With VIVO, writer/director KIRK DeMICCO brings to life the heartwarming tale of Vivo, a one-of-kind kinkajou (aka rainforest “honey bear”) who fills his days playing music in a bustling and charming Havana square with his best friend/owner/human parent Andres. An animated musical adventure, VIVO will have your heart smiling from beginning to end, as well as shedding a few happy and sad tears along the way. Thanks to the musical talents of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film is filled with songs that will have you tapping your toes, dancing in your seats, and singing along to catchy refrains, all capturing the energy and adventure of VIVO! But then there’s all of the adventure when Vivo meets up with Miami-based tween Gabi and the two set out on the journey of a lifetime to deliver a musical love letter to the renowned Marta Sandoval.
Setting VIVO apart from the animated pack is that VIVO is a musical in the truest sense of the word with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs and their lyrics doing exactly what songs were designed to do back in Hollywood’s musical heyday at MGM – substitute for dialogue and capture emotion. MGM’s Arthur Freed would be dancing in the aisles with this film. (The irony is that this is Sony’s first animated musical and home to Sony is the old MGM studio lot in Culver City, California.)
A perfect example of the power of music in animation, the animation and visual design is nothing short of WOW! Acclaimed cinematographic master Roger Deakins is onboard as a cinematographic consultant on VIVO and it shows. This entire film is lit and shot like a live-action musical film and structured like a Hollywood film presentation in the Golden Age. The visuals are glorious. And talk about color. Dazzling.
I spoke at length in this exclusive conversation with writer/director KIRK DeMICCO talking all things VIVO and Kirk’s own adventure in telling this award-worthy musical tale, including:
- inspiration for the story of VIVO and how it found its way to Kirk
- making an animated musical like a real Hollywood musical in style, design, and presentation
- the architecture of a movie musical
- working with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the importance of the song lyrics to story
- melding Alex Lacamoire’s score with Miranda’s musical book
- lighting and lensing and Roger Deakins
- animation styles
- importance and use of color
- voice casting
- sound design and mix
- and more. . . . .
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview August 3, 2021
VIVO is available globally on Netflix on August 6, 2021
