El Americano: The Movie

El Americano: The Movie, also released under the title Americano, is a 2016 animated family film. It was produced by Animex Producciones, Olmos Productions, and Phil Roman Entertainment, with direction from Ricardo Arnaiz and former Disney animator Mike Kunkel. The project marks the first major animated co-production between studios in Mexico and the United States, and it also represents Animex’s first international venture and its first computer-generated (CG) feature.

The voice cast is largely made up of Hispanic American and Mexican actors, led by Rico Rodriguez, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin, Kate del Castillo, Paul Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias, Erik Estrada, and Lisa Kudrow. The story follows Cuco, a young Mexican parrot who prefers imitating his television superhero, El Americano, to helping with chores at his family’s bird circus. When a gang of bully birds attacks the circus and threatens his ringmaster father, Cuco travels to Hollywood to recruit his hero, only to discover his own inner strength.

The film was released in Mexico on January 22, 2016, in both Digital 3D and 2D formats, distributed by Cinépolis Distribución. Critical reception was mixed to negative, and it performed poorly at the box office, earning $587,592 against a $4 million budget. Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment Group later released it direct-to-video and on VOD in the United States on June 13, 2017, under the title Americano. FilmSharks International acquired the international rights.

Production began in January 2011, after director Ricardo Arnaiz sought an American co-production following the disappointing box office of his earlier film Nikté in Mexico. The plot idea originated from producer Gerry Cardoso, who suggested birds traveling from Spain to Mexico; Arnaiz changed the setting to the United States, aiming to tell a story about borders as mere lines on a map. Actor Edward James Olmos, a fan of Arnaiz’s earlier work, joined the production team and voice cast after reading the script. The film was presented at Ibero Puebla on September 26, 2013, with new screenshots and clips. Olmos recorded his voice before animation began, and many cast members acted out their roles prior to recording. It is Animex’s most expensive film, exceeding 29 million pesos. The film was completed in late 2015.