Disney-Pixar’s new animated film “The Good Dinosaur” hit theaters today — just in time for the long, holiday weekend. The movie answers the question “What if dinosaurs never became extinct?” by following the journey of an Apatosaurus named Arlo and his human friend Spot as the dino confronts his fears and learns what he is really capable of. The flick features the voices of Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Steve Zahn, Anna Paquin, Sam Elliott and Raymond Ochoa.
Ochoa completely enjoyed lending his voice to adorable green dinosaur Arlo. “I just saw the movie the other day — and it was incredible,” the 14-year-old told Headlines & Global News during an exclusive interview. “It was very overwhelming to watch myself, especially as a dinosaur.”
The young actor has been working in showbiz since he got cast in his first commercial — at just four and a half years old! — sort of by accident. “My brothers were at an audition, and I went with them because my mom didn’t actually have a babysitter,” recalled Ochoa. “The casting director saw me and asked, ‘Does he work?’ My mom was like, ‘No.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, just bring him in.’ I auditioned and actually booked it! Ever since then, I knew that what I wanted to do with my life was act.”
Commercials (JCPenney, Betty Crocker, Chevrolet), television roles (“Cold Case,” “10 Items or Less,” “Pair of Kings”) and voice-over work in films (“A Christmas Carol”), TV programs (“Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III”) and video games (Dash Parr in several Disney games) soon followed. Quickly, the San Diego native was working just as much as his older brothers Rick, Ryan and Robert.
Before you shot “The Good Dinosaur,” what was your favorite Pixar movie?
I love all Pixar films, but mainly “The Incredibles.” I love superheroes. When it involves people of super strength or people who can fly, I love that. So Dash is able to have super speed, and it’s an entire family that just had super powers. It just really intrigued me, and the entire idea was amazing to me. I’ve been waiting for the second movie for so long. Eventually, they finally decided to do it, which I’m excited for. I’m going to be there opening night!
In addition to acting, you have a singing group with your brothers, Ochoa Boyz. Do you enjoy working with them?
I do. That’s why we actually started our music group. We’re so close and wanted to do something together. I love working with them. My oldest brother Ricky writes all of our songs and we kind of pitch in with our ideas as well. We have enough songs to form an album right now, but we want to have songs that we’re all very confident about. We think our music has evolved from when we started. Our goal is to be signed by a record label that we want.
For more on Raymond Ochoa, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
