Line #8 Heartwarming/Coco


1	! This page contains unmarked spoilers. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!
2	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0fbaeeb6_14bf_4e04_a9da_43fd389f361d.jpeg]]
3	[[caption-width-right:350:"Mamá Coco? Your papá — he wanted you to have this."]]
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5	Even by the standards of a Creator/{{Pixar}} film, ''Coco'' is filled with lots of heartwarming moments.
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7	* The opening narration, where we see Coco's family before her father left. It was a happy family, for that matter, where they used to "sing and dance and count their blessings".
8	** Young Coco being so happy when her mother gifts her with a new pair of shoes she crafted herself. Most children her age would've wanted candy or toys for a present, but Coco loved her mother enough to express the same appreciation for something as simple as hand-crafted shoes.
9	** Imelda has a subtle moment throughout the narration. After her husband left, when husband-hunting would have been a very fair and expected reaction given the time period, she instead went straight to work making a business for her family. And she made sure the business was built on something that would last for generations, so future generations of the Rivera family would be provided for.
10	*** If you look closely at Julio during the narration, at one point, he and Mama Imelda give each other a genuine hug as loving in-laws. For a woman who initially intimidated her son-in-law, this speaks volumes of how loving Imelda can be once you look past her disdain for music.
11	* It is easily missed in the film, but considering the members of Miguel's family who weren't born into it (Luisa, Franco, Carmen, Rosita and Julio) probably knew and experienced music yet willingly gave it up in order to become full-fledged members of the clan speaks volumes to how much they loved their respective spouses (or was willing to follow her brother, in Rosita's case).
12	** Even though she's the reason he can't embrace his passion for music, Miguel still sounds a little awed when he talks about Imelda. He may not want to be a shoemaker himself, but it's clear he has a lot of genuine respect for her, and the way she managed to provide for herself and her family.
13	* Despite that she's a forgetful old woman who can scarcely interact with su bisnieto[[note]]Her great-grandson[[/note]], Miguel clearly loves su bisabuela[[note]]His great-grandmother[[/note]] so much that he even plays with her and talks about his life with her.
14	** For that matter, Elena (Coco's daughter and Miguel's abuelita), and her family love and still take care of Mama Coco, despite her condition. Which, if you've never had experience in taking care of the elderly, can be ''extremely'' hard, time consuming and heartbreaking.
15	** Mama Coco mistakenly greeting Miguel as "[Papa] Julio" becomes a case of Fridge-Heartwarming when one notices what triggered that memory: being kissed on the cheek. She still remembers when she and Papa Julio were but young lovers!
16	** In the book ''Coco: A Story of Music, Shoes, and Family'', it's revealed exactly why Miguel is so close to his Mama Coco. When he was a baby, Miguel's love of music was born from when Coco sang to him, despite the ban on music. Ernesto may have inspired Miguel's dream, but it was Coco who gave the boy his passion.
17	* When Miguel is teaching Dante tricks, the dog can't perform the last two tricks to earn the food. Regardless, Miguel meets him halfway and gives him food anyway.
18	* A mariachi offering Miguel an opportunity to demonstrate his talent, especially after hearing his story about how he wants to be a musician. Even though he was a bit annoyed by Miguel telling him his whole life story, he still sympathizes with the boy and wants to help him.
19	* In contrast to her fierce attitude towards musicians, Elena's very loving towards Miguel.
20	* Miguel listening to Ernesto's music in the attic, as well as his guitar playing. It establishes just how Miguel's love for music goes ''beyond'' his dream of being rich or famous or popular like Ernesto.
21	* Before the plot starts rolling, Elena and Miguel's parents decide to have Miguel join the shoe-making business after school instead of shining shoes. When Miguel tries to weasel himself out of it saying what if he's not good at making shoes, Elena and his parents believe that Miguel is just nervous and saying he has nothing to worry about because his family (even his ancestors) would help guide him into making shoes. They are so proud of him, have such faith he can do it, and are 100% prepared to help him. True, they may not be supporting his dream to become a musician, but it truly is the thought that counts.
22	* The expression on Miguel's face when he recognizes the guitar in Coco's family picture as Ernesto's guitar. Sure, he mistakes that Ernesto is his great-great-grandfather, but he's awfully happy to find he's related to a talented musician somehow. At the least, it's what prompts Miguel to follow his dream like never before.
23	* Although it's a TearJerker moment, after Elena breaks Miguel's guitar, she sympathetically consoles Miguel, saying he'll feel better once he eats with his family, as though she ''already'' forgives Miguel for breaking the "no music" rule and essentially "keeping secrets from his family".
