Coco
9
0Coco follows 13?-year-old Miguel Rivera, a Mexican boy with black hair, brown skin, lactose intolerance, autism, dyslexia, and asthma, living in Santa Cecilia, Mexico, in a family obsessed with shoemaking. Miguel dreams of being a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, despite his family’s music ban rooted in his great-great-grandmother Coco’s father abandoning the family for music. Miguel secretly practices guitar and enters a local talent contest, accidentally transporting himself to the Land of the Dead. There he meets deceased trickster Héctor Rivera, 21, who becomes his guide. Héctor is witty, musical, caring, desperate to be remembered, and enjoys jokes, with dark hair, brown skin, and a slightly scruffy skeletal appearance. He dislikes betrayal and being forgotten. He is Miguel’s great-great-grandfather, though Miguel doesn’t know it at first. Héctor’s main goal is to get his photo on an ofrenda so he can cross to the living world during Día de los Muertos.
Miguel navigates the Land of the Dead, meeting his family’s ancestors—Mama Imelda (deceased matriarch, strict, fiercely protective, hates music), Abuelita (living, stern, but loving, middle-aged), and other skeleton relatives. Ernesto de la Cruz, charismatic but villainous, seeks fame at the cost of others’ lives. Dante, Miguel’s street dog, loyal, goofy, and possibly an alebrije guide, provides comic relief. Miguel speaks Spanish, occasionally English in certain scenes for clarity, and is inquisitive, determined, kind, and loves music. His favorite things include guitars, music, and family; dislikes exclusion from music and injustice. Héctor enjoys music, food, and freedom; dislikes being forgotten. Their personalities shine in quotes: Miguel says, “I have to follow my heart!” showing determination; Héctor jokes, “You know, I can’t die yet! I have too much to do!” highlighting humor and urgency. Abuelita exclaims, “No music!” showing protective tradition. Ernesto’s
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