I can’t remember the last animated children’s movie I saw in theaters. This movie was gorgeous. Before the movie started, there was a quick feature about the animation and design going into a scene, and to see the quality, vibrancy, and composition of it on the big screen was breathtaking. I wouldn’t even be able to comprehend that level of animation when I was a kid. To me, claymation and hand-drawn and painted animated shows and movies were already impressive enough, but you wouldn’t be able to get something quite as beautiful.

That start already put me in a very vulnerable mindset. This movie was very eye opening to me, and I hope the children who’ve watched it realize when they’re older how touching of a movie it is. I had never been into Dia de Muertos. I completely understand traditions about honoring the dead, but the skulls and makeup have always been creepy to me, so I was a little hesitant about how likable some characters would be.

I’m glad that the movie focused on the beauty. The opening story was done in bright papel picado and the practically glowing marigold petals kept the screen comfortable and celebratory. I’m not sure what children take away from this movie – possibly to follow their dreams and passions – but the whole experience was very unexpectedly emotional for me.

I wasn’t expecting such a big impact. It could be a variety of reasons, but the magnitude of death really got to me. I don’t expect that it had quite as large of an impact on the children watching, but when Coco was struggling with recalling memories and calling out for her father, or when souls whose memories hadn’t been passed down and disappeared when forgotten, I cried. As I’m typing this up, I’m tearing up as well. I’ve had a fair number of family members pass and some in critical condition in the past few years, and I didn’t realize how large of an emotional impact this film would have on me. There are so many things I wish I could have asked them about their lives that now I probably will never know, and the futility of life and memories is extremely somber.

By the end of the movie, I was a mess. I ended up sitting there until the end of the credits to wipe my tears and try to collect myself. As parents left with children who had happily seen, what to them could have been a feel good movie, my head was flooded with thoughts, and Coco has left me thinking about it for a week now. Its imagery is still fresh and Remember Me will definitely be on my mind for a while. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, it’s definitely worth watching, and so much more impactful than just a children’s movie.