The 2017 Pixar film Coco centres around a boy named Miguel and his family in Mexico who are celebrating the Mexican holiday ‘Dia de Muertos’ (or the day of the dead). This day is more of a celebration than a mourning, and it involves friends and family gathering together to reflect and reminisce about the deceased.
Straight away we learn that this animated movie, intended for a younger audience, focuses on some pretty mature topics such as life and death, with a focus on old age and dementia through main character Mamá Imelda, Miguel’s grandmother.
Even as an adult, watching Coco is bound to make you shed a tear as the multi-generational story explores family relationships and the loss of loved ones.
The story takes place in both the land of the living and the land of the dead, as we follow young Miguel’s dream of becoming a successful musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz.
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Today, kids are often gripped by the concept of death and the mysteriousness that surrounds it, which is why this colourful movie is a great way of explaining what really happens once a family or friend passes away. There is a difference between being brutal and being honest to your children, and Pixar’s Coco is a great way of revealing the somewhat harsh (but realistic truth.)
It’s not all doom and gloom though, the brightness of the animation and celebrations throughout the movie show that the Mexican culture puts a positive spin on death – it lets children celebrate a life, enjoy the good food, and spend time with family on ‘Dia de Muertos’.
The afterlife in the movie Coco is depicted as beautiful and colourful, a party with skeletons dancing around and having a great time. It’s a beautiful film that emphasises the importance of remembering your deceased loved ones, and celebrating their lives – because it’s what they would’ve wanted.