Book of Life - Movie Trailer

MPAA Rating: PG, for mild action, rude humor, some thematic elements and brief scary images
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Fantasy
Cast:  Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, Zoë Saldana, Ice Cube, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, Kate del Castillo, Cheech Marin, Placido Domingo, Hector Elizondo, Ana de la Reguera
Director: Jorge R. Gutierrez
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release: October 17, 2014

The Book of Life - Official Synopsis

An animated comedy with a unique visual style, The Book of Life is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart.  Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, The Book of Life encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future. 

The Book of Life - Fun for Families

The Book of Life animation and story are reminiscent of the Mexican holiday known as the Day of the Dead. The imagery as well as the Latin setting and characters immerse viewers into a fantastic world and reflect the festive colors and designs often seen in Day of the Dead celebrations and decorations.

We often think of Day of the Dead as kind of a Mexican version of Halloween, and they both fall on October 31. However, Day of the Dead is more of a celebration specifically honoring those who have passed.

Have fun teaching kids about Day of the Dead by making some Pan de Muerto, bread that has bone-like decorations or has a skeleton hiding inside it somewhere. You can also print out Day of the Dead skulls for kids to decorate. The skulls used to decorate for Day of the Dead celebrations are decorated with beautiful colors and designs, and they are the perfect craft to spark creativity and teach about a different culture.

The Book of Life - What to Know Before You Go

Many young children are frightened or confused by the thought of death or dying. In fact, many kids go through a phase where they may talk or ask about death frequently and become overly concerned about the possibility that they or a loved one could die.

Since death and the after life are main topics and themes throughout the movie, it may spark some difficult questions for some kids, or exacerbate some fears in others. Depending on your child, the movie may even be a good springboard to discuss the idea of death or explain your own family's beliefs about death and what comes next.