Finding Home Again: Xochitl Gomez and Tiago Martinez on Siblings, Moving, and The Cat in the Hat

The two young actors who lend their voices to the film ‘The Cat in the Hat’ talk about moving, mood swings, and finding your sibling again

Every parent is familiar with the tension of the car ride after a big relocation. The moving boxes sealed, familiar playgrounds and old friends are miles away in the rearview mirror, and someone in the backseat is feeling undeniably low.

Transitions are messy, emotional territory for any household—and that’s precisely where the animated adaptation of The Cat in the Hat anchors its story.

Siblings Gabby and Sebastian find themselves suddenly uprooted and planted in an unfamiliar neighborhood. For older sister Gabby, the shift means mourning the life left behind: her circle of friends and her beloved marching band. Meanwhile, her younger brother, Sebastian, takes on an earnest mission: doing everything in his power to bring a smile back to her face.

It’s an experience countless parents have watched unfold in their own living rooms, and according to the young stars lending their voices to the characters, that relatable family truth is the heart of the film.

Photo from Warner Brothers

Giving Kids the Space to Feel Their Feelings

For Xochitl Gomez, who voices Gabby, the honesty of the script immediately stood out.

“She’s dealing with a new move. She’s dealing with new things that she’s never dealt with before, entering a new home and a new town, Xochitl shares. “Basically, she’s feeling pretty bummy.”

Refreshingly, Gabby isn’t scolded or dismissed for her slump. Instead, Gabby is allowed to sit in her feelings, even testing the Cat’s antics the way kids often do when they aren’t entirely ready to let go of their griefGriefThe deep sadness that follows the loss of a loved one, which children experience differently from adults. Parents can help by using honest, simple words, allowing tears and questions, keeping.

“I especially enjoy that she’s testing the Cat a little bit,” she adds—a gentle reminder to parents that sulking isn’t always rebellion; sometimes it’s just processing.

Photo from Warner Brothers

The Little Brother Who Refuses to Give Up

Voicing younger brother Sebastian, Tiago Martinez found an immediate kinship with his character’s sunny resilienceResilienceThe ability to bounce back from setbacks, disappointment, and stress. Children build it through supportive relationships, chances to solve problems, and adults who show that mistakes are part of learning.

“Sebastian is adventurous and positive, and always ready for a challenge, and I feel the same way when I’m talking to other people,” Tiago says.

Yet beneath the lighthearted energy lies a poignant emotional thread. Sebastian simply misses his sister. Xochitl notes that the two have temporarily “lost their sibling dynamic.” Gabby has pulled back into her shell, growing distant and moody, but Sebastian refuses to let the door stay closed, constantly finding ways to invite her back into his world.

For parents, watching an older child withdraw during a difficult chapter while a younger sibling persistently tries to reconnect is a familiar, often heartbreaking balance. Seeing that persistence gently rewarded on screen offers a comforting message of reassurance.

Photo from Warner Brothers

Finding Perspective Amid Big Transitions

Picking up beyond the boundaries of the original Dr. Seuss classic, the film follows the Cat on a high-stakes mission: if he can’t restore the children’s spirits, he faces real consequences. Along the journey, Gabby and Sebastian encounter a lively ensemble of new faces—including Waffles, Sebastian’s sassy goldfish who finally gets a voice, and the boisterous Things, whose slap-and-stomp antics provide plenty of shared sibling laughter.

Yet beneath the visual humor and Dr. Seuss whimsy is a lesson in resilienceResilienceThe ability to bounce back from setbacks, disappointment, and stress. Children build it through supportive relationships, chances to solve problems, and adults who show that mistakes are part of learning that resonates across generations.

“All of us go through changes, and that can cause negative feelings,” Xochitl reflects. “Something that can ease the way during tough times is a change in perspective.”

It Takes a Village—On and Off Screen

Navigating big changes isn’t easy for kids, and as Xochitl discovered, it wasn’t entirely simple stepping into animation either. To help her find her footing in a bare studio, directors Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni stepped up from the sidelines, reading every other role aloud so she had an emotional anchor to play against.

“It was very similar to working on green screen,” Xochitl explains. “You don’t have the world around you, so you just hope that the people that you’re working with really do help you get there.”

It serves as a fitting metaphor for parenting through family upheaval. When a child’s entire world is packed away in boxes, they don’t need perfection. They simply need the people around them to hold steady, keep knocking on the door, and help play the parts until life feels full and familiar once again.

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