‘Coco’ Animation Artist makes debut at Cannes

Octavio Rodriguez, whose animation credits include major films and Pixar hits, is officially making his directorial debut with the upcoming animated movie On The Edge.

Rodriguez is known for his work on acclaimed animated films such as Coco, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Ron’s Gone Wrong, and Incredibles 2.

The new film project will be unveiled at the Cannes Film Market by Studio 100 Film, aiming to showcase the movie to international buyers and distributors.

On The Edge, the film Rodriguez is set to direct, is an animated action-adventure. The story follows Donnie, a cynical Cuban solenodon, who teams up with other overlooked animals on a wild heist to avoid extinction by rebranding himself as a panda.

Speaking about the upcoming film, Rodriguez shared his desire to create a boundary-pushing animated adventure that audiences will fall in love with. He envisions a mix of humour, sentiment, and high-octane action.

“It’s a story for the underdog – about resilience, survival, and finding where we truly belong,” said Rodriguez.

As an Afro-Latino in the animation industry, Rodriguez has always embraced the underdog spirit, and through this film, he reflects that journey. The film also features a heist and kidnapping central to Donnie’s mission.

“Oh, and let’s not forget – there’s a high-stakes heist/kidnapping that kicks off Donnie’s mission and leads to unexpected growth and self-discovery,” said Rodriguez.

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