24	** Look closely when Miguel is being scolded by his family for his Ernesto collection. Right before Elena breaks the guitar, you can see Miguel's father reach out and attempt to stop her. He's on her side in the argument, but even he feels that is going too far and realizes that it will upset his son.
25	*** Even Miguel's cousins, who earlier were playfully teasing him about having no talent, look very upset and uncomfortable while he is getting scolded.
26	*** Near the end of the film, Elena attempts once again to intercept Miguel playing Héctor's guitar to Coco, which Miguel's father reaches out and stops, possibly wanting to more directly intervene in this situation. As the song is played, and the family is moved by it, he puts his other hand on Elena's other shoulder, turning it from an attempt at restraint to a sign of bonding.
27	* Shortly after Miguel invokes the curse that makes him intangible and unseen, he sees his family looking for him. Given that he earlier said he didn't want to be part of the Rivera family (for hating music), it's so beautiful to see that their love for him is truly unconditional.
28	** And indeed, when Miguel finally ''does'' return, we see that most of his family is still outside the family home looking for him and are happy to see that he's safe and sound.
29	* Watching the other spirits visiting their loved ones. There's this one part where the spirits of two grandparents look upon their granddaughter, and the grandmother warmly remarks, "Look how big she's getting!"
30	* Also when Miguel is unable to get his parents to see him and accidentally falls into an empty grave, he's helped to get out by a nice lady who asks him if he's ok, before getting scared when she sees he's alive.
31	* Miguel first meeting the dead members of the Rivera family is ultimately this --
32	** Miguel, upon accidentally running into Julio and scattering his bones, immediately apologized and went to pick up his bones, likely to put them back together. And that was before Miguel knew that he was su bisabuelo[[note]]His great-grandfather[[/note]], and when he was still scared about what was happening.
33	** Rosita (Papa Julio's sister) is the only one to not (understandably) freak out upon realizing that Miguel's still technically alive--in fact, her first instinct upon seeing her great-grandnephew is to run up (by running through her brother) and giving him a big hug.
34	** The rest of the dead family members are able to easily recognize Miguel, despite most of them (including Imelda) probably having died long before he was even born. And Miguel's able to easily recognize them, despite (presumably) having only seen pictures of them from when they were still alive.
35	*** Of course. They saw Miguel every year on the day of the dead, even though he never saw them.
36	** The rest of the family starts calling him ''mijo'' and ''our boy'' just like his living family members, and they have a normal family rapport almost instantly, especially in the way Tia Victoria responds to his incredulity about them really still coming to see them and tartly informing him that vitamins ''are'' a real thing. For that matter, Miguel is also able to recognize all six of them, despite them being skeletons, just from the pictures on the ''ofrenda''.
37	** There's a small moment where Miguel is hesitant to cross over onto the bridge that leads to the Land of the Dead. Papa Julio gently encourages Miguel that it's okay to cross, as though he were a parent telling his little son it's okay to swim in the pool.
38	* When you see the skeletons crossing over to the land of the living, there's one with Braces. According to the Security Skeleton at the gate, his picture is on his dentist's ofrenda. This implies that the skeleton with Braces was either a ''really beloved'' star patient, or that his closest living relative was his own dentist. Or, possibly, that dentist made a ''lot'' of money on all those orthodontics and wanted to give something back!
39	* When Héctor tries and fails to go through the bridge due to not having a picture, the security guards going after him can actually walk on the bridge, which means that they had pictures somewhere, and yet they choose to remain in the land of the dead (at least for shifts at a time) to ensure other skeletons can have a good, safe Dias de los Muertos. Also applies to the other members of the staff.
40	* There's another skeleton at the crossing path who was with his second wife, scolding him because she didn't want to visit his ex-wife's ''ofrenda''. Assuming that guy and his ex-wife had gotten divorced when he was still alive, it's very sweet to see that she (or at least su familia) still care enough about him to put his picture up on su ofrenda (and that he still cares enough about them to want to visit them). It's even sweeter when you realize that he might have had children with her when he was alive.
41	* When the Riveras try to encourage Miguel to accept Imelda's blessing, [[TheStoic Tia Victoria]] is among the Riveras who [[NotSoStoic warmly and poignantly]] point out that Imelda is just trying to do what's best for her great-great-grandson.
42	* Ceci giving Hector the dress in the first place. When he says he lost it, she yells out a frustrated "Ya los sabia" (I knew it!) and there is no way that Hector had a convincing story for wanting to borrow it. Yet despite how stressed out she is at having to dress forty dancers, their relationship is still of the kind where she gave him a Frida costume knowing she wasn't very likely to get it back.
