The music of Coco is an essential part of the film, bringing the vibrant sounds of Mexico to life and adding depth to its rich cultural storytelling. From the soulful strumming of the guitar to the lively rhythms of traditional Mexican music, every note immerses the audience in the heart of Mexico’s traditions. A few years ago, before the movie was released, I had the unique opportunity to visit Pixar and see firsthand how the creators meticulously crafted this musical journey. Meeting the producer, animators, and others involved, I was moved by their dedication to authentically honoring Mexico’s Day of the Dead through both the story and its unforgettable soundtrack.
Disney•Pixar’s movie COCO opened in theaters in the US on November 22nd and it’s already a big Box Office success but more importantly, it has gotten fantastic reviews, with a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. COCO tells the story of a 12-year-old Mexican boy, Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), who sets off to pursue his dream of becoming an accomplished musician taking inspiration from his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, voiced by Benjamin Bratt.
COCO is a story about family and about following your dreams. Music is a very important part of any movie, but in COCO’s music is not only used to set the mood it’s also a big part of the story itself.
As part of a press trip to the Pixar studios, a few months before COCO opened, I had the opportunity to attend a presentation about the music of COCO and it’s significance. It was really eye-opening to see how music was part of every aspect of the movie and how the Disney•Pixar team put so much thought and effort into ensuring that the music in the film was supporting that sense of cultural relevance and authenticity that is present throughout the movie.
The film brings together some amazing talent; featuring an original score from composer Michael Giacchino, who wrote the Academy Award-winning score for “Up” and original songs written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who won an Academy Award for writing the song “Let it Go” from the movie Frozen. The movie also features original songs co-written by songwriter and arranger Germaine Franco and co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina. The team also includes musical consultant Camilo Lara from the music project Mexican Institute of Sound.
How Music Brings the Story of Coco to Life
“We didn’t want music to be incidental, it had to be crucial to the storytelling”, shared Adrian Molina, writer, and co-director. Because music is embedded into the storytelling of this film the filmmakers started thinking about how music would be used early on in the process and they decided that music would be used in three ways:
- Source music. Miguel lives in this small town in Mexico, Santa Cecilia, and for the filmmakers, it was important to fill this world that Miguel lives in with beautiful music and the diversity of Mexican sounds so that this can inspire him.
- Score music. Score music is used to hold up the emotions of the film, to play the themes of the characters and explore the environments, settings and the motivations of the characters of the film.
- Original songs created especially for this film. “So much of the music in this film is performative and we wanted to give the characters in the film an iconic voice and original songs became a fantastic way to do that”, said Molina. One of the original songs “Remember Me” gives life to the Mexican music idol Ernesto De La Cruz, voiced by Benjamin Bratt.
Showcasing the Sounds of Mexico
What really makes the music in COCO special is that it brings together and showcases the diversity of Mexican music. “We focused on being as accurate as possible with the sounds and rhythms and the musicians that we involved in that”, said Camilo Lara, musical consultant. “We wanted to do something that is homegrown because Mexico has such a rich variety of genres of music so we wanted to include different types of sound of instead of the traditional Mariachi which is what people think about when they think of Mexican music”, shared Germaine Franco.
To ensured the richness of Mexican music was portrayed the team took a trip down to Mexico to record over 50 different groups and ensembles finding the best of the best musicians on every genre including musicians like the famous trio Los Panchos, the son jarocho band Mono Blanco and bandas from Sinaloa and Oaxaca. The music in COCO incorporates traditional Mexican instruments like guitar, marimba, jawbone rattle & even zapateo!
Having every type of music from classic to folkloric and traditional music made it possible to incorporate them into the different moments in the film. The team focused on creating a soundscape that would feel like the world and also support the emotions of the story.
As you watch the movie you come into contact with a wide array of cultural and musical aspects that really showcase how diverse the Mexican culture is. I am from Guatemala and I have to admit I got a little emotional as I heard marimba, the national instrument of my country, being played in a Disney•Pixar movie. Music has a way of transporting you and as I really felt like I was walking through a plaza in a small town in Mexico or maybe even my home country.
Music Beyond Sounds
In the movie COCO music goes beyond sound incorporating musical elements and even special instruments as par of the story. For storytelling purposes, a very special and iconic guitar was created. A real replica of Ernesto de la Cruz’s iconic guitar was handcrafted by a Mexican guitar maker, Herman Vasquez Rubio.
While attending the Pixar Coco event we had the opportunity to hear what composer Michael Giacchino referred to as “Miguel’s Theme” played live on the guitar, which was truly magical!
The character of Ernesto de la Cruz is sort of this star of the golden age of film and even his character was inspired by two of the greatest actors in Mexican film history: Jorge Negrete and Pedro Infante. I remember watching Pedro Infante’s black and white movies with my abuela when I was a kid and I immediately thought of him when I first saw the character of Ernesto de la Cruz, played by
Attending the presentation the Music of Coco and earning so much about how music is used in the film to bring to life the characters and the story was a fantastic experience!
I never thought I would hear traditional marimba music in a Disney•Pixar movie and as the sounds of the marimba resonated in the theater, my heart was filled with joy and pride for my roots and for my heritage.
Music has the power to transport you and to make you feel and for me, hearing so many familiar sounds and rhythms throughout the movie, from son and marimba to bandas, brought back so many fond memories! It also gave me the opportunity to share with my kids a small glimpse into the world I grew up in, surrounded by the sounds, the smells and the colors of a culture that they are not as familiar with.
About Disney •Pixar’s COCO
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
Coco is a beautiful and endearing story filled with excitement and adventure. At its core, it’s a theme that everyone can relate to; a story about family and about making your dreams come true despite challenges. It’s a movie about coming of age and following your own path and about understanding who you are and where you come from as part of finding your own place in the world.
