Miguel Rivera

###  Likes:

Día de los Muertos, his family, music, tamales, tacos, bread of the dead, Héctor, Ernesto de la Cruz (formerly), performing in front of others

### Dislikes:

Having arguments with his family, his grandmother's temper, Imelda's ban on music, performing in front of others (formerly), Ernesto de la Cruz

### Occupation(s):

Musician
Student
Shoe Shiner (formerly)

### Goal(s):

Return home to the Land of the Living. (succeeded)
Save Hector from the Final Death and help Coco remember her father (succeeded)

## Behind the scenes

### Creator(s):

Adrian Molina
Matthew Aldrich
Jason Katz
Lee Unrich

**Miguel Rivera** is a thirteen-year-old boy and the main protagonist of the 2017 film, *Coco* and the fan-fiction, *Miguel Rivera's Book of Friends*.

## Background

Miguel is the only son of Enrique and Luisa Rivera, the older brother of Socorro, a descendant of Imelda and Héctor, grandson of Mamá Elena and Papá Franco, and cousin of Abel, Rosa, Benny, and Manny Rivera. Before Miguel was even born, Mamá Imelda put a ban on music after Papá Héctor left and never returned (in reality, Héctor was murdered by Ernesto before he could get to Mamá Imelda and baby Mamá Coco). Born and raised in the Rivera family shop, Miguel was raised to despise music, his unnamed great-great-grandfather, and become a shoe-maker. However, Miguel was not like the rest of the family, for he secretly inherited his great-great-grandfather's love of music.

## *Coco*

Miguel first appears in the movie, narrating the opening sequence, explaining the reasoning behind his family's long generation ban on music, where his great-great-grandmother, Mama Imelda, banned music because her husband apparently abandoned the family. Miguel also points out that his great-grandmother, Mamá Coco, has a failing memory and mistakes Miguel for her husband, Papá Julio. Despite being saddened by her forgetful nature, Miguel still talks to her about anything. Migeuel reveals that he is best friends with a stray dog named Dante, the only other person besides Coco who knows Miguel loves music. His fascination of Ernesto de la Cruz, who manifested his love for music.

### Family arguments

The film focuses back to Miguel, who is actually telling the story to the mariachi, whose shoes he is cleaning. The mariachi, feeling sympathy for Miguel, allows him to play on how guitar. However, Miguel's grandmother, Elena catches her grandson with the mariachi and chase him off. As Abuelita has Miguel come back home, he snatches a flier of the Day of the Dead talent show the mariachi pointed out before following his family..

During another scolding from his family, Miguel goes to his hide out, soon joined by Dante. After he watches a video of the "Best of De La Cruz," Miguel decides to go to Mariachi Plaza like his idol, de la Cruz once did, even if it kills him.

### A Shocking Revelation

Miguel is about to leave for the plaza, taking Dante with him but suddenly hides in the ofrenda room when he hears the sound of his parents and grandmother. Things take an unexpected turn when his parents and grandmother wants Miguel to join his family business. Of course, he has no interest in making shoes and worries he will be no good at it, but his father, Enrique assures him that Miguel will have his family to guide him. After his family leave, Miguel pries Dante off of the ofrenda, which causes his great-great-grandmother's photo to fall off the ofrenda and causing the frames to shatter. Miguel takes the photograph and notices its creased at his great-great-grandfather, where he unfolds it to see there is a guitar and realizes it and Ernesto's guitar the same and believes de la Cruz to be Mamá Coco's father.

That night, Miguel's secret love of music is revealed to his family. He expressed that he wants to be a musician like his great-great grandfather but Abuelita doesn't want him to follow the path of his great-great-grandfather and says that he will be forgotten and his picture never put on an ofrenda. Overcome by anger, Miguel yells he doesn't want to be on a "stupid ofrenda." Infuriated, Abuelita cruelly smashes Miguel's guitar despite her son, Enrique trying to stop his mother. Miguel is saddened at the guitar he worked so hard on is ruined. Elena attempts to calm her grandson down and insists heating with his family will make him feel better but Miguel too upset at his destroyed guitar yells he doesn't want to be in the family. He snatches his great-great-grandparents and Coco's photo and runs away in tears, ignoring his father's calls for him.

