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 massive budget of $175.0M, Coco became a box office success, earning $814.6M worldwide—a 366% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, demonstrating that audiences embrace bold vision 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) reveals precise plot construction, 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.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Miguel Rivera
Héctor
Ernesto de la Cruz
Mamá Imelda
Abuelita Elena
Mamá Coco
Dante
Main Cast & Characters
Miguel Rivera
Played by Anthony Gonzalez
A 12-year-old aspiring musician who dreams of becoming like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, despite his family's generations-old ban on music.
Héctor
Played by Gael García Bernal
A charming trickster in the Land of the Dead who helps Miguel in exchange for having his photo placed on an ofrenda.
Ernesto de la Cruz
Played by Benjamin Bratt
Miguel's idol, a legendary musician and movie star in the Land of the Dead, celebrated as the greatest musician who ever lived.
Mamá Imelda
Played by Alanna Ubach
Miguel's great-great-grandmother and matriarch who banned music from the family after her husband left to pursue his musical dreams.
Abuelita Elena
Played by Renée Victor
Miguel's grandmother and family enforcer who fiercely protects the family's no-music rule with her chancla.
Mamá Coco
Played by Ana Ofelia Murguía
Miguel's great-grandmother, elderly and frail, who holds the key to the family's forgotten past.
Dante
Played by N/A
Miguel's loyal, goofy street dog who turns out to be a spirit guide (alebrije) helping Miguel on his journey.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Paper cutout animation tells the Rivera family history: Mama Imelda was abandoned by her musician husband, banned music forever, and built a shoemaking dynasty. Young Miguel is trapped in a family where music is forbidden.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Miguel announces he wants to enter the talent show. Abuelita discovers his secret shrine and destroys his homemade guitar. His family demands he abandon music forever and join the shoemaking business.. At 11% 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Miguel strums Ernesto's guitar at midnight on Día de los Muertos and becomes invisible to the living. He has crossed into the Land of the Dead, transformed into a skeleton visible only to spirits. He must get a blessing from a dead family member before sunrise or remain dead forever., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Trapped in the cenote, Héctor collapses and begins to disappear - Mama Coco is forgetting him, and he will soon suffer the Final Death. Miguel realizes his hero was a murderer, his real great-great-grandfather is dying, and he may never return to save Mama Coco's memory., shows 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 72% of the runtime. The family pursues Ernesto across the Land of the Dead. Imelda confronts Ernesto on stage during his concert, exposing his crimes to the crowd. Miguel races against sunrise, returns to the living world, and desperately sings "Remember Me" to the fading Mama Coco., 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 structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. 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, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Lee Unkrich analyses, see Toy Story 3.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Paper cutout animation tells the Rivera family history: Mama Imelda was abandoned by her musician husband, banned music forever, and built a shoemaking dynasty. Young Miguel is trapped in a family where music is forbidden.
Theme
Abuelita tells Miguel, "That man's music was a curse! I will not have it in my house!" while Mama Coco sits silently. The theme emerges: what does it mean to remember someone, and what legacy truly matters?
Worldbuilding
Miguel's secret passion for music is established as he maintains a hidden shrine to Ernesto de la Cruz in his attic. The town of Santa Cecilia prepares for Día de los Muertos. Miguel discovers a torn photo suggesting Ernesto may be his great-great-grandfather.
Disruption
Miguel announces he wants to enter the talent show. Abuelita discovers his secret shrine and destroys his homemade guitar. His family demands he abandon music forever and join the shoemaking business.
Resistance
Miguel debates whether to obey his family or follow his dream. He runs away to the plaza, determined to perform in the talent show. Needing a guitar, he breaks into Ernesto de la Cruz's mausoleum to steal the famous guitar, believing Ernesto is his ancestor.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Miguel strums Ernesto's guitar at midnight on Día de los Muertos and becomes invisible to the living. He has crossed into the Land of the Dead, transformed into a skeleton visible only to spirits. He must get a blessing from a dead family member before sunrise or remain dead forever.
Premise
Miguel explores the spectacular Land of the Dead with Héctor, encountering his skeleton ancestors who want to send him home with a blessing that forbids music. They navigate the colorful afterlife, attend a music competition, and search for the famous Ernesto de la Cruz.
Opposition
Héctor confronts Ernesto, and the terrible truth emerges: Ernesto poisoned Héctor and stole his songs. Ernesto is not Miguel's ancestor - Héctor is. Ernesto throws both Miguel and Héctor into a cenote to hide his crime. Héctor begins fading as Mama Coco forgets him.
Collapse
Trapped in the cenote, Héctor collapses and begins to disappear - Mama Coco is forgetting him, and he will soon suffer the Final Death. Miguel realizes his hero was a murderer, his real great-great-grandfather is dying, and he may never return to save Mama Coco's memory.
Crisis
In the darkness of the cenote, Miguel and Héctor share their grief. Miguel apologizes for only caring about fame. Héctor reveals "Remember Me" was written as a lullaby for baby Coco, not a showstopping anthem. Miguel finally understands what it means to be truly remembered.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The family pursues Ernesto across the Land of the Dead. Imelda confronts Ernesto on stage during his concert, exposing his crimes to the crowd. Miguel races against sunrise, returns to the living world, and desperately sings "Remember Me" to the fading Mama Coco.