Check Out The New Trailer And Poster For Disney And Pixar's Luca

Disney Pixar closed out 2020 with the release of the Jamie Foxx-starring "Soul," and "Raya and the Last Dragon" is barely in the rearview, yet here we are — gearing up the hype machine for the next burgeoning CG-animated classic. We hope you've had a chance to catch your breath, because Disney Pixar's next film — the sea monster story, "Luca," just dropped its first full trailer and poster — and everything looks stunning.

"Luca" is set in an Italian seaport town. It follows two young boys (who are actually sea monsters), who use their power to appear human when dry to explore Italy, its people, and its culture. Of course, there's a catch: The people living in the town hunt sea monsters, so it's critical that our heroes remain incognito. We have a funny feeling shenanigans will ensue — call it a hunch.

In this latest trailer, we see Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) and his friend Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer) excitedly participating in human society, befriending Giulia (Emma Berman), riding on Vespas, and generally experiencing what it is to be human. The poster explores the parallels between the undersea world and the world above, especially as it pertains to family, but it's the trailer that really tells us what we're in for.

While the story of "Luca" is inspired by elements of Italian culture and folklore, it's interesting to see all the other stories that Pixar's latest draws from. Obviously, "Luca" is a classic coming-of-age story, in which experiencing life as a human is at least partially about growing up and discovering who you are, not unlike another Disney film — "The Little Mermaid."

Ariel isn't the only mermaid "Luca" reminds us of, either. In the trailer, we see that Luca and Alberto turn back into sea monsters if they get wet, and that is straight out of the classic Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah film "Splash," in which Hannah plays a mermaid who can appear human as long as she stays dry. Funny enough, "Splash" just so happens to be available to stream on Disney+.

While the animation style is fresh, so much of "Luca" is classic Pixar. The undersea world is reminiscent of "Finding Nemo," the exploration of "monsters" is straight out of "Monsters Inc.," and focusing on a specific nation's culture (Italy, in this case), is pure "Ratatouille."

"Luca" debuts in theaters and on Disney Plus June 18, 2021