Coco (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The main setting is Santa Cecilia, a fictional vibrant Mexican town known for its colorful streets and rich musical heritage. The story also takes place in the Land of the Dead, an enchanting yet perilous afterlife where skeletal spirits reside. These two settings are connected through the Day of the Dead celebration, which forms the emotional core of the film's world-building.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening scene immediately establishes Santa Cecilia as a place where music once flourished but is now forbidden.

• santa cecilia
• mexico
• land of the dead
• setting
• mexican town

The movie is set in present-day Mexico, specifically around the time of the Day of the Dead celebration (Día de los Muertos). This contemporary setting allows the film to explore how modern families grapple with traditional cultural practices and the concept of remembering ancestors. The juxtaposition of present-day life with ancient traditions highlights the film's themes of heritage and memory.

• present day
• day of the dead
• mexico
• time period
• modern

The Land of the Dead is depicted as a vibrant, multi-layered underworld filled with skeletal spirits who maintain their personalities and memories from life. It features a tiered society where more famous and remembered individuals live in grander areas, while those forgotten by the living fade away. The setting balances whimsy with peril, as those who aren't remembered by any living relative face permanent extinction.

Foreshadowing: Miguel's discovery of the alebrije spirit guide reveals early on that the dead can communicate with the living.

• land of the dead
• afterlife
• skeletons
• underworld
• realm

Music serves as the central theme of the film, representing passion, connection, and legacy. It acts as a bridge between the living and the dead, allowing characters to express emotions and confront their pasts. For Miguel, music represents his deepest passion and his way of connecting with his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, while also becoming the means by which he reconnects with his family history.

Foreshadowing: The opening number establishes that music was once the heart of Miguel's family before the ban.

• music
• passion
• legacy
• musician
• dreams

Family is portrayed as a pivotal theme, exploring the bonds that tie generations together. The film highlights the tension between individual dreams and familial expectations through Miguel's conflict with his family. Ultimately, Coco emphasizes that honoring and remembering family history is essential for personal identity and emotional wellbeing. The resolution shows that family traditions can evolve to embrace individual passions while maintaining core values.

Foreshadowing: The Rivera family's strict prohibition against music hints at a deeper historical wound that the film gradually reveals.

• family
• bonds
• ancestors
• traditions
• generations

Remembrance is depicted as what keeps loved ones alive, with the film showing that true death occurs when no one in the living world remembers a person. The Day of the Dead celebration serves as the mechanism for honoring ancestors, with families creating altars (ofrendas) with photos and offerings. The film conveys that remembering those who came before us fosters connection, love, and a sense of belonging across generations.

Foreshadowing: The character of Coco herself embodies this theme, as her memories are what keep her father's spirit alive.

• remembrance
• memory
• day of the dead
• ancestors
• forgotten

Miguel is a passionate and determined young boy from the Rivera family who dreams of becoming a musician despite his family's generations-long ban on music. He is characterized by his courage, resourcefulness, and deep love for music, which drives him to defy his family's rules. His journey through the Land of the Dead reveals his true family history and helps him understand the importance of honoring his ancestors while pursuing his dreams.

Foreshadowing: Miguel's homemade guitar and secret practice of music are visible from the opening scenes.

• miguel
• protagonist
• musician
• dreams
• young boy

Ernesto de la Cruz is presented as a legendary musician and Miguel's idol, known for his charismatic stage presence and famous songs. He appears as a successful star in the Land of the Dead, living in grand style. However, his true nature is revealed to be deceitful and ruthless, he stole music from his partner Héctor and betrayed those close to him for fame. His character serves as a cautionary tale about the costs of ambition and the corrupting influence of fame.

Foreshadowing: Ernesto's mansion contains memorabilia that hint at his questionable rise to fame.

• ernesto de la cruz
• musician
• fame
• celebrity
• ambition

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican tradition depicted in the film where families honor their deceased relatives by creating altars (ofrendas) with photos, favorite foods, and mementos. In the movie's world, this celebration allows spirits in the Land of the Dead to briefly visit their living family members. The tradition emphasizes that as long as someone is remembered, their spirit remains alive in the afterlife, directly tying into the film's central theme of remembrance.

Foreshadowing: The Rivera family's elaborate ofrenda setup demonstrates the family's dedication to this tradition despite their music ban.

• day of the dead
• día de los muertos
• tradition
• ofrenda
• celebration

Imelda is Miguel's great-great-grandmother and the matriarch of the Rivera family. She was once a talented musician who loved her husband Héctor deeply but was heartbroken when he left to pursue his music career and never returned. Her prohibition against music in the family stems from this personal wound of abandonment. Throughout the film, she evolves to recognize the importance of family bonds over grudges, ultimately accepting music back into the family.

Foreshadowing: Imelda's strong stance against music hints at personal history that the film slowly uncovers.

• imelda
• great-great-grandmother
• family matriarch
• riveras
• ancestor