Disney-Pixar has revealed the first official image from the upcoming animated film Luca.
Released by Empire magazine, the image shows Luca and his friend Alberto hanging out in a small town on the Italian Riviera. Although they appear to be regular boys on dry land, the pair are really sea creatures who decide to spend one summer experiencing life in the human world on the coast of Italy, befriending a human girl along the way.
Luca was written by Jesse Andrews (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) and Soul co-writer Mike Jones. It was directed by Enrico Casarosa, making his feature debut after helming Disney-Pixar's Oscar-nominated 2011 animated short La Luna. According to Casarosa, Luca pays homage to the works of classic Italian filmmakers like La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2 director Federico Fellini. He also cited Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli as influences.
"I was born in Genoa, and my summers were spent on beaches," Casarosa explained. "I met my best friend when I was 11. I was really shy and I found this troublemaker of a kid who had a completely different life. I wanted to make a movie about those kinds of friendships that help you grow up."
These comments build on the statement Casarosa issued when Luca was first announced, saying "This is a deeply personal story for me, not only because it’s set on the Italian Riviera where I grew up, but because at the core of this film is a celebration of friendship. Childhood friendships often set the course of who we want to become and it is those bonds that are at the heart of our story in Luca. So in addition to the beauty and charm of the Italian seaside, our film will feature an unforgettable summer adventure that will fundamentally change Luca."
Episode 2 of Inside Pixar, a docuseries on Disney+ that premiered in November 2020, focused on character designer Deanna Marsigliese and provided the first look at Luca and Alberto's sea monster form in the film. A month later, at Disney's Investor Day, audiences got a sneak peek at finished footage from Luca. However, those clips have yet to be officially released online.
Directed by Enrico Casarosa, Luca arrives in theaters June 18, 2021.
Source: Empire Magazine