You can read more about Disney•Pixar’s COCO by visiting the Disney Movie website HERE.
For even more fun ways to teach kids about Día de los Muertos and its traditions, be sure to read my article about the best Day of the Dead movies for kids.
Disney COCO Movie Free Printables and Activities
After watching the movie check out these Coco-themed crafts and free printables, perfect for a fun Coco movie-inspired party or activity. It includes free coloring pages for characters like Dante, Miguel, Ernesto, and Hector, along with a printable template for creating Coco‘s guitar. Additionally, readers can find instructions for making paper marigolds and a fun maze activity. The article also suggests related activities like alebrijes paper crafts and a Coco “Remember Me” lotería game.
Discover More About Disney Pixar’s COCO with These Articles
If you’re as captivated by COCO as many are, these additional articles provide a deeper look into the movie’s cultural significance, characters, and the creative work behind the scenes. From learning about the inspiration behind the film to understanding its portrayal of Mexican traditions, these articles will help you appreciate COCO even more. Whether you’re curious about the animation process or how the film shines a light on Latino culture, these articles have something for everyone and will make watching the movie so much more meaningful.
- Getting A Sneak Peek At Disney Pixar’s COCO Movie
This article gives you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Coco was made, including details on the animation process and cultural research. - Bringing Skeletons To Life
Learn how Pixar animators created the lively skeleton characters in Coco and made them fun, colorful, and full of personality.
- 10 Interesting Facts About COCO’s Character Dante
Find out fun facts about Dante, the lovable dog in COCO, and how he was inspired by real-life Mexican hairless dogs called Xoloitzcuintli. This is one of my most popular COCO articles, everyone wants to know more about the funny and quirky pup Dante.
- Promoting Positive Latino Role Models
COCO highlights positive Latino role models, showcasing a strong cultural identity and the importance of family values. - COCO Shines A Spotlight On Mexican Folk Art Bringing Alebrijes To Life
This article explores how COCO features Mexican folk art, especially the magical creatures called alebrijes, and their cultural significance.
- A Movie About Ancestors, Memories And Familia
This article delves into the heart of COCO, focusing on the film’s themes of family, honoring ancestors, and preserving memories. - Why This Animated Movie Means So Much To Latino Families
This article explains why COCO resonates so deeply with Latino families, celebrating the culture, traditions, and strong family bonds in the movie. Here I share how important it was for my kids to see a movie where a culture so similar to ours (we are from Guatemala) was celebrated in such a loving way. There are so many things we identified with from our love for tamales and music, to our strong family bonds and honoring and remembering loved ones that have passed away through traditional Dia de los Muertos foods.
More Day of the Dead Activities and Crafts For Kids
Here are some more fun Day of the Dead activities and crafts for kids that will help them celebrate the holiday while learning about its traditions. From creative crafts to festive treats, these ideas are perfect for getting everyone involved in the spirit of Día de los Muertos!
Make a Sugar Skull Quilling Project with Your Kids
This Easy Day of the Dead Craft teaches kids how to make a sugar skull using the art of paper quilling. By rolling and shaping strips of colorful paper, kids can create a fun and decorative sugar skull to celebrate Día de los Muertos. It’s an easy and creative project that helps kids learn about the holiday while making a unique decoration.
Paint Sugar Skull Pumpkins for Day of the Dead
In this Sugar Skull Pumpkins craft, kids can paint pumpkins with bright colors and sugar skull designs for a fun twist on Day of the Dead traditions. This project is easy and perfect for decorating your home for Día de los Muertos while involving children in the creative process. It’s a festive and unique way to celebrate the holiday with a fun craft.
Create a Sugar Skull Paper Garland with Your Kids
The Sugar Skull Paper Garland craft is a simple and colorful way for kids to help decorate for Día de los Muertos. Using colorful cardstock, children can cut out and decorate paper skulls to string together into a garland. This easy craft is perfect for teaching kids about the meaning of sugar skulls and adding festive flair to your celebration.
Bake Pan de Muerto with Fun Variations
This Easy Pan de Muerto Recipe walks you through making the traditional sweet bread used during Día de los Muertos. You can also add fun variations like making pan de muerto calaverita decorated with sugar skull designs, or filling the pan de muerto with Mexican hot chocolate ice cream or marigold cream for a special twist. These playful variations are sure to make your Day of the Dead celebration extra delicious and memorable.
Make Day of the Dead Skeleton Cookies
Day of the Dead Skeleton Cookies are an easy and fun recipe where you decorate skeleton designs on sugar cookies using icing. This simple recipe is great for kids who want to get involved in the kitchen while learning about Día de los Muertos. The cookies are perfect for a festive treat to share with family and friends.
Cook with Marigolds: Easy Recipes for Día de los Muertos
These Easy Recipes Using Marigolds (cempasúchil) are a unique and flavorful way to honor Día de los Muertos. Try delicious options like Marigold Flan, Cempasúchil Cream-Filled Pan de Muerto, or Marigold Atole, each using the bright and symbolic marigold flower. These recipes add a special touch to your holiday table and are a beautiful way to connect with tradition.
Throw a Day of the Dead Themed Party
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with a lively and colorful party featuring fun decorations like a sugar skull piñata garland and and let the kids make their own creative sugar skull masks . Keep the festivities sweet with kid-friendly treats like sugar skull fruit pizza (one of my favorite Day of the Dead desserts), these super easy to make white chocolate-covered strawberries, and if you really want to take your Dia de los Muertos party to the next level this festive Day of the Dead cake with buttercream frosting is a must! For a unique dessert, try making coconut pumpkin budin shaped into into a sugar skull to delight your guests! Get some more Day of the Dead party ideas and free printable here!
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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