Inside: Vivo in Spanish class. Resources for the movie on Netflix Vivo to use in Spanish class, including a Vivo movie worksheet. Vivo en la clase de español.
Author: Allison Wienhold
Published: August 9, 2021 & most recently updated on January 23, 2026.
All the Spanish teachers are excited to see a new appropriate Netflix movie set in a Spanish-speaking country. My little boys actually found this animated musical on Netflix.
As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for any level of Spanish class. The film Vivo is set in Cuba and South Florida and has a positive Afro-Latinx representation.
Vivo has great music, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Gloria Estefan. It is rumored the film is based on the life of Celia Cruz. (So that could be a fun cultural exploration and comparison for upper levels).
Vivo Movie Summary
Vivo is a new Netflix animated musical about a music-loving kinkajou (voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda) in Havana, Cuba. He embarks on a musical journey to Miami to deliver a final love song from his late owner, Andrés, to his long-lost love, Marta. With the help of Andrés’s grand-niece, Gabi, learning lessons about love, courage, and family along the way.
Who is Vivo Appropriate For?
I think this Cuban American film would work well with elementary Spanish all the way to high school World Languages. This appropriate movie is PG and an animated movie. Vivo has a run time of 1 hour and 35 minutes & can be found on Netflix. It would be a perfect film for Hispanic Heritage Month or Black History Month in your Spanish classes.
What audio and subtitles to use?
First, it all depends on your goals and level of students. The great thing about Netflix is you can easily change the language of the audio and subtitles. See how to change the audio and subtitles HERE
As always, do what works best for your classes. Here is what I personally do:
- Spanish audio & Spanish subtitles – upper-level students
- Spanish audio & English subtitles – novice level students
- English audio – exploratory Spanish or culture class
Below are resources you can use to teach the film.
(In addition to my Vivo movie guide worksheets).
*Update You now have the option to get this Vivo guide in my website shop.
My Vivo movie guide is designed for Spanish language students while watching the film Vivo in Spanish class. The movie Vivo would be perfect for Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Spanish 4, exploratory middle school Spanish, or a Latin American culture class. The differentiated options mean you could use variations of this one editable Google movie guide with all levels of Spanish you teach.
The lesson plans include discussion questions, analysis questions & answer keys. The movie guide questions follow my typical style for a Spanish class movie. Comprehension questions made my me, not AI, in chronological order.
The Afro-Latinx main characters make Vivo the perfect film to show to your Spanish students for Black History Month or Hispanic Heritage Month. You could expand to connect to cultural themes of la vida en Cuba, la Habana, family values, Cuban culture, music of Cuba including Celia Cruz.
Trailers to use for Vivo in Spanish class
First, play these videos to build interest. For lower-level classes, you could use them movie talk style, pausing, and describing in basic Spanish. Or take screenshots of the video and project them. Then have students write or discuss what they see and what they wonder. Finally, you could have students find cultural elements and then research to make predictions as well.
1st Teaser Trailer – English with Spanish Subtitles
Trailer – Vivo en español
Trailer Vivo – English
More Videos for Vivo in Spanish class
Also, for upper-level classes, you could use some of these videos in Spanish. They would be great for authentic listening comprehension related to the film.
Song – Inside your Heart – Gloria Estefan – Spanglish
VIVO (NETFLIX) Reseña y Opinión – Musical Animada
Vivo Resumen (Netflix) spoliers save for after
Authentic Readings about Vivo
Novice reading for Encanto in Spanish class – Authentic Tweet
More advanced authentic readings for Vivo in Spanish class
Vivo movie guide
If you are looking for a ready-to-go guide for every level you teach, this is Vivo movie guide for you. It includes character identification, 15 questions in English OR Spanish to use while watching, and post-viewing questions and character matching. It is the same format as many of my other popular movie guides.
NEW – Vivo personajes Slideshow
My friend Landon Wood created this character introduction slideshow specifically to go with my Vivo movie guide. It is being shared here with his written permission. Thank you, Señor Wood!
Other Spanish Film Resources
If you are not interested in Vivo, here are some other movie resources to save you time.
Other Films with Afro-Latinx Representation in Spanish class
Black History Month Movies in Spanish
More Movies for Spanish Class
- My top appropriate movies for Spanish class Blog post
- EL CAMINO DE XICO guide + blog post for Xico
- COCO guide + blog post for Coco
- FERDINAND + Ferdinand Blog post
- DORA Y LA CIUDAD PERDIDA + blog post for Dora
- PACHAMAMA + blog post for Pachamama
- SELENA + blog post for Selena
- My Movie Guide Bundle for Spanish class
If you have more resources for Vivo in Spanish class, please share in the comments and I will add them!
