Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua know a thing or two about the Day of the Dead. The director of the new animated film The Book of Life and his wife who was a character designer for the film got engaged and married on el dia de los muertos.

So it only fits that their first big studio theatrical film be inspired by it. They tell us what day of the dead means to them and how they hope to pass on its meaning to others.

The Book of Life comes out October 17th.

Jorge R. Gutiérrez is an animator, painter, writer and director who created the multiple Annie and Emmy award winning animated television series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera for Nickelodeon.

Sandra Equihua is an illustrator, painter, and animated character designer.