43	** Plus she gives him another one that lets him get into Ernesto’s party.
44	* Frida Kahlo's response to Miguel (who, from her POV, is just some random kid she's never met) crashing her rehearsal? Letting him watch and asking for his feedback. And ''listening''! Not only that, she loves his ideas and runs with it, building off of them and telling him he has the makings of an artist. Imagine having one of the greatest artists in history giving your twelve-year-old self that kind of praise.
45	** And she doesn't just run with it while Miguel is there to humor him, either. She incorporated the ideas Miguel had and the inspiration she got at that time into the final opening act!
46	* While finding Chicharrón in order to borrow his guitar, Miguel and Hector come across the lower class of the Land of the Dead, the ones whose pictures were not put on an ofrenda. According to Héctor, down there, they are each other's surrogate cousins. It's nice to know that Hector has friends where he can find comfort and companionship, considering he's [[TheWoobie a tragic character]] who is hated by Imelda and misses Coco.
47	** The fact the Nearly-Forgotten make the most of each other's company. They may live in poor conditions and may be nearly forgotten by the Living World, but they don't let that stop them from befriending one another (unless you count Chicharron).
48	* [[TearJerker Sad]] as it may be, Héctor playing "Everyone Knows Juanita" for Chicharrón counts as this. Especially because, after saying he dislikes musicians, Héctor proves to be a musician himself with a gentler, more poignant way of playing guitar.
49	** And this was after Chicharrón told Héctor he didn't want to see his face. But seeing as he's dying, he allows Héctor one chance to repay him by playing his favorite song for him.
50	** The implication that Chicharrón had a romantic life somehow linked to that song. ("Brings back memories.")
51	** Miguel trying to find a loophole in Chicharrón's death and saying that he could remember him when he went back to the Land of the Living. Considering the two only met for a few moments, it shows what a NiceGuy Miguel is that he would want to save him even after only just meeting him.
52	** In a way, the film's gentle, ambiguous portrayal of the Final Death. As it's obviously not something anyone wants to go through, it could very, very easily have been played up as a clear descent into nothingness; instead, no one in the Land of the Dead knows ''what'' happens afterwards. As Chicharrón disappears peacefully into a shower of golden dust, he could be gone in every sense of the word -- but he could just as easily be off to the next phase of his existence. And that's a comforting thing.
53	** There is also the message of "Everyone Knows Juanita". Yes, it's about an ugly woman...but the song gently ends with "and if I weren't so ugly...she'd possibly give me a chance." In a way it's sweet...that he doesn't care about how ugly she is, so long as she loves him back.
54	*** Another potential, just as sweet interpretation of these lyrics, the singer knows just how Juanita looks to other people and how physically ugly she is. But even in spite of it all, he declares how ugly ''he'' is at the end, and wishes for her to give him a chance. For all the way she is described in the song, it's ''him'' that feels unworthy of her loving him like he does her.
55	** The Russian version of "Huanita" is even more heartwarming, with the lyrics instantly calling her "oh, so gorgeous" and stating that "Were I a bit more handsome, I'd gather the courage to come up to her". So, not оnly does he not care about her ugliness, he is ''genuinely awed by her''!
56	* During the talent show, when Héctor learns that Miguel has never performed before, he offers to perform in the boy's stead. But Miguel insists on performing himself. Why? Because it's not about winning the contest, it's about EARNING de la Cruz's approval...sure, Héctor [[LampshadeHanging points out]] this is the wrong time to put HonorBeforeReason. But it becomes HeartwarmingInHindsight once you learn Héctor is Miguel's actual great-great-grandfather, and unknowingly, Miguel was talking about earning ''Héctor's'' approval.
57	** And guess what? After they nearly win the contest, he DOES earn his approval. ("I'm so proud of you, Chamaco!")
58	** The "Un Poco Loco" performance has a sense of heartwarming itself, showing the protagonists having fun and bonding over music, but it gets ''another'' helping of HeartwarmingInHindsight following TheReveal that Héctor and Miguel are great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandson. It was family bonding all along.
59	* Héctor teaching Miguel how to shake off stage-fright before a performance, and how to let out a grito.
60	-->'''Héctor:''' You'll do great, Chamaco. Just grab their attention, and don't let go.
61	* The music contest to perform at the Sunrise Spectacular. As awesome and funny as it is, it's also really sweet to see Miguel ''finally'' able to live out his dream and perform, and to have an entire crowd appreciate his talent. Doubly heartwarming when Héctor joins in after Dante pulls him onstage and for the first time in the film we see him genuinely happy and not just playing the charming conman. It's probably also the first time since his death that Héctor's been able to truly enjoy performing the music that he was killed for, and with the great-grandson of his beloved daughter, Coco, at that.
