Pixar's Luca: An Animated Love Letter to the Italian Riviera

On June 18, 2021, Pixar Animation Studios debuted 'Luca', a coming-of-age tale set along the Italian Riviera, exclusively on Disney+. Directed by Enrico Casarosa, the narrative centers on a young sea monster named Luca, who, alongside his companion Alberto, aspires to own a Vespa and discover the world above the waves while concealing their true natures. Casarosa's childhood experiences in Genoa and the Cinque Terre heavily inspire the film, which showcases a painterly aesthetic influenced by Renaissance maps and Japanese art. The soundtrack features Italian hits from the 1950s-60s by Quartetto Cetra and Mina. The voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Italian actors like Luca Argentero and Giacomo Gianniotti. Casarosa, an alumnus of the School of Visual Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology, joined Pixar in 2002 and previously directed the Oscar-nominated short 'La Luna'.