Sony Pictures Animation’s new musical adventure stars Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda as Vivo, a musically gifted kinkajou who must find his way from Havana to Miami to deliver a song to his cherished owner’s long-lost love; film hits the streamer August 6.
Sometimes, you gotta improvise! And in Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s new animated musical adventures, Vivo, it’s going to take quite a bit of improvisation if Vivo, our hero kinkajou and Gabi, our offbeat tween, have a chance to get to Miami all the way from Cuba.
Directed by Kirk DeMicco, the Oscar-nominated writer and director of The Croods, and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2), Vivo tells the story of Vivo, a musically gifted kinkajou (aka a rainforest “honey bear”) who must find his way from Havana to Miami to deliver a song to his cherished owner’s long-lost love.
The film stars Tony Award-winning Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and performs a number of new songs. Produced by Lisa Stewart (Turbo, Monsters vs. Aliens), Michelle Wong (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Hotel Transylvania 2), and Oscar-winner Rich Moore (Zootopia, Ralph Breaks the Internet), the film is written by DeMicco and Quiara Alegría Hudes (In the Heights), with visual consultation by Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049). The film’s composer and executive music producer is Tony and Grammy award-winner Alex Lacamoire (The Greatest Showman); Miranda, Golden Globe winner Laurence Mark (Dreamgirls), and Louis Koo Tin Lok (The Mitchells vs. The Machines) serve as executive producers.
In addition to Miranda, Vivo also stars Ynairaly Simo as Gabi; Zoe Saldana as Rosa; Juan de Marcos as Andrés; Brian Tyree Henry as Dancarino; Gloria Estefan as Marta; Nicole Byer as Valentina; and Michael Rooker as Lutador; in addition to Leslie David Baker; Katie Lowes; Olivia Trujillo; and Lidya Jewett.
Produced by Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind Oscar winner Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and this year's The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Vivo follows Vivo, voiced by Miranda, who spends his days playing music to the crowds in a lively square with his beloved owner Andrés (Buena Vista Social Club’s Juan de Marcos). Though they may not speak the same language, Vivo and Andrés are the perfect duo through their common love of music. But when tragedy strikes shortly after Andrés receives a letter from the famous Marta Sandoval (three-time Grammy-winning Estefan), inviting her old partner to her farewell concert with the hope of reconnecting, it’s 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 in order to get to Marta, who lives a world apart, Vivo will need the help of Gabi (Simo) – an energetic tween who bounces to the beat of her own offbeat drum to fulfill his owner’s wishes.
The film releases globally August 6 on Netflix.
Source: Netflix