62	** The runners up of the Sunrise Spectacular, who end up taking the first prize by default, warmly greet Miguel when they see him again and even help him sneak into Ernesto's party past the bouncer.
63	* In the alley way, Mama Imelda reveals that she used to love to sing before her husband left. She used to savor how music made her worries fall away, but when she had her daughter, she realized taking care of Coco was more important. Although it wasn't right of her to ban music and hold a grudge against her husband, this truly cements her status as a [[GoodParents selfless parent]] who gave up her passion because she truly loved her daughter.
64	* Imelda's overall determination to search the Land of the Dead and to send Miguel home. He has done nothing but defy her wishes and run away from her and yet, she still loves him and desperately wants to send him back where he belongs. There may be people out there who would be frustrated by Miguel's defiance and just give up on him. Not Imelda or the rest of the Riveras. They care deeply about Miguel and just want him to be safe above anything else, even with Imelda trying to enforce her will onto him. Then there's also Imelda trying to reason with Miguel, providing her perspective on why she banned music in her household. She felt as though her husband chose music over his wife and their daughter and she wants Miguel to remember how important family is.
65	* In the novelization ''Coco: A Story of Music, Shoes, and Family'', Mama Imelda breaks down and sobs after Miguel rejects her attempt to send him back home on the grounds of her forbidding music even after she sang. In despair, she admits to the family that while at first, she was simply angry about her photo not being up, she no longer cares about it. Her only concern is to send Miguel home. It's heartwarming to see her be so concerned and vulnerable.
66	* Combined with a Funny Moment as well, Wrestling/ElSanto taking a picture when the bouncer at Ernesto's party requests it. Even in death, the dude doesn't disappoint his fans.
67	** Just the fact that there is a tribute to the legendary El Santo in the film. Even after all these years, he remains a beloved hero within Mexican culture.
68	* The DJ at Ernesto's party who dials his music down at the sound of a random boy (Miguel) doing a grito. One musician respecting another.
69	* When Miguel sings "The World is my Familia" to get Ernesto's attention, it's his way of sending a secret message to him (how both use music as "their" language because both are "[[LikeFatherLikeSon familia]]"). There's such hope in his face at finally meeting his hero face to face.
70	* Ernesto's reaction to Miguel: immediately diving in the pool to rescue him, despite not knowing he was even alive. WordOfGod is he did it simply out of common decency. Then after learning about Miguel, pleasures at the idea of a great-great-grandson. Okay, so they aren't related and he turns out to be a murdering jerkass, but in those moments he showed some lingering decency.
71	** Miguel giving Ernesto two hugs, one for when he's 'accepted' by Ernesto, and another when the latter hoists the boy onto his shoulders. Again, this is later ruined by Ernesto's true nature, but you can't argue with how happy Miguel was when he supposedly found a relative who wouldn't discourage his dreams of being a musician.
72	** Also, though it was only moments before Ernesto decided to get rid of Miguel for knowing his secret, how he reacted to Miguel showing off his skeletonizing torso after he offers for Miguel to stay for the Sunrise Spectacular. One would expect a typical haughty character like him would play the devil's advocate and insist on Miguel staying just a bit longer in spite of the danger if he does. But once he sees how far along the process is, he ''visibly'' cringes and changes his mind so he can send Miguel back to the land of the living immediately to prevent anything else dangerous. Again ruined by the fact that he tried to have Miguel die for learning his secret afterwards, but gives at least one humanizing moment of genuine concern to him.
73	* Ernesto with his Chihuahuas is as funny as oddly cute. Especially when one of the little rascals sleeps in his arms... then wakes up right at the time Ernesto perks up and starts geeking out at the fireworks.
74	* Héctor showing up at Ernesto's home and asking him to allow Miguel to put his picture on an ofrenda. Although he's cross at Miguel for going against his word [[note]] that he'd take Héctor's picture when he met Ernesto [[/note]] and at Ernesto for stealing his songs, he's not entirely angry. He's there to give Ernesto a second chance to make things right.
75	* Héctor comforting Miguel when the latter cries over how he abandoned his family, all to follow a [[BrokenPedestal fallen hero]]. The fatherly manner in which Héctor consoles and hugs Miguel is a nice way to lead in TheReveal that he is Miguel's true great-great-grandfather.
76	** Just how kind Héctor is to a crying Miguel when the two of them are trapped in the cenote. At this point, he still thinks that the boy is his ''murderer's'' great-great-grandson. Héctor could have been cruel to him or told him off, especially since they parted ways after arguing earlier, but, instead, he hugs the child and gently consoles him.
