflix in 2020. Maya and the Three, a feminist spin on Mesoamerican mythology about a female warrior princess who embarks on a journey to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save humanity from vengeful gods, dropped in the summer of 2021 and was a global smash for the streamer. Gutiérrez is also in development for Netflix on his first-ever adult animation series: I, Chihuahua!, which the...

Mulan’s Ming-Na Wen is set to feature in a collaborative venture film between Minutehand Pictures and Hideout Pictures, Pencils Vs Pixels.

As confirmed by Variety, the venture will see Wen narrate a documentary focusing on the history of 2d animation. Outlining the aims of Pencils Vs Pixels, producer Tom Bancroft said, "Because of my 34 years in the animation industry, mostly as a Disney animator, I still meet people that ask me: 'What ever happened to 2D animation- why did it go away?' Pencils Vs Pixels finally answers that question. Through passionate stories by artisans that made the films that people still treasure today, this film will give viewers the never-before-told answers of what happened to the hand-drawn artistry that is 2D animation."

Related: Across the Spider-Verse Features a Scene Animated by a 14-Year-Old

Pencils Vs Pixels will feature animation heavyweights such as Pete Docter (Monsters. Inc) and Tina Price...

This year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival looks to break records with a wider international reach and greater studio participation than ever before. Already set to overtake last year’s attendance, the French lakeside fest, runs June 11-17 and had run up 13,300 guests by late May — among them a U.S. delegation more than 700 strong.

“[This year marks] the most important U.S. presence ever at Annecy,” says artistic director Marcel Jean. “We’re taking in historical players such as Disney, DreamWorks and Pixar who will still come, as well as global platforms such as Netflix, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery. And [we’re welcoming] a number of big titles.”

Disney, celebrating its 100th anniversary over the course of the year, plans a special screening of “Fantasia 2000” before offering Annecy’s famously boisterous and youthful crowd a first look at the upcoming animated musical “Wish.” Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery will present behind-the- scenes peeks...

Ming-Na Wen, who voiced Mulan in Disney’s animated feature of the same name, is set to narrate a new documentary titled “Pencils Vs Pixels.”

Co-directed by Bay Dariz (“Hypochondriac”) and Phil Earnest, “Pencils Vs Pixels” is a celebration of 2D hand-drawn animation.

The documentary, which will have its world premiere at Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week, will explore the Disney-led 2D animation boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s which was soon eclipsed by the dawn of computer animation. But, as the film shows, a resurgence of 2D animation suggests there is still hope for the medium.

The documentary features interviews with the great and good of the animation world including Pete Docter, John Musker (“The Little Mermaid”), Tony Bancroft (“Mulan”), Jorge R. Gutiérrez (“The Book of Life”), Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”), Glen Keane (“Beauty and the Beast”), Tina Price (“Hercules”), Lorna Cook (“Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron...

“Ahahayy!! Viva Mexico, cabrones!” With that battle cry, Academy Award-winner Guillermo del Toro announced Mexico as the Country of Honor at this year’s Annecy, France’s preeminent animation film festival.

According to organizer Pixelatl, an association dedicated to the creation and promotion of Mexico’s multimedia content, more than 250 Mexican animators and producers will descend on Annecy with nine programs scheduled.

“The Book of Life” director Jorge R. Gutiérrez, whose Netflix series “Maya and the Three” won four Emmys and an Annie, created the poster and title cards of the festival and will also be hosting a Master Class and screening of “The Book of Life.”

Del Toro’s best animated feature Oscar for his “Pinocchio” this year could not be more fortuitous and timelier for the festival, Gutiérrez observes. Aside from a special screening of “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” the maestro will also be presiding over a master class.

The Annecy Festival’s tribute to Mexico as its 2023 guest county of honor brings over 250 artists and executives to the world’s biggest animation event. Here are 10 Talents to Track emerging directors and artists among an exploding animation scene. Variety could easily have chosen another 20 more.

Sofia Alexander

Celebrated as the executive producer and creator of Crunchyroll’s first original series “Onyx Equinox,” the tale of a young Meso-American slave who becomes the last hope of saving humanity from invading gods of the underworld. On TV “I never saw Meso-American Indigenous Mexico without Spanish influence, and I wanted to connect with my roots,” says Alexander. The series is anime influenced, not just in its aesthetics – the painterly fields of Meso-America and the frenzied gory combat – but also in its being serialization, pacing and broad audience target, including adults, she argues. A freelancer for Cartoon Network, Hasbro and Nickelodeon, but “Onyx Equinox” is her major achievement.

Exclusive: Bridesmaids co-writer Annie Mumolo has signed on to co-create animated kids series Lulu and the Help You Crew.

She is working up the 3D CGI-animated show with comedian Ariane Price, a senior member of The Groundlings improv comedy sketch theater. Both had small roles in Bridesmaids, the 2011 comedy feature Mumolo co-wrote with Kristen Wiig.

They’re working closely with UK-based kids company Cake, which is leading development and production, and North American full-service studio Reel FX Animation. Cake will sell the show internationally.

The series, running to 52 11-minute eps, will target 3-5 year-olds. According to producers, it follows Lulu, an “extraordinary eight-year-old girl who lives in the multicultural melting pot of Vista Feliz with her Argentinian grandmother Abuelita and an eccentric, hilarious and perfectly imperfect crew of rescued pets: a cat, chameleon, turtle and puppy, all of whom she gave a second chance, a home and a different kind of family.