Coco 2 is officially confirmed. The animated musical that celebrated the Day of the Dead won two Academy Awards for best animated feature and best original song (“Remember Me”) is in the early stages of development. Disney CEO Bob Iger made the reveal during an investment meeting with shareholders. He also announced that the film reunites Coco director Lee Unkrich and Co-Director Adrian Molina, and they will be joined by Oscar-winning producer Mark Nielsen (Toy Story 4, Inside Out 2).  

Not much was revealed about the sequel’s plot, the film is in early development after all. The announcement does explain a few things, though, like why Molina stepped away from his directorial debut with Elio.

Despite the lack of details, Iger said “While the film is just in the initial stages, we know it will be full of humor, heart and adventure. And we can’t wait to share more soon.”

Though Coco was a joyous celebration of Mexican culture, it was not without some controversy. In 2023, before the film was released, the studio filed a request to secure “Día de los Muertos” / “Day of the Dead” across many different platforms. Needless to say that this attempt at appropriation was met with significant backlash. Though, they were in the midst of producing Coco at the time — back then it was titled “The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dia de los Muertos” — they eventually pulled with request.

Coco‘s success set the bar high for the sequel. Now audiences will be interested in seeing where characters like Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) are in their lives since he helped reunite Coco with her father, Hector (Gael García Bernal). And the film was a commercial and critical hit, so it’s no wonder that Pixar might want to revisit the world that they’ve created. The film also featured the voices of Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía, and Edward James Olmos.

Additionally, the film has had a lasting cultural impact that goes far beyond just the movie theater and rewatches at home. Disney brought the Coco experience to life at the Hollywood Bowl. Other adaptations include celebrating Day of the Dead at Disney California Adventure Park with the characters from the film. What’s more, Disney is currently developing a Coco themed attraction.

Though this is another sequel in a long line of Pixar sequels, hopefully the studio can continue to deliver quality storytelling and animation. As the film continues to develop, more details on plot, casting, music, and released date will be revealed. So now it is just a wait and see game.