77	*** Fridge-Heartwarming: This counts as Héctor's WhatYouAreInTheDark moment. When trapped in a deep, dark, lonely sinkhole with a boy who is a stranger at best and his murderer's great-great-grandson, who is he then? Nothing short of a [[NiceGuy good man]] who won't turn away his friend during his darkest hour.
78	* Héctor revealing it was he who wrote "Remember Me," all for his daughter, Coco.
79	** The Flashback, showing that one moment where Héctor and Coco bonded as father and daughter, over such a sweet lullaby.
80	** Even more heartwarming is the fact that Héctor loved his little girl more than the music he wrote. For years, Imelda thought that he cared about music more than his family when it was the other way around. Héctor cared more about his family to the point where he was willing to return home because he missed his wife and daughter. Not to mention this little gem when Miguel learns that he was the originator of "Remember Me" along with de la Cruz's other songs:
81	---> "I didn't write "Remember Me" for the world. I wrote it for Coco."
82	** And the cherry on top of the heartwarming sundae of a scene is that they used Gael García Bernal's actual daughter to voice young Coco.
83	* Miguel and Héctor learning ''they're related''.
84	** At first, it starts out as a PlayedForLaughs moment when Miguel says he's glad he's not related to the murderous Ernesto. But then, Miguel gives this heartfelt [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre speech]] to the broken-spirited Héctor :
85	--->'''Héctor:''' I'm a pretty sorry excuse for a great-great-grandpa.\
86	'''Miguel:''' Are you kidding? A minute ago, I thought I was related to a murderer! You're a total upgrade! All my life, there's been something that made me different, and I never knew where it came from. But now I know: it comes from you.
87	** When that doesn't get Héctor out of his HeroicBSOD, Miguel genuinely declares he's proud to be related to Héctor and lets out a heart-lifting grito. In turn, this prompts Héctor to tell Miguel he's proud ''he's'' related to him too. They both share a joyous grito.
88	*** It's also no doubt the first time in years (or possibly at all) that Héctor has heard that someone is ''proud'' to be related to him.
89	*** What makes this all sweet is that this is the highest form of WartsAndAll: yes Héctor left his family, yes he failed to return home and yes he's been reduced to an obscure nobody who never amounted to anything, but what counts is that he's Miguel's family and was a loving father in life.
90	* Despite earlier when Miguel [[KickTheDog sent him away in frustration]], Dante finds Miguel later when the latter is trapped in the cenote. He even brought along Pepita and Imelda to help fish Miguel (and Héctor) out. [[UndyingLoyalty Man's best friend]] indeed.
91	** Shortly after, Miguel takes back what he said earlier and says Dante ''is'' his spirit animal. This triggers Dante's transformation into an actual Alebrije.
92	*** Dante biting his leg while he changes into an Alebrije could be interpreted as him not wanting to be an Alebrije but ''to keep being Miguel's dog'' so he can stay with the boy.
93	* Miguel's reunion with his (dead) relatives. In contrast to finally meeting his ([[BrokenPedestal former]]) hero Ernesto, this is where Miguel is [[BigDamnReunion happy]] to be surrounded by the familiar faces of his family (even if they're [[DemBones skeletons]]). It's a warm moment that illustrates how he's developed a much greater respect and appreciation for being with the people who truly love and care about him.
94	* Imelda deciding although she can't find it in herself to instantly forgive Héctor, she can at least help get back his photo. Before that, her [[OhCrap reaction]] at learning that their daughter, Coco, is forgetting Héctor suggests even ''she'' doesn't believe her husband deserves to be forgotten, especially after learning he did mean to come home before Ernesto killed him.
95	--> '''Imelda''': I... I can't forgive you. But I will help you.
96	** Hector apologizing to Imelda. It's a sad, simple act, but it's the apology Imelda never received in life. One can even see it in her eyes that it's beginning to tear down the barrier she built up against Héctor.
97	* Frida's PetTheDog moment when she helps Miguel and su familia backstage to get Héctor's picture back from Ernesto.
98	-->'''Frida Kahlo:''' Good luck, ''muchacho.''
99	-->'''Miguel:''' ''Gracias,'' Frida!
100	** Not to mention earlier, when she praised Dante as a spirit guide.
101	* Imelda's blessing now asking Miguel, not to give up music, but to never forget how much his family loves him.
102	** Leading up to that, Miguel agreeing beforehand that if he must give up music to receive his family's blessing, he will do it, knowing that family comes first.
