Coco (2017)
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A young boy's journey into the Land of the Dead leads him to uncover the truth about his family's history and his own musical destiny.
The story
In the Mexican town of Santa Cecilia, the Rivera family maintains a strict ban on music following a family tragedy. Miguel, a 12-year-old boy who secretly loves music, dreams of becoming a musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. During the Day of the Dead holiday, Miguel accidentally breaks a family heirloom and finds a hidden truth about his lineage. When he takes his guitar to a talent competition, he is transported to the Land of the Dead. There, he must find a way to earn a family blessing to return to the living world before sunrise, while navigating a vibrant, mystical realm filled with his ancestors.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the town of Santa Cecilia, the Rivera family has banned music for generations after a patriarch left to pursue a career. Miguel, a young boy who loves music, secretly practices and eventually takes his great-great-grandfather's guitar to a talent competition. Upon playing it, he is transported to the Land of the Dead. He meets his great-great-grandfather, Héctor, who is trying to reach his daughter, Coco, before she forgets him. Miguel learns he must find a family blessing to return to the living world. He eventually reaches the mansion of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, where he discovers that Ernesto was a fraud who stole Héctor's music and identity. After a confrontation where Ernesto's crimes are exposed, Miguel and Héctor are rescued by the family. Miguel reveals the truth about Héctor's sacrifice, and the family helps him. As the sun rises, Miguel is returned to the living world, and the family's ban on music is lifted. The film ends with Miguel and the family celebrating their heritage, while Héctor is reunited with his family in the Land of the Dead.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lee Unkrich
- Writers
- Adrian Molina · writer; Matthew Aldrich · writer
- Cast and characters
- Anthony Gonzalez · Miguel; Gael García Bernal · Papá Héctor; Benjamin Bratt · Ernesto de la Cruz; Alanna Ubach · Mamá Imelda; Renée Victor · Abuelita Elena; Ana Ofelia Murguía · Mamá Coco; Edward James Olmos · Chicharrón
- Genres
- animated; fantasy
- Themes
- family; tradition; legacy; memory
- Tone and mood
- vibrant; emotional; magical
- Setting
- The Mexican town of Santa Cecilia and the Land of the Dead during the Day of the Dead holiday.
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; fantasy; cultural exploration
- Franchise connections
- Coco
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its animation, voice acting, music, visuals, emotional story, and respect for Mexican culture.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 81 · scale: 100 · review count: 48; CinemaScore · score: A+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 95% · scale: percentage
- Awards and nominations
- Best Animated Film · National Board of Review · 2017 · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the first with a nine-figure budget to feature an all-Latino principal cast.; The production team used GoPros on guitars to ensure the animation of Miguel's playing was authentic.; The character of Mamá Coco was based on a real person, María de la Salud Ramírez Caballero.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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