The first trailer for Luca, the highly anticipated next feature from Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios, centers on the flourishing friendship of two boys over a summer in the Italian Riviera. They encounter characters of all types, explore fascinating landscapes and, basically, have the time of their lives. It looks exactly like the kind of delightful movie the world needs right now.

Pixar is well known for its heartwarming animated films that are adored by viewers and critically praised. Coming on the tails of December’s Soul, the winner of the Best Animated Feature Film Academy Award in 2021, Luca arrives at a time when Pixar fans are clamoring for more. Somehow, the teams at Pixar have an uncanny ability to strike right to the heart of viewers. Each release from the studio is surrounded by plenty of buzz, with moviegoers obsessing over every bit of news, trailer, or image released, and Luca is no exception.

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The movie is directed by Enrico Casarosa, who has worked in the art department at Pixar for huge titles like Ratatouille, Coco, and Up, so it’s clear this movie is going to be gorgeous. Casarosa, who also wrote and directed the 2011 Pixar short La Luna, says the movie is especially close to his heart because he grew up in the area in which it’s set – the Italian Riviera.

Everything We Know About Luca’s Story

Luca follows the unlikely friendship between two boys having the summer of their lives, getting up to all sorts of hijinks. But there’s one problem: They both turn into sea monsters when they come into contact with water. This will likely be an issue during summer in an idyllic beachside town in a culture that celebrates the “myths” of heroes killing sea monsters. The film shows Luca and Alberto as they discover a whole new world above the water’s surface, make new friends, and visit the idyllic nearby town of Portorosso – which is full of humans who coincidentally, regretfully hate sea monsters.

According to the official film synopsis, “set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta, and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface.”

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Coming-of-age stories have been somewhat of a focus for Pixar, with some of its biggest hits including Up, Brave, Coco, and Onward. Luca continues this exploration of youth with a touching new story between three new friends in a new part of the world, with each of the three main characters having their own path to explore, from learning to embrace their own identity, making friends and triumphing over a bully, and coming to terms with being able to rely on other people. The extended cast isn’t ignored in terms of character development, either, with Luca’s parents, Giulia’s father, and the townspeople of Portorosso all going through surprising life- and perspective-changing events.

Luca’s Cast & Characters

The title character from Luca is voiced by Jacob Tremblay (Room, Wonder), while his rambunctious new best friend is voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer (IT). Over the course of the film, the two boys/sea monsters befriend a girl from Portorosso called Giulia – somewhat of an outsider – who will be voiced by newcomer Emma Berman. Luca’s parents will also feature in the film, voiced by Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids, Away We Go) and Jim Gaffigan (Chappaquiddick, American Dreamer).

There is also an extended cast of supporting characters voiced by a diverse range of actors, including: Saverio Raimondo as Ercole, a rival to the three friends; Giacomo Gianniotti as Giacomo; Giuseppe Russo as Ciccio; Sandy Martin as Luca’s Grandma; and Marco Barricelli as Massimo, Giulia’s gruff father. John Ratzenberger is also expected to appear in a small part, given he’s appeared in nearly every movie Pixar from Toy Story to Soul.

Luca’s Release Date

Pixar has announced the release date for Luca to be June 18, 2021. A northern-hemisphere summertime release matches well with the movie’s own seasonal time and, from the look of what’s been teased so far, the playground of the Italian Riviera inhabited by the characters. The movie will release exclusively on Disney+ on June 18, and will not require the payment of a premium access fee.

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Luca’s Trailer

The teaser trailer for the film Luca reveals many intriguing hints for how the friendship between the three main characters will progress and perfectly teases the inevitable complication of the boys turning into sea monsters when in water. The movie will bring to life in spectacular animation the beautiful region of Italy’s Cinque Terre and the fictional town of Portorosso in which it’s set. This delightful world is clearly full of interesting characters who will help tell the touching story of Luca.

Key Release Dates
  • Luca (2021)Release date: Jun 18, 2021
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About The Author


Mitch Brook
(75 Articles Published)

Mitch Brook is Features Editor for film and TV at Screen Rant. He’s a writer and editor with a history in a range of media, including as editor for travel and lifestyle titles. The movies he always comes back to are Little Women (2019), Orlando, A Single Man, and The Lord of the Rings.

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