### Getting Cursed

Miguel retreats back to the Mariachi plaza to sign up for the Dia de los Muertos Talent show that the Mariachi from earlier had talked about. He tells the stage manager he wants to sign up for the show and play in the plaza like de la Cruz, but she'll only let him sign up if he brings his own guitar. Miguel tries to get guitars from every one of the performers around the plaza but each of them refuse. About to give up, he looks at the Ernesto de la Cruz statue and asks what he should do. Then, Miguel looks at the photo of de la Cruz's guitar and at the statue and gets an idea. He rushes back to the cemetery to borrow Ernesto's guitar but stops when Dante catches up with him. Miguel manages to take a drumstick off of an offering and throws it away from the mausoleum to distract the Xolo dog. The boy breaks into Ernesto's mausoleum and takes the guitar, explaining to Ernesto that he's his great-great-grandson and expresses that he wants to play in the plaza just like him. Unaware of the glowing Marigold petals on the floor, Miguel accidentally curses himself and enters the Land of the Dead. He rushes out of the mausoleum when people in the cemetery heard the guitar strum. Miguel. Here's his parents calling for him and goes to them for comfort only two walks right through them and land in a crypt. A woman passes by and helps Miguel out of the crypt. However, the twelve-year-old screams when he sees the woman who helped him is a skeleton and looks around and sees that he is surrounded by them.

Frightened Miguel hides behind a tombstone until he is unexpectedly licked by Dante, who is the only resident of Santa Cecilia who can see and hear Miguel as a spirit. Dante it leads Miguel to the dead Riveras. However, Miguel doesn't recognize them as his family. Dante accidentally runs into a short, mustached skeleton. As he apologizes, the skeleton recognizes Miguel as well as two other women. The skeleton is shocked that the boy can see and hear them and is alive. One of the female skeletons to Miguel and gives him a big hug. The boy asks how he knows them and the woman smothering him tell him that they are his family. Miguel recognizes the one woman as his great-great aunt Tia Rosita, that the skeleton he knocked over was his great-grandfather papa Julio and that the other skeleton is his great aunt, Tia Victoria, who is the only one who suspects Miguel.

She reasons that he's not entirely dead and Tia Rosita says that he's not quite alive either, so Papá Julio suggest they go to Mama Imelda, since she'll probably know how to fix this. However, before they can go to Mama Imelda, two more skeletons run in, telling the family that Imelda is still stuck and cannot cross the marigold Bridge. Miguel recognizes the two skeletons as his great-great-great uncles, Tio Oscar and Tio Felipe, we're both shocked to see that Miguel can see and hear them. Since Imelda cannot get to them, then Julio reasons they will go to her instead. Miguel is at first a little frightened going through the veil. However, Julio assures his great-grandson there's nothing wrong. Miguel is amazed when he first enters the marigold bridge but then goes in a panic when he sees Dante rushing up ahead. The twelve-year-old tells his dog to remain near him as they don't know where they are but, when Miguel sees the Land of the Dead for the first time, he cannot help but be in awe and expresses that he can't believe that his family is still out there and that everything adults tell kids about Dia de los Muertos is true.

However, as the family passes by, several of the skeletons see Miguel, who carefully parts his hood up so no one will pay attention to him. As they go to the line for reentry to the Land of the Dead, Miguel is still in awe of the marigold Central station. Just as he's standing in line, Miguel smiles when he sees Frida Kahlo in the other line until it's revealed that it is not Frida but rather a very desperate skeleton. Miguel watches as the skeleton and the security agent squabble about no one being able to cross the bridge unless their photo is on an ofrenda and cannot help but watch the cell it's trying to evade security and cross the bridge. He watches as the guards slowly take the desperate skeleton away. As his Tia Rosita stresses disappointment if no one hour photo up on the ofrenda, Miguel is dragged by Rosita when it's the family's turn to reenter. Miguel is rushed to the front of the family by his great-uncles, who take down his hood, revealing him to be alive to the security guard. Miguel just gives a nervous greeting to the security guard before his jaw literally drops onto his desk.

