Coco and the Day of the Dead

The 2017 Disney-Pixar animated film Coco — coming to Lyric in Concert Live to Film on October 16th and 18th — is at its core a heartfelt story about family, memory, and identity. It also contains a beautiful exploration of the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Set in the fictional town of Santa Cecilia, the film follows Miguel Rivera, a 12-year-old boy with dreams of becoming a musician (despite his family's long-standing ban on music) as he journeys into the Land of the Dead. The film is widely acknowledged as a vivid and respectful homage to cherished Mexican traditions, blending family-friendly entertainment with inspiring cultural practices.

Día de los Muertos is a celebration held on November 1st and 2nd, during which families honor their deceased loved ones by building altars, called ofrendas, decorated with photos, marigolds, candles, food, and personal mementos. These offerings are meant to welcome spirits back to the world of the living for a brief, joyful reunion — traditions central to the plot and setting of Coco. Miguel’s family constructs an elaborate ofrenda in their home, featuring portraits of their ancestors. When Miguel accidentally damages the ofrenda and takes a magical guitar from a mausoleum, he crosses into the Land of the Dead — a vibrant, colorful realm where the spirits live on through the memory of their living relatives.

The film depicts the Land of the Dead as a stunning city of lights and bridges made of marigold petals, capturing both the festive and sacred nature of Día de los Muertos. Colorful alebrijes — whimsical folk creatures — fly through the air, and notable Mexican figures like Frida Kahlo appear as friendly-looking skeletons. One of the core beliefs of the holiday — that the dead live on in the memories of the living — is woven into the film’s emotional stakes. In Coco, spirits can only remain in the Land of the Dead as long as someone in the living world remembers them. If they are forgotten entirely, they disappear in what is known as the "final death." This idea is personified in the character of Héctor, a charming yet fading spirit who seeks to be remembered by his daughter, Coco — Miguel’s great-grandmother.

Through Miguel’s journey, the film addresses the importance of remembering ancestors and preserving family history. His relationship with Héctor, whom he eventually discovers to be his true great-great-grandfather, helps him realize that music is not a curse on his family, but rather a legacy of love and creativity. The emotional climax of the film — when Miguel sings “Remember Me” to the elderly Coco — captures the essence of Día de los Muertos: that memory keeps the spirit alive.

The creators of Coco consulted cultural experts, historians, and artists during its development, striving for an authentic and sensitive depiction of a sacred tradition. The film also emphasizes universal themes of identity, forgiveness, and intergenerational connection, making it accessible to audiences around the world while highlighting the richness of Mexican heritage. Coco brings Día de los Muertos to life through vibrant animation, soulful music, and a heartfelt story, honoring the holiday not as a spooky or morbid occasion, but as a joyful, reverent time of remembrance and celebration — where love endures even beyond death.