103	** What brings it together nicely is when Héctor warmly tells Miguel "you're going home". This becomes [[MeaningfulEcho meaningful]] when one recalls this is exactly what Héctor wanted before he died (to return to Santa Celia). He may not have gotten his wish in life, but at least his great-great-grandson will have that honor of coming home.
104	* How Imelda eventually falls in love with Héctor again after their ordeal.
105	** When a startled Imelda, singing in front of an audience for the first time in decades, suddenly hears a guitar accompanying her...she turns and smiles at seeing it's Héctor playing it.
106	** Something that hasn't escaped the notice of the Spanish-speaking viewers, is the fact that when Imelda confronts Ernesto, she refers to Héctor being ''"The love of my life"'' and during "La Llorona" she’s looking right at him as she sings the lines ''''Y aunque la vida me cueste (Even if it costs me my life)'''', then she grips harder on the photo, and sings (almost like she's making a promise) ''''No dejaré de quererte (I won’t stop loving you)'''', [[{{Tsundere}} shows her true feelings towards him]]. Dawwww!
107	*** The point where she's descending the staircase and looks right at him and ''smiles'', beginning to get into the performance is this. She's remembering all the times he would play for her in life and recalling the enjoyment she got from such a simple little act, something she's not been able to enjoy for decades owing to her own decision to forsake music to look after her family.
108	** Her physical and emotional beatdown of Ernesto is equal parts Awesome, Funny, and Heartwarming.
109	* Héctor's giddy, incredulous ''delight'' when Imelda calls him 'the love of [her] life.'
110	** Before that, his sheepish-yet-smitten "Imelda!" when she and Pepita rescue him and Miguel.
111	* Well admittedly during a heart-pounding scene, it's still sweet that after Ernesto throws Imelda down after she tries to rescue Miguel, Héctor runs to her crying her name to make sure his wife is not hurt.
112	* Even though this is a TearJerker, Miguel tearfully pleading Héctor to not be forgotten becomes this when he rightfully calls him "Papá Héctor".
113	** Also, throughout the movie, Héctor calls Miguel ''chamaco''[[note]]kid[[/note]], but when he finds out that Miguel is his great-great-grandson, he starts calling him ''Míjo''[[note]]my son[[/note]].
114	** It's not just Imelda's blessing, it's also ''Héctor'' who has the honor of sending his great-great-grandson back to the world of the living. Keep in mind, he could've done it himself the moment he discovered he was related to Miguel, but he clearly wanted to do this as a family with Imelda. Miguel wants to retrieve Héctor's photograph first, but Héctor knows there's no time and getting Miguel back to their living family is more important.
115	* An understated one when Miguel tries to get Mamá Coco to remember Héctor. His father storms in furious at both his disappearance and (supposedly) upsetting Coco, but then Miguel starts crying, and even with his face out of the frame it's clear he immediately turns to pure sympathy and comfort for whatever's going on. Then Miguel hugs his father and apologizes for running away.
116	** Going further, when Miguel begins to play "Remember Me", his father puts his hand on Abuelita's shoulder to prevent her from reaching for the guitar. He most likely didn't want her to destroy the guitar like she did to Miguel's first one and send him running away again. The whole ''music-hating family'' proceeds to let him play for Coco for no other reason than that [[TearJerker they recognize the depth of his grief]]. Plus, they were at least willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that Miguel's intentions behind this are good.
117	** Related to the above, Miguel did all that ''knowing'' his Abuelita would kill him for performing music like he did last time. At first, he resented his family because they hated music and he'd get in trouble for it, but this time around, if Miguel has to break his family's music taboo for a family member [[note]] Two of them if you count both Héctor and Coco[[/note]], it's worth the punishment. A good showcase of humility in the face of desperation, Miguel truly takes his experiences to the Land of the Death into heart.
118	* Mixed with TearJerker, Miguel singing "Remember Me" to Mama Coco (as seen on this page) which causes her to remember her father Héctor - therefore preventing him from [[DeaderThanDead experiencing a final death]] - and become more lucid, singing along with su bisnieto.
119	** The smile that graces her face as she sings.
120	** Miguel slowing down his playing so Mama Coco can catch up.
121	** "He loved you, Mama Coco; your Papa, he loved you ''so much''." With Mamá Coco's brief emotional reaction to Miguel saying this to her, followed by her tenderly smiling and gently cupping his cheek as a wordless thanking that makes Miguel choke back tears sealing the moment; without a single word, showing how it means the world to her hearing her great-grandson assure her that, even if she had always believed it.