### Meeting Mama Imelda

As the Riveras are being led by another security guard, Miguel continues to look at the inside of Grand Central Station and notices a woman that having a squabble with one of the department of family reunions agents and beating up the agent's computer. Miguel is revealed to be at the Land of the Dead by the woman who is Mama Imelda. He recognizes her from the photo and nervously says her name as Imelda suspiciously looks at her grandson.

Now with his family, a clerk reveals that since Miguel stole from the dead instead of rather giving to the Dead since it's Dia de los Muertos, he stole from the dead and is cursed. Miguel accidentally blurt out that he wasn't stealing the guitar but rather because it was his great-great grandfather's. This causes backlash from Mama Imelda, who quickly brushes her husband off and tells Miguel to never mention that man again since he's practically dead to this family. However, Miguel points out that she's already dead and so is the rest of the family. Dante is also in the room and tries to steal one of the clerks offerings, but Miguel pries the dog off. Continuing the crisis at have, The only way Miguel can get home is getting a blessing from a family member since it's a family curse. Miguel is slightly skeptical if it will work or not. However, the clerk says that if he gets a blessing, then everything should go back to normal, but Miguel has got to do it by sunrise, or he'll turn into a skeleton and be trapped in the Land of the Dead. Dell doesn't realize how serious it is until he looks down and sees that the tip of his finger has started to show bone. However, the clerk assured him that everything is fine because his family is already here, and he can get the blessing right now.

The only thing he needs is a marigold pedal for the blessing to work. After the clerk finds a marigold petal for the blessing to work on Rosita's dress he gives the pedal to Imelda, who will give her blessing to Miguel on the condition that he goes home, puts her photo back on the ofrenda and to never play music again. This makes Miguel upset, and he asked the clerk if she can really do that. The clerk reveals that since Imelda was the one giving the blessing, she can add any condition she wants. Reluctantly, Miguel touches the Marigold petal and finds himself back in De La Cruz's mausoleum. He also finds that his skeletal finger has turned back to normal and sees no more skeletons. Miguel decides to go to Mariachi plaza and starts to take Ernesto guitar again, only to find himself back in the Land of the Dead, much to the family's surprise he is back so soon. Imelda, the one most upset, says that it's only been two seconds, and he is already broken the blessing. However, Miguel points out that it's not fair, it's his life and that she has already had hers. After trying to get several blessings from his great-grandfather, aunts and uncles, Imelda says he grows her way or remains in the Land of the Dead. Miguel asks if she really hates music that much. Imelda expresses to her grandson that she will not let him go down the same path her husband took. Miguel gets another idea and decides to get his great-great-grandfather's Blessing instead.

### Meeting Hector

Miguel and Dante escape the clerk's office by Miguel pretending to go to the bathroom. However, he is well aware that they have no bathrooms in the Land of the Dead and it makes a clear getaway. They are stopped by a security guard, but Miguel is able to run away from the guard as a long line of family members come in between the two. Just as he is about to go in another direction, Dante wanders off and Miguel follows him. Of course, he finds the skeleton he saw earlier trying to cross over to the bridge. He overhears that the skeleton knows de la Cruz and that he has front row seats and backstage passes. Miguel of course cannot help but pass this opportunity, so he chases after the skeleton. As he asked if the skeleton really did know de la Cruz, the skeleton turns and sees there's a living child in front of him. As the skeleton panics, Miguel takes him by the arm and into a phone booth. The boy reveals that he needs to get to Ernesto because he needs his Blessing to return to the Land of the Dead and that he is his great-great-grandfather, something that shocked the skeleton. As he thinks things over, Miguel starts to doubt that seeking health in the skeleton is any good and starts to walk away. However, the skeleton says that he can help Miguel if they help each other out, but more importantly if Miguel helps him. As confused as Miguel is, his family notices him talking with the skeleton and panics. As the skeleton introduces himself as Héctor, Miguel rushes out of the station, with Héctor and Dante following.

