A story that tells so many life lessons and morals, you’ll have to see it twice.

Shame on me for taking so long before watching this movie. I’m almost afraid of not doing this movie justice with my review. I’m still trying to process the beauty of it.

Let’s start with the storyline of this Mexican tale. Miguel, who is the main character in this story, is an aspiring young singer. His idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (who has died many years ago), moves him to make his dream happen, the dream of becoming the next Mexican star.  Unfortunately, Miguel’s family thinks music is a curse since his great-great-grandfather left the family to become a singer. Mama Imelda – Miguel’s great-great-grandmother – banned music from her life and started a family shoe factory. Miguel is the first of his family to try and break the music-curse. This does not go unpunished when his family figures out what his passion is. Miguel runs away from his family, but ends up in the afterlife, in the night of “Día de los Muertos”. In the afterlife, he finds his family, but the one person he wants to meet is Ernesto. Together with his new friend, Héctor, he starts his search. Héctor also needs Miguels helps, as he starts fading towards the final death.

If you have seen the trailer or the posters, you probably noticed the vibrant colors and gold-yellow leaves. These leaves represent the path towards the afterlife or the path to the land of the living. On a magical bridge between these two worlds, on “Día de los Muertos”, all the people who have passed go visit their family, led by these beautiful leaves. All the vibrant colors on the screen are so amazing and inviting. You honestly don’t even know where to look. But if you look close enough you’ll even see Buzz Lightyear and Woody. Hooray for those Easter Eggs! I didn’t notice hidden Mickey’s, but so many hidden skulls.

The music in this movie is once again incredible. Thank god Spotify provides this album, since it has been on repeat every day since watching this movie. I have a soft spot for the song “Remember Me”, since it’s actually the most important part of the story. Where Pixar’s “Up” shows you the saddest love story the first few minutes of the movie, Coco shows you the story after and the meaning of family. It will honestly make you think about your own family and people who have passed. I instantly hoped my passed loved ones are in a place like this beautiful afterlife.

Just like every recent Pixar movie, references are made to our current society. For example, we see Skrillex as a passed DJ. We also meet Frida Kahlo as the artist who has a part in a big show, to end “Día de los Muertos”. The way the afterlife looks is a mixture of a sci-fi movie, and a contemporary city. Subways, flying trams and a whole lot of spirit guides – who are colorful creatures who help the people who have passed.

If you wonder what Coco means, you’ll get emotional about it when you find out. Sorry, not going to spoil that one. Though you must know that Coco is a symbol for so much. It’s a symbol for family, the love for music and price of chasing your dreams. Like Ernesto De La Cruz says it so well, “success doesn’t come for free”. Whether you see dead people like Miguel, or you live in the present, you only have one life, one family and maybe only one chance to live your dream.

This movie feels like a long telenovela, where the characters constantly use Spanish phrases, sing Spanish songs and all have an extremely dramatic flair. It’s great how multicultural Disney is becoming and reaching, even more, hearts across the world. Disney is a common language we all understand and in which we can all find comfort. Every movie breaks our hearts but teaches us so much.

I wonder how long it will take before Claire Ryann and Dave Crosby bring their version of “Remember me”.

This animated movie has broken my heart, yet made me extremely happy. Go watch it. Now.

I’m rating this movie at 9/10.

9/10

“Oh, just so you know, you don’t need to stay seated – there is no movie after the credits.”