In just a few weeks, Disney fans will get to embark on an all-new animated adventure with the release of the coming-of-age fantasy comedy Luca, which will tell the story of a young sea monster (Jacob Tremblay) and his best friend Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) as they live an idyllic life on the Italian Riviera and explore a whole new world of possibilities.
Like almost every Disney film, Luca has valuable themes and messages for audiences of all ages, with the story primarily centering on Luca and Alberto's friendship and exploring the joys of life. But one of the most important themes may also be one of the most timely, especially in today's climate. Producer Andrea Warren explains,
"There's also an interesting theme in the film, which is that both sides kind of refer to the other as "monsters." You know, the humans say they're sea monsters, and the sea creatures say, you know, they're land monsters. And I think that is a part of the theme of the film, which is that they really aren't monsters. Neither one of them are.
And if they get to know each other more, and appreciate each other for what they are and what they can learn from each other, they'll discover they aren't monsters. So, I think that was also part of them not looking like monsters is that, ultimately, we didn't want that to be true of either side."
With the global coronavirus pandemic stealing over a year of our collective lives, Warren notes that she thinks the film and its themes may have become more meaningful to audiences over the course of these past twelve months, and now moreso than ever as restrictions are being lifted across the United States and people are able to reconnect with their loved ones once again.
"I think an interesting aspect that will be for all of us as we come out of this pandemic has stripped away so much of our lives, and I think that the question as we rebuild them, when we can, is what do we want to keep and what do we want to leave behind?
And I feel like Luca, as a film, celebrates so many of those beautiful, meaningful things in our lives, that we all want back, which is connection, family, friends, eating together. I think those are the beautiful things that we miss, and that are really a part of what this film is about. So, I hope it will help us all as we decide what pieces we want--it celebrates all of that."
Director Enrico Casarosa adds his thoughts on what he hopes will be the biggest takeaway for audiences once they see his film, and what he believes everyone at Pixar tries to achieve with each new project.
"To me, at the heart of what we do with our films, you want to move. You want to bring some joy, you want to bring some tears. You want to move, you want to bring emotion. I think especially now, my biggest hope is that we bring some joy. This is a playful movie. It's a nostalgic. So I hope it can bring some warmth, and some joy, and light. It talks a lot about wonder, and looking at the world. So, there's so many hopes I have, you know.
I hope you call your old friend that you haven't heard from in a few years, and if you're a kid, maybe take a chance on something and you're not too afraid. I was a shy kid, timid kid, and, I certainly had a lot of Brunos in my head, I still do--I think a lot of us still do. I hope there's a lot of different messages people can take away.
But I think my biggest hope is that a piece of film can bring some joy. And certainly, the ups and downs of a little roller coaster ride that I can't wait for you to fully experience."
Luca premieres, exclusively on Disney+, on June 18.