122	** Everything about Mama Coco in that scene was both this ''and'' a TearJerker. The fact she remembered her father ''after so many years'' when her mother and entire family turned their backs on Héctor and even kept everything of him (including the missing piece of his photo on the ofrenda) is a sign she ''never'' resented him or held any hatred towards him, compared to her daughter or anybody else of the Rivera family. She ''still'' loved him after so many years.
123	** In regards to the book ''Coco: A Story of Music, Shoes, and Family'', it becomes even more heartwarming when you realize Miguel is also repaying Mama Coco for all the times she sang to him when he was a baby.
124	** Elena is moved to tears, and Mamá Coco is lucid enough to recognize her daughter and ask why she's crying. Elena just smiles and says "Nothing". That said, Elena finally understands Miguel went through ''all'' that trouble to revitalize Mamá Coco's memory and make her lucid again.
125	** All the while, the look on his family's face as his music restores Coco to lucidity. And it's because of this small miraculous moment that they start to see music in a positive light for the first time in generations.
126	*** Fridge-Heartwarming: Miguel may have performed at the Land of the Dead's talent show, but who is his first truly living audience? ''His own family''.
127	** Miguel telling Coco that her father Héctor loved her. The way her eyes glow with happiness at hearing this seals it.
128	** Immediately after the song, Mamá Coco revealing that she [[TragicKeepsake kept all the letters her father sent her along with the ripped-off part of the photo on the ofrenda that had his face]].
129	** Even better? The first thing Mamá Coco does when she recognizes ''her daughter after so long''? She comments how her father was a musician and then slowly pulls out ''all the letters and poems he sent to her''. She never really forgot him despite her dementia.
130	*** The context of it: for so long, she hid those things, even after Imelda passed away, out of fear that Elena or some family member would destroy it. By taking the letters (and the ripped photo bit) out of their hiding place, it shows she ''trusts'' her family.
131	*** Just the fact that she is so eager and willing to share these things and that after all those years she is allowed to do so. Extra heartwarming about this: Héctor mentioned earlier that only when you are remembered by those who know you and only when those share tales of you to others will you be remembered and thus saved from the final death. The first thing she does when she remembers him is sharing his letters and talking about him, ensuring that there are living people who know about him, thus saving him for good.
132	** Also somewhat tragic, but this might very well be the first time she is even ''aware'' of Miguel's existence. Miguel might have loved his great-grandmother for the longest time, but only now could she be lucid enough to love him back.
133	** The implication that Mama Coco has been ''wanting'' to talk about her father for so many years, but her family never spoke of him. Now, ''at last'', here is her beloved great-grandson ''wanting to talk of her beloved father...'' and she springs back to life. Is it Dementia...or forgetting because ''there's no-one else there to discuss the memories with?''
134	** The way the family immediately gathers close to Coco to listen to her talk about her father. At this point, Miguel's the only one who knows the true story of what happened to Héctor, that he died trying to come home. As far as the rest of them know, Héctor is the family-leaving walkaway musician they've thought he was all along. They don't know anything else about him. Yet they listen to Coco talk about him, when even the very mention of him was shunned in the family, to the point where Miguel didn't even know his name. Why? They may have cared nothing for Héctor...but they certainly care about Coco. This is the first time Coco has been lucid in who knows how long. She recognizes them. She's smiling. She's happy. They love their mother and grandmother and great-grandmother, and no matter what she's talking about, even her family-abandoning father, they're going to listen to her.
135	** Matter of fact, the whole reunion was featured near the end of the read-along book as BackgroundMusic. Readers should be prepared to hold back tears when this part comes on.
136	* By the epilogue:
137	** While Coco has passed away, her smiling photo on the ofrenda indicates that her final months with her family accepting music again were the happiest of her life.
138	** Héctor is rightfully credited in both Lands of the Living and Dead for writing the hits Ernesto sang, such as "Remember Me" and is being honored instead.
139	*** Héctor also getting his very own museum. The heart-warming part comes in when you see ''where'' said museum is situated: inside the Rivera family's shoe shop, so people will know how family-orientated he was in life.
140	*** Moreover, it appears to be in Coco's former bedroom, since it seems to be the room Miguel ran to.
141	** Héctor also avoiding a [[DeaderThanDead final death]] and finally having his picture on the ofrenda, allowing him to cross over the bridge with his family. Based on his expression, it seemed like a ''miracle'' that there ''was'' a picture of him existing after all.
142	*** The relief on his face when, finally, he doesn't sink when he steps upon the bridge.
143	*** The guard being genuinely happy for Héctor when she tells him that he passed the inspection and can ''finally'' cross the bridge. And before, she gives him a look of sympathy that wordlessly says, "Come on, Héctor, every year. Why do you do this to yourself?"
