Disney's Coco

Film: Coco

Setting: Mexico

Produced by: Pixar

Released by: Disney

Story by: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3 and 4)

Summary:

A boy named Miguel Rivera enters a talent show for the Day of the Dead despite objections from his grandmother who is upholding the family history of banning music after their ancestor Imelda whose husband left her and her daughter Coco to pursue music. Miguel steals the guitar of the famous musician Ernesto de la Cruz after he finds a ripped photo of a man holding Ernesto’s guitar, so Miguel believes himself to be Ernesto’s descendant. However, once Miguel takes the guitar, he transitions over to the Land of the Dead. Miguel must return to the Land of the Living before sunrise or he will become dead himself, but he must first receive a blessing from a member of his family. Imelda offers Miguel her blessing, but on the condition that Miguel abandons music when he returns. Miguel refuses and searches for Ernesto to get his blessing instead.

Inspiration:

• Dia De Los Muertos - Celebrated on November 1 to honor the dead. People place altars and remembrances for family members who have passed.
• Marigold petals - thought to guide the dead back to the Land of the Living
• Ernesto de la Cruz - modeled after Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete (equivalent to Sinatra in America)
• Music - German-influenced norteno, banda, and son jarocho (Spanish and African elements), but La Llorona is a classic Mexican tune.
• La Chancla - footwear as a disciplinary tool experienced by Latin kids
• “We found whenever we were made aware of these nuances and addressed them, it helped in terms of representation, but it also just helped in terms of storytelling” - Adrian Molina, co-director
• Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo - Mexican breed of hairless dog
• Families - multigenerational matriarchies headed by an abuelita

Themes and Morals:

• Staying true to what makes you special
• “Coco is technically the story of how Miguel’s family changed because he insisted on not changing.”
• Miguel never wanted to give up music, so he defied his family to pursue his dreams
• Don’t believe every story you’re told
• Miguel’s family believed his ancestor to be a selfish musician who abandoned his family, but we later find out that it was all a misunderstanding.
• Family Culture
• Miguel starts off disrespecting the elderly and ignoring their advice, but by the end he realizes the importance of family ties and memories, and strives to keep theirs alive.
• Death
• Described as a natural continuation of life that is portrayed as colorful and cheery rather than dark and scary

Original Scenario:
Miguel discovers Hector to be his father, and Ernesto being the one to kill him and steal his songs as his own to profit from. Miguel helps to restore Hector’s reputation and expose Ernesto.

Alternate Scenario 1:
Ernesto is in fact Miguel’s great-great-great grandfather, and ended up leaving Miguel’s great-great-great grandmother to pursue music. Miguel, idoling Ernesto, fights for Ernesto and attempts to restore Ernesto’s reputation with the rest of the family.

Alternate Scenario 2:Hector wasn’t killed by Ernesto and instead left his wife and child. When Miguel figures out Hector is his related to him and the fact that Hector intentionally abandoned his family, instead of trying to get his Hector’s blessing, goes back to his grandmother, and accepts the decision to abandon music forever.