Coco 2 Should Take A Major Lesson From Inside Out 2

Pixar recently confirmed that Coco 2 is under development, with audiences set to be taken back to Mexico in 2029. The announcement has been met with a positive response from fans of the original movie, which grossed $814.3 million at the worldwide box office when it was released in 2017. However, as is the case when a sequel is confirmed for a popular film, there is always a risk that the legacy can end up being hurt.

However, Pixar has a proven track record of delivering high-quality sequels to brilliant movies, and Coco fans will hope that the same can be said for this movie in 2029. If those involved can take a key lesson from Inside Out 2, then the odds of it succeeding will only increase.

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Inside Out 2 Proved To Be A Massive Hit For Pixar

Much like Coco, the original Inside Out was heavily praised for its creativity and entertaining story that balanced a bright and colorful world with a heartfelt plot that people could connect with. That led to plenty of nerves for the sequel when it was announced, but Inside Out 2 proved to be a massive hit with audiences and critics to the point that fans are demanding a third movie be created down the line. The sequel grossed an unbelievable $1.699 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time at the point of release, proving that a sequel can end up being a hit if it’s done right.

Inside Out 2 did a great job of playing into the original movie and leaning into everything that happened in that movie while also adapting things to make it feel fresh. Pixar created various new characters and a storyline that was engaging to both young moviegoers and adults, which helped to draw tons of people into the cinema to check this out. Coco 2 will need to make similar decisions to keep growing the story, ensuring that it isn’t just being created on the cheap or making use of the already-known franchise.

Coco 2 Needs To Mature The Storyline

One of the reasons why Coco was such an entertaining movie is because it featured a heartfelt storyline that people of all ages could find something in. The plot focuses on the importance of family, heart, and wanting to live out dreams. It ensured that the movie packed an emotional punch, which is one of the reasons why Inside Out was so successful as well. However, it does create some pressure for the sequel as there is going to be a need for Pixar to mature the storyline again to make it feel even more critical, with audiences being able to connect with it.

Inside Out 2 did that perfectly through the character of Anxiety. She was an emotion that people took seriously and were impacted by, considering how much of an impact that can have on people in general life. The storyline progressed nicely, with the plot being slightly more serious while still managing to keep a fun tone that appealed to younger fans, which was key to making it a successful animation.

Miguel Could Be Older In Coco 2

At this point in time, there is absolutely nothing known about Coco 2 outside of its release year, but it is widely expected that the majority of the characters from the original movie will be returning in some capacity. Miguel was the lead role in the 2017 movie, and he should be in the same spot again moving forward as audiences have a connection to him and the music that he’s able to play. In the original, he was young and slightly naïve at times, which worked in his favor, and the same can be said of Riley in Inside Out. However, the reason that the sequel worked is that she was slightly older in the sequel and was, therefore, able to convey different emotions and add another layer of storytelling. It made sense because the target audience has grown up with Riley and, therefore, is experiencing the same things she is in the film, while older viewers have been in those shoes at different stages of their lives.

This is a crucial lesson that Pixar must implement into Coco 2, as there is no point in having the sequel immediately after the original, as there’s no room for character growth. The sequel would be able to move the plot along in a much more compelling way if it skipped a few years and allowed Miguel to grow up. He could develop even more, learn further family values, and connect with others while embracing his love of music. It will allow him to be a more fleshed-out lead character, and having Coco 2 be even more emotional would only help with that.