The first official teaser for Sony Pictures Animation’s upcoming animated musical film titled Vivo, which Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will lead as the voice of the titular kinkajou. The teaser comes after Netflix has officially acquired the global rights to the film, which marks the latest partnership between the streamer and Sony. Check out the Vivo teaser in the player below!
According to Deadline, the license deal will be similar to Netflix’s acquisition of Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood. Sony will still retain the home entertainment and linear TV rights to all other territories (including the theatrical release in China) following its debut on the streaming service.
“Bringing Vivo to life has been an incredible artistic journey,” Miranda said in a statement. “I couldn’t 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.”
Director Kirk DeMicco added, “Inspired by the words and music of Lin-Manuel, Quiara and Alex, hundreds of artists at Sony Pictures Animation worked through uncharted and difficult times, bringing passion and beauty to every frame of the film. And as a musical, Vivo is a love letter to Latin music, and this movie couldn’t exist without the heartfelt work of our vocal talent, including Gloria Estefan, Juan de Marcos, Zoe Saldana, Brian Tyree Henry, Ynairaly Simo and many others. I speak for everyone who helped make Vivo when I say we couldn’t be happier that our film can soon be enjoyed safely by millions of families on Netflix.”
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Vivo is described as an animated musical adventure that follows a one-of-kind kinkajou (aka a rainforest “honey bear,” voiced by Miranda), who must find his way from Havana to Miami in order to deliver a song on behalf of his beloved owner and mentor Andres, which will be voiced by Buena Vista Social Club’s Juan de Marcos González.
The film is an exhilarating story about gathering your courage, finding family in unlikely friends, and the belief that music can open you to new worlds. It has an impressive voice cast led by Lin-Manuel Miranda as Vivo along with three-time Grammy-winning Latin pop legend Gloria Estefan as the love of Andres’ life, Marta and newcomer Ynairaly Simo as Andres’ grand-niece, Gabi.
Joining them are Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy) as Gabi’s mother, Rosa; Michael Rooker (The Suicide Squad) as Lutador, a villainous Everglades python; Brian Tyree Henry (Eternals) and Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) as a pair of star-crossed spoonbills; Leslie David Baker (The Office) as a Florida bus driver; and Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, and Lidya Jewett as a trio of well-meaning but overzealous scout troopers.
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Vivo is directed by Oscar nominee Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) and Brandon Jeffords (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2) from a screenplay written by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, who previously worked with Miranda on the Tony-winning musical In the Heights. It will feature original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and composed by Alex Lacamoire.
Check out Netflix’s Vivo teaser below:
