June 13, 2021 (Aquarium of Genoa)
June 18, 2021 (Disney+, United States)
March 22, 2024 (theatrical, United States)
Luca is a 2021 American computer-animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa (in his feature-length directorial debut), written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones, produced by Andrea Warren, and starring the voices of Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Marco Barricelli, Saverio Raimondo, Maya Rudolph, and Jim Gaffigan. The film is dedicated to Italian musician Ennio Morricone, who was originally considered to compose the soundtrack, but died before he was asked to do so.
Set on the Italian Riviera between the 50s and 60s, the film centers on Luca Paguro, a sea monster boy with the ability to assume human form while on land, who explores the town of Portorosso with his new best friend Alberto Scorfano, experiencing a life-changing summer. Luca takes inspiration from Casarosa's childhood in Genoa; several Pixar artists were sent to the Italian Riviera gathering research from Italian culture and environment. The sea monsters, a "metaphor for feeling different", were loosely based on old Italian regional myths and folklore. The design and animation were inspired by hand-drawn and stop motion works and Hayao Miyazaki's style. Casarosa described the result as a film that "pays homage to Federico Fellini and other classic Italian filmmakers, with a dash of Miyazaki in the mix too".
Luca premiered at the Aquarium of Genoa on June 13, 2021, and was originally set to be theatrically released in the United States on June 18, 2021. However, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released direct-to-streaming on Disney+ on the same day, along with a simultaneous limited run at the El Capitan Theatre; it was be released in theaters in countries without the streaming service. It will be released in theaters nationwide in the United States on March 22, 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its visuals, themes and sense of nostalgia.
Storyline[]
Also See[]
Sound Effects Used[]
- Hollywoodedge, Bird Seagull Four Sin PE021601 (Heard briefly during the song "Il Gatto E La Volpe".)
- Hollywoodedge, Cats Fighting Loud Sc PE917007/Hollywoodedge, Cats Two Angry YowlsD PE022601 (3rd yowl; heard once off-screen when Machiavelli attacks Luca, and 6th yowl; heard once where a cat gets jumped by Luca and Alberto, riding a bike.)
- Hollywoodedge, Crash Car Hood Glass PE111201 (Heard only in the low volume.)
- Hollywoodedge, Goat Single Short Ble AT044601
- Hollywoodedge, Lightning 08 CloseG SIG012601
- Hollywoodedge, Thin Metallic Pot Or CRT031202
- Luxo Jr. Squeaking (Used in the Pixar logo.)
- Reveille Bugle Call
- SKYWALKER, BIRD - SEAGULL CALLING (Heard 5 times in the background.)
- SKYWALKER, CLICK - LUXO JR. LIGHT CLICK
- SKYWALKER, STOMP - LUXO JR. HOPPING
- SKYWALKER, WATER - UNDERWATER SLOSHES, VARIOUS
- Sound Ideas, SQUEAK, METAL - MOVE SIDE TO SIDE