Miguel and Héctor hide in an alley where Héctor disguises Miguel as a skeleton to prevent any suspicions from other Land of the Dead residents. Héctor promises to bring Miguel to de la Cruz in exchange for putting his photo on Miguel's ofrenda when he enters the Land of the Living. However, Héctor points out that de la Cruz is a hard person to get to and asks if there's any other family easier to get to. Miguel fears that the skeleton will take him back to his family and that he'll give up music forever and instead says that the only family has is De La Cruz himself. Miguel decides that if Hector doesn't want to help him he'll find de la Cruz himself. However, Héctor decides to help Miguel get to his alleged great-great-grandfather and begins chasing after him.

Now fully disguised, Miguel attempts to walk like Hector to blend in until the skeleton yells at him to stop it, much to Miguel's amusement. His eye catches sight of promotional material for the Sunrise Spectacular, and remembering what Hector told the security guard earlier, Miguel points out that Hector can get them in. However, when he sees his companion grimace, Miguel impatiently points out that Hector told the security guard that he possessed front row tickets. Héctor reveals that part was a lie and apologizes to Miguel for it, the kid gives the Skeleton a glare. Héctor assures his companion he'd get him as Dante to see de la Cruz. Miguel asks how he knows, to which his companion reveals he knows where de la Cruz is rehearsing.

### Meeting Frida Kahlo

Héctor, Miguel, and Dante go to the warehouse that de la Cruz is rehearsing, where Héctor's friend, Ceci lets them in by climbing up the fire escape. As she and Héctor enter an argument about Héctor losing Ceci's dress, Dante wanders off with Miguel following him to Frida Kahlo and her monkey Alebrije. As the old artist begins to dote on Dante, Frida asks whose spirit did the dog guide to her. Miguel says he doesn't think that Dante is an Alebrije. However, Frida reveals that the Alebrije of this world can take on many forms, as they are both powerful and mysterious. However, after seeing Dante biting his leg, Frida instead goes back on her word and that maybe he is just a dog. She then convinces Miguel to be her test audience. During the "test-screening," Miguel is at first perplexed and after telling Frida she has the right amount of obvious and suggests she add music, which causes the band to perform Miguel's musical ideas. Afterwards, Frida is inspired by Miguel and decides to add fire to her show and congradulates Miguel, acknowledging him of having the spirit of a true artist.

As the rehearsals continue, Miguel finally anticipates the real moment of meeting de la Cruz but finds it to be merely a mannequin. Confused, he asks Frida where the *real* de la Cruz is at, she points out in disgust that he never *does* rehearsals and is too busy hosting parties at his mansion. Héctor, who appears to have been looking for Miguel after he ran out on him, tells Miguel that he can not wander off like that and begins to drag him away from Frida Kahlo. However, Miguel refuses to allow Héctor to manhandle him and reveals disappointment because his great-great-grandfather is hosting a gigantic party on the other side of town. From Gustavo, the leader of a group of musicians who openly mock Héctor, reveals to the duo that there is a talent show and the winner gets to play at Ernesto's party. Héctor initially attempts to talk Miguel out of signing up but seeing his curse becoming enhanced, instead asks Hector if he knows anyone with a guitar. Resigned, Héctor claims to know someone who does.

### A villainous defeat

De la Cruz throws Miguel off the building, much to his family's horror. Dante tries to save him but finds he cannot. However, Pepita catches him in time before he hits the ground but Miguel loses Héctor's photo in the process. Héctor knows they are both out of time, both he and Imelda give Miguel their blessing with Miguel promising to not let Mamá Coco forget him before being sent back to the Land of the Living.

