Coco
Despite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. 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 Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.
Despite a blockbuster budget of $175.0M, Coco became a financial success, earning $814.6M worldwide—a 366% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, proving that audiences embrace unconventional structure even at blockbuster scale.
2 Oscars. 113 wins & 42 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Coco (2017) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Lee Unkrich's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 5.8, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Miguel shines shoes in the plaza, secretly watches musicians, lives in a music-hating family bound by Mamá Imelda's generations-old ban. He hides his passion, dreaming of being like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz while trapped in the family shoemaking business.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Miguel discovers what he believes is proof that Ernesto de la Cruz is his great-great-grandfather after seeing the torn photo showing a man with Ernesto's distinctive guitar. This discovery disrupts his understanding of his family and makes him believe he has a right to pursue music.. At 10% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 19% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Miguel steals Ernesto de la Cruz's guitar from the mausoleum. The moment he strums it, a curse activates - the living can no longer see him, and he can now see the dead. He has crossed into the Land of the Dead, leaving his ordinary world behind through his own choice., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Trapped in the cenote pit, Héctor sits down in despair, accepting he will disappear when Coco forgets him - the Final Death. Miguel watches helplessly as his true great-great-grandfather fades, realizing he's been chasing the wrong ancestor and may have destroyed his family. All seems lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. Race against time to stop Ernesto from keeping Héctor's photo. Confrontation at the concert: truth about Ernesto's murder exposed to the public, photo recovered. Miguel returns to the Land of the Living with Héctor's photo. He sings "Remember Me" to Mamá Coco, awakening her memories of her father, saving Héctor from Final Death., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Coco's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Coco against these established plot points, we can identify how Lee Unkrich utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Coco within the animation genre.
Lee Unkrich's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Lee Unkrich films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.3, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Coco represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Lee Unkrich filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Lee Unkrich analyses, see Toy Story 3.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Miguel shines shoes in the plaza, secretly watches musicians, lives in a music-hating family bound by Mamá Imelda's generations-old ban. He hides his passion, dreaming of being like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz while trapped in the family shoemaking business.
Theme
Mamá Coco's father (in Miguel's retelling): "Never forget how much your family loves you." This line, though Miguel doesn't understand it yet, encapsulates the film's central truth about remembering and honoring family.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Rivera family history through papel picado animation: Imelda's husband left to pursue music, she banned music forever, raised Coco alone, built the shoemaking business. Present day: Miguel's multi-generational family preparing for Día de los Muertos, making offerings, Miguel's secret musician dreams.
Disruption
Miguel discovers what he believes is proof that Ernesto de la Cruz is his great-great-grandfather after seeing the torn photo showing a man with Ernesto's distinctive guitar. This discovery disrupts his understanding of his family and makes him believe he has a right to pursue music.
Resistance
Miguel tries to convince his family to let him enter the talent show, using his "evidence" about de la Cruz. Family refuses and destroys his guitar. Miguel debates whether to give up his dream or defy his family. He decides to "borrow" Ernesto's guitar from the mausoleum to play in the competition.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Miguel steals Ernesto de la Cruz's guitar from the mausoleum. The moment he strums it, a curse activates - the living can no longer see him, and he can now see the dead. He has crossed into the Land of the Dead, leaving his ordinary world behind through his own choice.
Premise
The fun of the Land of the Dead: vibrant skeleton world, Departure Terminal bureaucracy, meeting dead relatives who want to send him back with their blessing (conditional on never playing music). Miguel escapes to find de la Cruz with Héctor's help. Adventures include Frida Kahlo's party, talent competition, bonding over music and dreams.
Opposition
At Ernesto's mansion, Miguel learns the devastating truth: Héctor is his real great-great-grandfather, Ernesto murdered Héctor and stole his songs. Ernesto, protecting his legacy, has Miguel and Héctor thrown into a cenote. The family searches desperately. Miguel's petals are falling - he's running out of time to return to the living.
Collapse
Trapped in the cenote pit, Héctor sits down in despair, accepting he will disappear when Coco forgets him - the Final Death. Miguel watches helplessly as his true great-great-grandfather fades, realizing he's been chasing the wrong ancestor and may have destroyed his family. All seems lost.
Crisis
Miguel, sitting with the dying Héctor, finally understands what matters. He sees family photo of Héctor holding Coco and realizes Héctor only wanted to return home to his daughter. Miguel's priorities transform from personal glory to honoring and saving his true family. Dante and Pepita rescue them from the cenote.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Race against time to stop Ernesto from keeping Héctor's photo. Confrontation at the concert: truth about Ernesto's murder exposed to the public, photo recovered. Miguel returns to the Land of the Living with Héctor's photo. He sings "Remember Me" to Mamá Coco, awakening her memories of her father, saving Héctor from Final Death.