http://www.kiwithebeauty.com

Disney sure knows how to go all out. So the press activities with Disney were still in effect as we got a chance to visit the historical Olvera St. in Los Angeles. I have been to LA plenty of time but I never been to Olvera St. which is basically an area of Mexican street vendors, musics, restaurants and more. The whole entire street gives you a vibe that you just stepped into a part of Mexico. Perfect festive prelude for our Disney/Pixar dinner and interview with Anthony Gonzales.

The irony of going to Olvera Street and feeling like we were in Mexico, is that I literally was going to Mexico in a few days! I had a birthday trip coming up take I planned to go to Playa De Carmen, so what beautiful synchronicity that I got a taste of Mexico right in California before my real trip to the country. You all know I love to get festive, so I dressed up in a cute bonita-style attire for the occasion and explored the streets of Olvera before dinner. 

Olvera St is amazing. So many different vendors to choose from to buy Mexican souvenirs, clothing, toys and more! What a special hidden gem of a place located in Los Angeles!

Wow so when we go into the El Paseo reaturant, we were greated by an all female mariachi band and traditional Mexican performers. It was so beautiful to watch.

We knew we were going to eventually interview Anthony Gonzales, voice of Coco “Miguel”, but we didn’t know we was going to be apart of the performance and sing for us too! He sang one of the songs from the Coco film, ‘Remember Me”. What a cutie! He is only 12 years old, but he is very sweet, well-spoken and after his amazing performance we got to here his thoughts on his role in Coco and more!

Anthony on how he got into acting

Well actually it all started with singing.  So I started doing street performance, I started singing here.  And also my older sister auditioned for like reading in Spanish on this television show called Univision.  And she started reading books in Spanish there and then my other sister started doing reading books in Spanish as well.  And then my brother started doing it and it all came out Thursdays in the morning at six AM on channel thirty four Univision.  [LAUGHTER]  

Yeah.  And then well I would just see them on the TV reading books and I wanted to do it too.  So the reason I’m here is because my older brothers they inspired me, they inspired me to sing, they inspired me to do things I never thought I would do without them.  And well I started reading books in Spanish as well, like when I was four years old as well [LAUGHS] . And one day, when we were reading books in Spanish, a director came to the show and she told my parents, she thought we’d be very good actors, because she saw how we would do our facial expressions and everything.  

So she gave us an agent… and I’ve been with him since I was four years old. I’m just so thankful for that director and I’m so thankful for my agent.

Anthony on how he identifies himself with his character Miguel

Well, when I first went to audition for Miguel, I really wanted to do this role because well I identified myself so much with him.  And that is because we both have this passion for music.  I grew up with music, singing with my brothers here in La Placita Olvera.  And just to be part of a movie where I can sing because I’ve been doing that since I was four years old, is amazing.  So that’s one way I identify with Miguel.  

Another way I identify myself with Miguel is we both know how important our family is and we know to really do our traditions.  Just like Miguel’s tradition is to celebrate the Day of the Dead.  And I actually have celebrated the Day of the Dead as well, because my grandfather passed away when I was six years old, but well in the Day of the Dead it was a chance for me to be with him again and connect with him.  And that’s another way me and Miguel connect.

Anthony on how he believe Coco has changed people’s perspective of the Day of the Dead holiday differently 

Yeah in fact I think it’s made a big change in our community because there’s some people like people tell me, wow I didn’t even know this was a holiday.  Now I’m going to start celebrating it, because well, my father and my uncle passed away and I can be with them again and connect with them, it’s a celebration.  And yeah that’s actually my home school teacher told me that her daughter didn’t even know this happened.  And her friend passed away and then now that she knows about the Day of the Dead she can be with her friend again, which is amazing.  And I think that has been a really good change in the community.  

Anthony on his most memorable experience after filming Coco

One of them was I got to go to D23 and I had the honor to sing with the one and only Benjamin Bratt, which was so cool yeah [LAUGHS].  And I’ve gotten to go to places that I never thought I would go to like Canada and I love Canada because it’s so cold and cold… I actually never thought I would go to Pixar and I just love going to Pixar so much, because there’s like a soccer field and I love soccer. I get to play soccer every time I go there, every time on my break I got to play soccer.  And also the food there is is is delicious.

Anthony on his feeling on being a voice for a Disney character

Oh my gosh that’s just like a dream come true, that’s an honor, because I grew up watching these Disney movies, like Toy Story, I have the Woody toy and I have like a Buzz Lightyear blanket and just to be part of Disney Pixar movie is a big deal and at my age it’s just a dream come true.  And all I can do is just thank god for all the blessings he’s given me.

Anthony on his favorite scene from the Coco film

Well that’s a good question.  I have a lot of favorite scenes.  One is like I love all the scenes where Miguel is interacting with Mama Coco, I think that’s just so sweet, like I used to go like this and now we’re like this which is way faster, I love that.   [LAUGHTER] I also love when Mama and Mama Imelda agrees to tell give Miguel his blessing.  But the only condition is that he can never play music ever again, and then he says okay.  But then right when he goes back he gets a guitar and then he goes straight back to Mama again.

And another one I love is when Miguel is getting ready to sing Poco Loco and then Hector teases him about the grito and then the first time he tries it, he does horrible but then when he does it on stage, he nails it.

Anthony on what he feels other children should take from this film

Well I hope that they take really the that the Day of the Dead is not like Halloween, it’s a time for a celebration, it’s a wonderful celebration that anyone can celebrate, not just like from where- not just Mexicans can celebrate but anyone can celebrate it.  Because it’s a day where you can connect and really remember your family members that passed away.  And I think that’s what I hope that people take away from the movie.

Anthony Gonzales (Miguel) and I after the interview

Photo Credit : Disney

What a humble little soul. We had a good time with our intimate dinner and dance while interview Anthony Gonzales. The festive energy and themed Mexican experience was a great way to get to know Anthony Gonzales and prepare for the release of Disney/Pixar Blu Ray!

Disney•Pixar’s “COCO”
Crosses Over Digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 13th
and 4K Ultra HD™ & Blu-ray™ on Feb. 27th.

Social Media
Facebook: Facebook.com/pixarcoco
Website: movies.disney.com/coco
Twitter: Twitter.com/pixarcoco
Instagram: Instagram.com/pixarcoco

COCO TRAILER

About “Coco”
In Disney•Pixar’s “Coco,” Pixar Animation Studios’ 19th feature film, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt)—despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Have You Seen Coco Yet?