"The Book of Life."

Guillermo del Toro, the producer behind "Kung Fu Panda 2," "Rise of the Guardians" and "Puss in Boots" among many other films, is currently working on "The Book of Life," directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez. Here is the first trailer:


The film is being produced by Twentieth Century Fox Animation working with Reel FX Creative Studios.


In "The Book of Life," Manolo (Diego Luna) is a young man who faces that eternal movie dilemma: doing what his father (Hector Elizondo) and grandfather (Danny Trejo) expect and becoming a bullfighter or pursuing his dreams of becoming a musician.


Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Christina Applegate, Ron Perlman and Opera legend Placido Domingo all contribute voices. "The Book of Life" premiers in the US on October 17, 2014, and in the UK on the 24th October 2014.


The official synopsis from the studio:

From producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez comes an animated comedy with a unique visual style. THE BOOK OF LIFE is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, THE BOOK OF LIFE encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.

The stills make the animation appear to be softer than much of the current CGI films on the market. It may not be hand-drawn, but it has a smoother look to it than many of the blockbusters, with colors that are not quite so glaring. It might be a nice change of pace this fall.


2020