144	*** She also lets out a genuinely happy gasp when she sees that he passed the inspection. It's likely that she's the latest in a line of guards who have been seeing this poor guy show up every year for (almost) a ''century'' only to be rejected every time, so to see him finally make it is an InUniverse moment of catharsis too.
145	*** For the entire movie up to this point, Héctor was barefoot--but as he crosses the bridge, you can see he's wearing a brand new pair of Rivera shoes.
146	** As soon as Héctor passes the inspection, Imelda meets him on the other side and the two kiss. Then you hear Coco say "Papa!" and he ''showers'' her with kisses before hugging her and swinging her around in the air. Then he gets to walk hand in hand with both his wife and daughter down to meet the rest of their family. It is literally ''everything Hector ever wanted'', finally.
147	*** It also indicates that Imelda has forgiven Héctor.
148	** Mamá Coco reuniting with her parents in the Land of the Dead, and them later crossing the bridge together.
149	*** The way Héctor kisses Coco, he still adores his baby girl, even though she's grown to be an old lady. He even gets to give her that big hug like he promised earlier in the movie, which gets even more adorable when you realize she's been dead a while at this point. Presumably, he already gave her that initial big hug on the day she turned up in the Land of the Dead but continues to do it every time he sees her.
150	*** The way he kisses her is also the same way Elena kisses Miguel early in the film. Despite her distaste for her (supposed) runaway abuelo, the two of them actually ''share'' their love for and devotion to their family.
151	*** Given her father's reaction to seeing her, it's implied that Mamá Coco may have ''literally just died''. She died immediately before the ceremony to remember the dead and can now come back to see them, family whole, at ''last.''
152	*** As incongruous as it might seem for the twenty-something Héctor to stand alongside his centenarian daughter, from ''Coco's'' point of view, he's still (barring DemBones) ''exactly'' the same youthful Papa whom she remembers singing to her as a toddler.
153	** Miguel's family finally supporting his musical ambitions and the spirits of his deceased relatives celebrating along with them.
154	*** Miguel's cousins, who had earlier mocked him for wanting to go to the talent show, have [[TookALevelInKindness grown nicer]] and even developed their own musical interests/talents.
155	** A year later, Miguel shows the family ofrenda to his new baby sister and explains the point of El Dia de Los Muertos to her. And while the name of Miguel's hermanita isn't said in the movie, the junior novelization reveals that Enrique and Luisa (her and Miguel's parents) named her after Mama Coco[[note]]Mamá Coco's real name is "Socorro", and la familia calls Miguel's hermanita "Coco" as a nickname[[/note]].
156	** As opposed to the cats vs. dogs stereotype, Dante and Pepita getting along towards the end.
157	*** Also, when Elena happily greets Dante and feeds him some ''pan de muertos''. Compared to the beginning of the movie where she shooed Dante away with her chancla, she's finally grown fond of the street dog.
158	*** Miguel's Tia Carmen can also be seen warmly petting Pepita, who welcomes the affection gladly.
159	** Elena watching su nieto playing music, beaming with pride, all while her unseen mother's spirit watches too, hugging her.
160	** Héctor and Imelda dancing together to their great-great-grandchildren's music.
161	** A small detail: Instead of playing "Remember Me" in the ending, Miguel plays a different song for the ending ("Proud Corazon") because he now has a deep understanding of how personal "Remember Me" is to Héctor.
162	** Even though he can't see him, Miguel plays his guitar alongside Héctor. He doesn't have to see him to know he's not [[DeaderThanDead gone]], he can practically ''feel'' his presence. Both great-great-grandson and great-great-grandfather have become friends for life.
163	** After one whole year, Miguel still has the guitar from Ernesto's tomb. The heartwarming part of this is because it's actually ''Héctor's'' guitar. The guitar is back in its original family's hands, and in the next musician in the family after Héctor.
164	** A RewatchBonus: in the final shot, you can see two of Miguel's cousins, who had previously made fun of his musical interest, accompanying him on violin and accordion. Miguel's brought music to their lives, and they support him in return.
165	*** Miguel's little sister, the new baby Socorro, can be seen ''waving her arms and legs in time to the music!'' There's a new musician in the family, named after the woman who remembered just long enough to save it for the family!
166	* Imagine what the dead Riveras must have experienced after Miguel returned to the land of the living. They watched Héctor grow weaker and weaker to the point where he was probably already unconscious and even becoming transparent. They might have gotten ready to mourn, and particularly Imelda may have had her heartstrings tugged. Then suddenly Héctor started to recover until he was back to full health. And they all knew that Miguel had caused it.

Context Heartwarming / Coco