A sympathetic character came to the cinema, Lilo, a singing crocodile and the young Canadian composer Shawn Mendes took on the task of interpreting the catchy musical themes to which he gives voice. The experience was very enriching for him, but, as he himself declared; “Hearing your own voice coming out of an animated character’s mouth is a very rare experience.”

Do you give the floor to Lilo, what is the particularity of this character?

Other main characters tend to seek success or fame, but Lilo just wants to have a family, she wants to feel at home and connect with people, which I find very beautiful. I think that’s what makes it so endearing and endearing.

What attracted you to this character and to taking the step of composing music?

It is a huge animal, with a gentle and sweet spirit. I like. I feel like we have a soul mate. It’s great to have the opportunity to create something that affects children and teenagers, it’s something precious.

He had the opportunity to see his music come to life with this character. How did you react when you saw Lilo sing?

Hearing your own voice coming out of an animated character’s mouth is a very rare experience. On the one hand, you recognize your voice, but you also realize that it is something completely different from what you expect. The funny thing is that the animators recorded my facial expressions while I was singing in the studio. There are a few times when something happens to Lilo and she pulls such faces that I couldn’t help but say, “That one! It’s the same face I would have made!” It was very fun and interesting.

How would you describe Lilo’s love for music and how it helps her communicate?

Lilo sings because that’s what she likes to do. Love music. We feel that music is their language. It’s the way he communicates with the humans in the movie, something I can relate to as well. I think he does it as a way to convey his love, something similar to how we humans make music. When something comes from your heart, you can only convey sincerity and love.

Lilo is not even an ordinary pet, in fact, she is like a fish out of water. Does it make the film more comical and its character more empathetic?

The film is extremely funny because of his relaxed attitude as a crocodile. There are times when he lets out loud roars, although he does so for the thrill, not with the intention of scaring anyone. I like.

The music is part of the film and he collaborated on it with several renowned composers.

Yes, with Paul and Pasek, they are geniuses and great collaborators. They tried at all times to connect and tell my truth. You don’t realize it because it’s all tied to the movie and there’s a lot to digest at the same time. It’s easy to overlook how intricate and well done these songs are, how amazing the lyrics are, and how much effort has gone into them. It was a real honor, a privilege to be able to work with them, I think they are two of the heavyweights of their generation.