### Helping Mama Coco Remember

Knowing his grandfather is nearing the final Death, Miguel makes it in time to Mamá Coco's room and begins singing "Remember Me" like Héctor did for his daughter so long ago. Coco begins to remember her father and joins Miguel in singing the rest of the lullaby. Miguel tells Coco that her father loved her so much, something that makes his great-grandmother remember the poems and letters he wrote her, including "Remember Me" and reveals that she kept her father's photo with them. Miguel puts his great-great-grandfather's face with the photo and smiles at the completed picture. Coco then begins to tell her family the story of how her mamá and papá would sing beautiful songs as Miguel goes to hug her.

### Epilogue

A year later, Miguel had managed to reveal that Héctor was the true musician and not de la Cruz but also Mamá Coco passed away between the two Day of the Dead. He shows his baby sister, Socorro their entire family.  As Abuelita sadly puts her mother's photo next to Imelda and Hector's photo with Coco as a little girl, Miguel and Elena embrace over the loss of Mamá Coco but have knowledge that she is with her parents.
Miguel then performs "Proud Corazon" as he and his family show their familial love for each other and the movie ends.

## Physical Appearance

Miguel is a twelve-year-old boy with black hair, brown eyes, dark eyebrows, and tan skin. His has messy hair with bangs parted to the left and Miguel's hairstyle is similar to Papa Hector. He also has a mole above his lip on the left. When Miguel smiles, he has a dimple on his left side but none on the other. Through most of the film, Miguel just wears a white tank and red hoodie. The hoodie's sleeves both have a white stripe running down from the beginning of the hood down to the hem near the beginning of the sleeve cuff. He also wears a pair of light blue jeans and brown Rivera boots.

At the end of the film, Miguel is thirteen years old and instead wears a plain white shirt but retains his jeans and boots. Miguel also wears a red-themed mariachi outfit that has has a red bow, sweater, jeans and boots.

For a brief time in the movie, Héctor applies black and white shoe polish to Miguel's face to make him look like a skeleton. As such, Miguel has black shoe polish around his eyes and on his nose while the rest of his face is painted with white

## Personality

Miguel is a lonely Rivera boy who has grown up without music due to a generations' ban on it from his great-great-grandmother, Mamá Imelda. Despite this ban, Miguel has loved music, manifesting from his great-grandmother, Mamá Coco, who used to hum to Miguel when he was a baby. Ever since then, he has loved music to his heart's content and learned how to play the guitar and having been inspired by famed musician, Ernesto de la Cruz. He has kept it secret from the rest of his family, with the exception of Mamá Coco and his dog, Dante. The love of music stems not only from Coco, but from Miguel's long-lost great-great-grandfather, Héctor. Midway in the film, Miguel learns his dedication towards music also stemmed from Mamá Imelda, despite her ban on the music she once loved. Initially wanting to follow in his unknown-great-great-grandfather's footsteps, Miguel didn't like having to make shoes and wanted the support of music from his family. The wish to become a musician shows a that Miguel is initially a dreamer.

Apart from his ambitions, Miguel is a kind-hearted twelve year old boy. Miguel showed kindness towards others, especially towards Dante, even though he is a stray dog. The two have a close companionship, since Miguel always shows compassion towards the stray dog, and also feeding him treats even when the dog can't do the trick Miguel wants him to do. A defiant and kind boy, Miguel loves his family and his friends and willingly would go to the ends of the earth to save them. For example, Even during a scuffle between the Riveras and the security guards, he immediately assaulted the security guard who was attacking his Mama Imelda. After learning Hector would be forgotten and that he was his great-great-grandfather, Miguel wanted to save Hector from suffering the Final Death by helping Mama Coco remember the lullaby he sung her.

