Now available on Disney+, original film Disney*Pixar’s LUCA, is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides.

Note: This post is in partnership with Disney+. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

My Review

I had the chance to screen LUCA and enjoyed it. The storyline is simple but relatable with issues of a child's independence, forming friendships and dealing with life's challenges.

Besides the storyline, families will enjoying watching the animation of LUCA. While it does have the brightness and color of other Disney*Pixar films, it's on a different level and an unexpected plus, especially the under water scenes.

Luca is a great film for families to enjoy together.

Fun Facts for Disney and Pixar's LUCA

BEST FRIENDS

The character of Alberto is inspired by director Enrico Casarosa’s own childhood best friend, also named Alberto.

SCALE IT BACK

Sea monster Luca has 3,436 scales on his body.

GETTING IN SHAPE

Artists gave Giulia a distinct look, embracing triangle shape language—particularly in her hair and pants.

CAMEO

Director Enrico Casarosa provides the voice of the winning card player in Portorosso who shouts “Scopa!” He is also the fisherman in the boat who yells to a speeding boat, “What’s wrong with you, Stupido!”

OUT OF CONTROL

There are 221 and 223 individual controls in Luca’s and Alberto’s mouths, respectively, to help animators create the rounded mouth expressions they use throughout the film.

FISHY BUSINESS

One of Luca’s chores on his underwater family farm is herding goatfish. There are several real-life species of goatfish—some found in waters off the coast of Italy.

KEEPING IT LOCAL

All of the background kid voices in the film were recorded by local children in Italy.

HIDDEN GEMS ON THE BALL

The iconic yellow, red and blue Pixar ball can be spotted on a rooftop as the Portorosso Cup bike race gets underway.

PRODUCTION DELIZIOSO!



Filmmakers traveled to Italy to research the local culture, architecture and overall feeling of the film’s setting. Food was a welcome highlight of their research. Director Enrico Casarosa, who’s a native of Italy, even treated team members to dinner at his parents’ house in Genoa.

SYNOPSIS

Luca shares summer 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.

The voice cast features Jacob Tremblay as Luca Paguro, Jack Dylan Grazer as Alberto Scorfano, 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.

Pixar Animation Studios’ 24th feature film is directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (“La Luna”) and produced by Andrea Warren (“Lava,” “Cars 3”). Award-winning composer Dan Romer (“Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Maniac”) created the score.