Pixar has a way of making the most fantastical of the films rooted in of realism by drawing from their personal stories or experience. That is no different with the upcoming Luca. Inspired by director Enrico Casaroda’s (the Pixar short “La Luna”) childhood, Luca is a coming-of-age fantasy set in the Italian Rivera during the summer. While we can expect some fun adventures and plenty of gelato, there are also a few unexpected underwater creatures who come to the surface to experience life as a human.
Jacob Tremblay (“Room,” “Wonder”) lends his voice to the title character, Luca Paguro, a bright and inventive 13-year-old sea monster with endless curiosity—especially when it comes to the mysterious world above the sea. And by his side is his best friend Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer), an independent, free-spirited teenage sea monster with unbridled enthusiasm for the human world.
Emma Berman as Giulia Marcovaldo, Saverio Raimondo as town bully Ercole Visconti, Maya Rudolph as Luca’s mom Daniela, Marco Barricelli as Giulia’s dad Massimo, Jim Gaffigan as Luca’s dad Lorenzo, Sandy Martin as Luca’s grandma, and Giacomo Gianniotti as a local fisherman.
“Luca” looks to be a very charming and heartwarming coming of age story, which is a departure from its most recent efforts. The style of animation also looks different as it steps away from a more grounded feel and into something that feels simple and illustrated. And it only starts to feel magical whenever Luca or Alberto make contact with water, as their sea monster reveals itself.
Of course, it will be hard to ignore the “Call Me by Your Name” and Studio Ghibli comparisons considering that “Luca” looks like it pulls from both of them. Overall, it should be another fun Pixar film that is not just colorful but is also filled with emotion.
Here is the synopsis for Luca:
Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca” is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.
Pixar’s Luca drops exclusively on Disney+ starting June 18, 2021.