Miguel was also a key role in mending Imelda and Hector's relationship, as he revealed Imelda that Hector was trying to return home to her and Coco but De la Cruz murdered him before she could get home. Miguel even encouraged Imelda to sing and Hector to playing the guitar, which in turn, ignited a romantic spark between Héctor and Imelda. Miguel is also quite resourceful and witty, being able to come up with plans, especially when going to steal back Hector's photo from Ernesto. In the end, he has also become a proud older brother to his younger sister, Socorro, proudly telling her all about their family. It should be noted that Miguel used to have a fear performing in front of others. However, his companion and grandfather, Héctor, advised how to get rid of his nerves. During "Poco Loco" he followed Hector's advice and then got more confident the more he played in front of everyone. By the end of the film, he performed in front of the entire family.

Apart from inheriting some of Hector's characteristics, Miguel had inherited his stubbornness from Imelda (as also noted from the other Riveras). It is evident that Imelda was very stubborn in her lifetime and when she was giving her conditions that Miguel should no longer play music. Miguel has the exact same characteristic as her, as he stubbornly refused to accept her blessing and continuously tried to stubbornly keep his taste for music without the no music condition. Also, like his great-great-grandfather, Miguel is a well-meaning boy who helps others, such as agreeing to put up Hector's photo when he returned to the Land of the Living.

Back then Miguel used to idolize Ernesto de la Cruz until he was the one who murdered Hector for his own songs. He learned to be the true musician from Hector, his true great-great-grandfather, and embraced both his love for music and the love he held for his family. Though defiant, rambunctious, and stubborn, Miguel is a boy who loves his family very much. At the end of his journey, Miguel has learned that family is a very important element in his life. Especially after learning Ernesto had gone through dangerous, desperate measures he took (especially murdering Hector for nothing), Miguel sees that nothing is more important than family, something he expresses to Imelda at the end of the film. He retains both his love for his family and music when restoring Héctor's memories and getting his family to lifting the ban on music. He is a very familial person, as he doesn't like arguing with his family and is somewhat terrified of his grandmother Elena's fury. He wrote "Proud Corazón" to show his love for his family, evident by putting that his and the family's love for each other will live on forever.

## Relationships

### Dante

Dante  is Miguel's pet dog and best friend. He was very loyal to Miguel and the rest of the Rivera family due to being one of the family's Alebrije. He is a very likable companion, traveling with Miguel in the Land of the Dead. Being a true spirit guide, he led Miguel to his real great-great-grandfather, who was not Ernesto, but the outcast, Hector. He brought both Hector and Miguel together and was one of the reasons that the Riveras were able to mend their relationship with Hector, their ancestor. It is even through Miguel's kindness that has caused Dante to come to his friend whenever in his time of need.

### Elena Rivera

Though Miguel and Elena have different views and a somewhat strained relationship, Abuelita and Miguel have a strong, familial love for each other. He disliked that she didn't approve of his love for music and cried when she smashed the guitar her worked on and didn't care when Elena pointed out that Miguel would end up just like Hector and hurt her feelings when Miguel said he didn't care if he was forgotten. However, when he was thrown in a cenote, Miguel immediately felt guilty for yelling his family, mostly his grandmother for declaring to no longer be a part of the family. A year later after Miguel returned, he and his Abuelita now have a better relationship and understand one another. Elena has accepted his love for music, as she is seen happily watching Miguel performing at the end of the film and seeing him pass down the family tradition to Socorro by telling her of their family.

### Héctor

> "*I'm proud we're family. I'm proud to be his family!*"
> ― Miguel Rivera[source]
>
>

Miguel first saw Hector attempting to cross the marigold bridge at Marigold Grand Central Station, and watched his escape attempt with interest. However, they first when Miguel overheard the skeleton talk about knowing Ernesto de la Cruz and attempting to bribe an officer with an officer of meeting him. Both he and Héctor agreed to help each other out: Miguel would put Héctor's photo on the ofrenda if the skeleton helped the boy reach his great-great-grandfather. However, the two were unaware of their relationship as grandfather and grandson at the time. Despite not trusting Héctor, Miguel still followed him because he didn't want to take up his grandmother, Mamá Imelda's blessing of no more music. By the time Miguel witnessed the "Final Death" with an amigo's of Héctor, Chicharrón, disappeared, he didn't want the same thing to happen to Héctor. Later while he was nervous before a first performance in front of others, Héctor offered Miguel with fatherly advice on how to shake off the nerves of the performance.

