Netflix has released the first official teaser of Vivo, an animated film directed by Oscar nominee Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) and co-directed by Bradon Jeffords with new songs written and performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Netflix has acquired the global distribution rights for the movie from Sony Pictures except for China. Vivo stars Lin -Manuel Miranda as the titular Kinkajou, a cute honey bear. The film was initially scheduled to release in theatres on 4 June and with Netflix coming in the picture, it is unclear if it will premiere on the platform first.
Vivo is written by DeMicco along with the famous Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote a book for Miranda’s Tony-winning Broadway musical In the Heights.
In the teaser we see a cute little honey bear Vivo and his mentor Andres (Juan de Marcos González) spend their days playing music to the crowds in Havana Square. We can see and hear the cute Vivo tap the mic to check if it is on. The duo can be seen sharing a common love for music.
The story synopsis reads: Vivo follows a one-of-kind kinkajou (Lin-Manuel Miranda) who spends his days playing music to the crowds in a lively Havana square with his beloved owner Andrés (Juan de Marcos González). Though they may not speak the same language, Vivo and Andrés are the perfect duos through their common love of music. But when tragedy strikes shortly after Andrés receives a letter from the famous Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), inviting her old partner to her farewell concert in Miami with the hope of reconnecting, it is up to Vivo to deliver a message that Andrés never could: A love letter to Marta, written long ago, in the form of a song. Yet to get to the distant shores of Miami, Vivo will need to accept the help of Gabi (Ynairaly Simo) – an energetic tween who bounces to the beat of her offbeat drum.
As per Deadline, Miranda said, “Bringing Vivo to life has been an incredible artistic journey. I could not ask for better creative partners than Kirk, Quiara, Alex, and the entire team at Sony Animation. I’m so excited Vivo will have a home at Netflix, where kids of all ages will be able to enjoy the film’s songs and adventures again and again.”
Voice talent includes three-time Grammy-winning Latin pop legend Gloria Estefan as Marta, newcomer Ynairaly Simo as Gabi, Zoe Saldana as Rosa, Michael Rooker as Lutador, a villainous Everglades python, Brian Tyree Henry, and Nicole Byer as a pair of star-crossed spoonbills, Leslie David Baker as a Florida bus driver, and Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, and Lidya Jewett as a trio of well-meaning but overzealous scout troopers.
Producers of Vivo are Lisa Stewart, Michelle Wong, and Oscar winner Rich Moore (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph). Miranda serves as executive producer alongside Laurence Mark and Louis Koo Tin Lok.
Vivo‘s composer and executive music producer is Tony and Grammy winner Alex Lacamoire (The Greatest Showman), who has teamed with Miranda on various projects since their initial partnership on Broadway’s In the Heights.
The animated musical adventure is all set to entertain its audiences through its music.