Coco follows the journey of Miguel, a young boy in Mexico who dreams of becoming a musician. His passion clashes with his family’s strict ban on music, a rule rooted in their painful history.
Miguel believes he is the descendant of famous singer Ernesto de la Cruz and sneaks into his mausoleum during Día de los Muertos to borrow his guitar. This act transports him to the Land of the Dead, where spirits of his ancestors walk during the holiday when families remember them.
Here, Miguel meets Héctor, a down-on-his-luck skeleton desperate not to be forgotten in the living world. Héctor offers to help Miguel return home in exchange for Miguel placing his photo on the family’s ofrenda, ensuring he is remembered.
At first, Miguel resists, thinking only Ernesto can give him his blessing. But soon, he learns the truth: Ernesto de la Cruz did not inspire family pride. He betrayed Héctor, stole his songs, and poisoned him in pursuit of fame. Héctor, the very man Miguel doubted, is his true great-great-grandfather.
As the climax arrives, Ernesto exposes his selfishness fully. When Miguel uncovers the truth, Ernesto tries to silence him forever. This leads to a tense chase in the Land of the Dead, with Miguel racing against time. He must return to the living before sunrise or remain in the afterlife permanently.
Even more urgent, Héctor’s memory in the living world is fading. His daughter, Mama Coco, can no longer recall him, which will banish him to the “final death.”
This sets up one of Pixar’s most emotional endings, where memory, love, and music merge to save both Miguel’s heritage and Héctor’s legacy.
Why Miguel’s Song to Mama Coco Changes Everything
The ending turns on a deeply human moment. After a chaotic showdown at the Land of the Dead concert, Ernesto is exposed as a fraud before the spirits, and Héctor’s honor is restored.
Miguel receives his blessing from the family and is sent back to the living world. However, he still faces the most important challenge: saving Héctor from disappearing forever.
Back home, Miguel rushes to Mama Coco, his elderly great-grandmother, who hardly speaks anymore and seems lost in her memories. His urgent attempts to tell her about Héctor seem futile. Desperation strikes, and Miguel sits down with Coco to sing Remember Me the lullaby Héctor wrote for her as a child.
At first, silence fills the room. Then, slowly, Coco begins to sing along. Her memory revives, and she recalls her father with tears and joy.
This scene illustrates the power of memory triggered by music. In real life, many people with dementia or fading memory reconnect deeply through familiar songs. Pixar translated this truth into a moment of narrative rescue: Miguel’s song rebuilds the bridge between Coco and Héctor.
By remembering her father and sharing his picture, Coco ensures Héctor’s legacy is preserved on the family’s altar. Héctor avoids the final death and continues to exist in the Land of the Dead.
Coco also passes on her father’s songs and love to Miguel, healing the family rift over music. The cycle of love and memory continues, reinforced now by understanding instead of bitterness.
The Closing Scenes and Their Meaning
The final scenes of Coco come a year later, on another Día de los Muertos celebration. Mama Coco has passed away peacefully, but her photo now rests on the family ofrenda alongside her father Héctor.
The Rivera family, once divided over music, now embraces both their shoemaking heritage and their passion for songs. Miguel plays his guitar openly, surrounded by supportive relatives.
In the Land of the Dead, Héctor is reunited with Coco, sharing joy in being remembered and honored by those still alive. Viewers see Miguel’s family gather in unity, singing and celebrating, while the ancestors are present in spirit. The ofrenda acts as a bridge between the two worlds, reinforced by love and remembrance.
Coco’s life ensured Héctor’s memory would not vanish, and Miguel’s courage repaired a broken family story by revealing the truth.
Coco (Credit: Jio Hotstar)
The message is clear: family members live on when they are kept in memory and honored through rituals, stories, and traditions.
The ending transforms a simple boy’s quest to play music into a generational healing event. Miguel learns that music is not only a path to self-expression but also a powerful link to those who came before him.
Why This Ending Resonates Beyond the Movie
The ending of Coco leaves a powerful impression because it speaks to universal human fears and hopes. At its heart, it explores the human desire not to be forgotten. Héctor’s struggle mirrors something many people fear: that their stories, sacrifices, and love might disappear when memory fades.
By connecting this to cultural traditions like Día de los Muertos, Pixar universalized a deeply specific Mexican practice to communicate something profoundly global.