Though he lacked a "grito" like Héctor, he was still pushed by his unknown grandfather to perform, who expressed faith in him. After a successful Performance, Héctor praised Miguel and expressed proudness in him. However, their second to final conversation before their familial connection ended in disaster, where Miguel ran away from Héctor after a major argument. After he learned that Hector was his biological great-great-grandfather instead of de la Cruz, Miguel proclaimed he was proud to be his family and Hector his. Miguel was able to save his dying great-great-grandfather by having Coco remember him by playing "Remember Me" for her. In the end, both of them love each other and have a relationship that resembles a father-son one.

### Imelda

> "*To never forget how much your family loves you.*"
> ― Imelda's blessing to Miguel
>
>

Imelda is Miguel's great-great-grandmother. She passed away way before Miguel was born, so he never knew her in life. However, he was well aware of her story as it was always told on the day of the Dead. When he was cursed, it is revealed in the novelization that Miguel was nervous meeting Mamá Imelda, and it was evident when he gave her a nervous wave, smile and said her name. He immediately recognized her when they first met. She is quite protective and motherly with Miguel, as she was described as looking at him with love and kindness despite the trouble he caused while trying to send him to the land of the Living. Also, when Miguel first meets Imelda, he remains unsure if he should hug her, shake hands with her and even bow to her. They had multiple differences, as Imelda was against magic while her great-great-grandson was for it. However, it is noted that Miguel inherited her stubborn nature. Imelda felt betrayed that he broke the blessing she bestowed upon him. However, Imelda means well and is only looking out for her grandson and doesn't want him to follow the path her husband, Héctor, did.

After Miguel had the chance to run away, Imelda was concerned for his safety and wanted him to return home. When Imelda did meet Miguel again, she tried to force him to accept her blessing and return home. However, Miguel blamed her for ruining his life, as family are supposed to support each other and declared that Imelda would never understand. She attempts to reason with her grandson to not follow the path Héctor did, but Miguel ignored her and continued running. However, Imelda came to her great-great-grandson's and husband's rescue. Both of them hugged each other, with Imelda expressing how glad that they found him in time before sunrise. Later, out of love for Miguel, Imelda decides that instead of forbidding him to make music, instead that he shouldn't forget how much his family loves him. She was horrified when she saw da la Cruz throw Miguel off the building but were relieved when Pepita saved him at the last minute. Imelda and Héctor send Miguel back to the land of the living before he is turned into a skeleton. One year later, on the Day of the Dead, Imelda is seen smiling as Miguel sings and plays on Héctor's guitar. Though they have initial different views, Miguel and Imelda do truly love each other.

### Luisa and Enrique

Enrique and Luisa Rivera are Miguel's parents, whom he loves very much. Though they initially disapprove of Miguel's ambitions to be a musician, in the end they love him for who his in nonetheless.

Enrique is supportive, loving and fatherly for his son, hoping that he'd one day join the shoemaking family business. He initially disliked that Miguel snuck off to Mariachi Plaza and angrily proclaimed that being a musician was nothing for his son. Luisa feels the same way for Miguel, being very motherly and loving towards him. She gently encourages him to embrace their family's traditions and loves both Miguel and Socorro. Both of them were worried when their son didn't come home at all at night and relieved when he returned the next morning.

At the end, Luisa and Enrique accepted Miguel's love for music, even smiling on as he sung "Proud Corazon" for their family, both living and deceased.

### Mamá Coco

> "*Mamá Coco has trouble remembering things. But it's good to talk to her anyway. So I tell her pretty much everything.*"
>
>
>

Miguel was very close with his great-grandmother, Mamá Coco and loved her despite being mistaken for her husband, Julio. He used to tell her everything, especially sharing that he has a love of music. Even as a baby, Coco loved her great-grandson since she held him as a newborn and would hum to him.

