| Miguel loves music, playing his guitar, and his idol (dead musician) Ernesto de la Cruz - but his family forbids music. (It's a multi-generational ban from Imelda, Migue's great, great grandmother after her husband musician left her). Miguel messes up and damages a photo of his Coco when she was young, with her parents - and discovers that Coco's dad's head was torn off - the beginning of the ban, no doubt; Miguel concludes Ernesto is his great, great grandfather. Miguel enters a talent show on the Day of the Dead, stealing Ernesto's guitar from his mausoleum. Upon leaving, Miguel's invisible to everyone alive (except his dog Dante), and Miguel can now see the dead coming to visit for the annual Day of the Dead. (Concept is by remembering them with photos, they can return each year; once forgotten, they turn to dust in the world of the dead and are forever lost.) Miguel is now racing against the clock; if he's still in the dead world at sunrise, he's stuck there... but he needs a blessing from a family member to lift a curse he took on by stealing the guitar. He meets Hector, whom he eventually learns was a sidekick to Ernesto; they become friends. Miguel meets Ernesto, who welcomes Miguel as his descendant. Tangled webs unwind, we learn Ernesto killed Hector to steal his songs - Hector was the real musical genius, and lo and behold, he's Miguel's great, great grandfather, and Coco his daughter. (Hector lives on as Coco is the only living person who remembers him, but she's aging too.) Miguel helps (dead) Imelda realize Hector was choosing to leave music and return to his family, but his murder prevented it; Imelda and Hector reconcile in the dead world. Imelda blesses Miguel to return (just before sunrise); Miguel plays a song for Coco that re-energizes her memories. Grandma Elena - Coco's daughter - forgives Miguel and allows music again. A year later, photos return, including a complete family portrait wall, and we learn Coco has died (her photo is on the memory wall). Miguel shows them to his new baby sister; evidence Coco had showed Ernesto was a fraud and Hector the real musician, and Hector is now honored as Ernesto was before. In the land of the dead, Hector, Imelda and Coco are reunited for a visit to the living as Miguel sings. |
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