Miguel later helped Mamá Coco remember her father by playing "Remember Me," which both saved Héctor and Coco's memory.

### Pepita

Miguel used to be terrified of Pepita, as he screamed when he first saw her. However, Pepita instantly warms up to Miguel when she and Imelda saved him and Hector from the cenote. Pepita later rescued Miguel when he was thrown off a roof by Ernesto de la Cruz.

Pepita later attacked de la Cruz in retaliation and later licked Miguel yet a second time to show her affection for the young boy.

### Socorro

Socorro is Miguel's younger sister, born in between the events of Coco remembering her father and the Dia de los Muertos the following year. He is shown to be very affectionate for her, as he holds her and proudly tells her about their family and smiled at her when singing "Proud Corazon."

## Trivia

### General

* During the events of the film, Miguel is twelve years old and thirteen in the epilogue.
* In-universe, Miguel was the one who wrote "Proud Corazon."
* Miguel is Pixar's first Hispanic human protagonist for a full-length feature film and one of the five protagonists to be a human, along with Mr. Incredible, Carl Fredricksen, Merida, and Elastigirl.
* Second youngest Pixar protagonist, before Arlo from *The Good Dinosaur*
* Middle child of the Rivera cousin.
* According to his relatives, Miguel's foot size is 6 1/2, and pronated.
* Miguel has one dimple on one side of his cheek and no dimple on the other and has a beauty mark above his lip, traits he shares with Héctor.
	+ The dimples characteristic is also something Anthony Gonzalez has.
* The novelization reveals a bit about Miguel:
	+ His great-grandmother sung to him when he was a baby.
	+ Miguel hates being teased at by his cousins, Rosa and Abel, wishing they would take his side for a change.
	+ He has a distant cousin who wasted all his money for a tuba, only to have nothing during the cold winter.
	+ Miguel is said to resemble his great-grandfather, Papá Julio, when he was younger.
	+ The hide out he used to be the same one Coco used to get away from their family's expectations.
	+ His younger sister, Socorro is named after their great-grandmother.
* Miguel is seen hearing the music coming off of a Pizza Planet car as it drives by his house.
* While Miguel is passing town, he passes piñata versions of Woody and Buzz from Toy Story and Mike Wazowski from *Monsters Inc.*
* Miguel's last name, Rivera, is a reference to film producer Jonas Rivera, who consulted on *Up* and *Inside Out*.
* As Miguel and Hector walk through the streets, an Incredibles logo is seen.

### Production Information

* Originally, the film was going to be about Miguel (then named Marco) coping over the death of his mother. However, the idea was scrapped when the movie lost its true meaning of Día de Los Muertos.
* Later, while still as Marco, later took Ernesto's guitar with him in the land of the Dead. Before the concept of a family's blessing, it was the use of the Guitar that let him cross the Marigold Bridge. Also, instead of being nearly thrown off the building, Ernesto destroyed Hector's Guitar to ensure that Miguel remains trapped. As Imelda and Hector comfort their great-great-grandson, Miguel's family are able to repair the guitar, allowing Miguel to escape with Ernesto hot on his trail.
	+ The boy is able to escape. The idea was ultimately scrapped.
* Miguel had to cross the Marigold bridge before the last flower petal fell.
* At another point, Miguel met Héctor on a bus when Hector was a tour guide and receives help from him. Later the two would be attacked by Pepita.
	+ In the final film, instead, Miguel and Hector meet at Marigold Grand Central station, and first encountered Pepita when found by Imelda.
* Originally Miguel was going to only play the guitar and not sing. However, when it was revealed that Anthony could sing, it was decided his character could sing as well.
* Miguel's design was inspired by two real-life kids who were Emilio Fuentes (who provided the original scratch voice for Miguel while the movie was in development) and Adriel Arriaga (the son of a character designer)