Miguel’s act of singing to Mama Coco embodies the timeless truth that love can survive across generations. Memory is not just nostalgia but a way of giving life to those who are gone.
Coco’s remembrance ensures Héctor’s moral victory against the false legacy of Ernesto de la Cruz, teaching that true greatness lies not in fame but in love passed down through family bonds.
The ending also redefines reconciliation. The Rivera family once rejected music due to an old wound, but they learn to cherish both traditions, shoemaking and music, when the truth was restored. It shows that healing is possible only when stories are told in full, not hidden or rewritten.
Audiences worldwide resonated with the ending because many have sung to loved ones, placed photos of family on altars or walls, or felt comfort in traditions that keep ancestors close. Pixar’s choice to end with Coco remembering her father emphasizes that heritage matters most when passed on through love, not fame, wealth, or pride.
The ending of Coco is designed to leave viewers both in tears and in reflection. Miguel’s simple song saves Héctor from being forgotten, restores truth to the family’s story, and heals the divide between tradition and passion. Mama Coco’s fading memory becomes the key to preserving generations of love.
As the film closes, Coco’s story continues through Miguel, who can now play music while honoring his roots. The Rivera family is whole again, both among the living and in the afterlife, because love and remembrance refused to be silenced.
The film ends on a message of immortality that transcends fantasy: those we love never truly leave us as long as we remember them.
In a sudden and unfortunate development, Manon, a member of rising global girl group KATSEYE, has officially withdrawn from the group’s highly anticipated performance at Summer Sonic Tokyo, citing health reasons.
The announcement was made on August 17, 2025 KST, just hours before KATSEYE was scheduled to take the stage at one of Japan’s most iconic music festivals.
Summer Sonic, which spans across Osaka and Tokyo, is a premier event featuring global and domestic artists.
For KATSEYE, a rookie group making waves both in Korea and internationally, this was meant to be a major milestone.
The performance would have marked a significant moment in their journey toward global recognition.
However, due to last-minute health concerns involving Manon, the group will now appear in Tokyo without her.
Background: Osaka Show Cancelled Due to Illness
The situation surrounding KATSEYE’s Summer Sonic appearances began developing a day prior.
On August 16, the group was scheduled to perform at Summer Sonic Osaka, but that performance was canceled after two members reported feeling unwell.
Although the agency did not name the affected members at the time, it emphasized that the cancellation was a precautionary measure and that the health of the members is a top priority.
Later that same day, KATSEYE’s agency reassured fans that the members had recovered and would proceed with their Tokyo performance as planned.
KATSEYE’s Manon (Credit: Pinterest)
This news came as a relief to many fans—known as EYEKONS—who had traveled or tuned in with high expectations to see all members back in action.
Manon’s Condition Declines Upon Arrival in Tokyo
However, on the morning of August 17, the situation took an unexpected turn. KATSEYE’s management shared an official update stating that Manon’s health had worsened upon landing in Tokyo.
After medical consultation, the decision was made for Manon to rest and focus on recovery, foregoing her participation in the Tokyo performance.
According to the official statement released via KATSEYE’s community manager:
“We are very sorry to share that Manon will not be able to perform at Summer Sonic Tokyo… She has since made the decision after consulting her doctor to rest in order to recover as soon as possible.”
The agency also offered a sincere apology to fans and emphasized that the health and safety of the artists come before all else.
Fan Reactions: Mixed Emotions of Concern and Support
As the news broke, fans flooded social media with messages of support for Manon, using hashtags like #GetWellSoonManon and #WeLoveYouManon.
While there was some visible disappointment at the unexpected lineup change, most fans expressed understanding and prioritization of Manon’s well-being.
The global fanbase, known for its strong emotional connection to each member, has shown remarkable empathy.
Many praised the agency for not pushing the artist to perform despite the significance of the event, while others sent well-wishes in multiple languages, underscoring KATSEYE’s international appeal.
Posts like:
“Health comes first! Rest well, Manon. We’ll always wait for you.” “Tokyo stage won’t be the same without you, but we want you to get better soon” “Take care of yourself, queen. EYEKONS love you!” …have been trending across platforms such as Twitter (X), TikTok, and Instagram.
KATSEYE’s Continued Performance and Resilience
Despite the setback, the remaining five members of KATSEYE are still expected to take the stage at Summer Sonic Tokyo as scheduled.
This marks a critical moment for the group to showcase their adaptability and commitment to fans, even under challenging circumstances.
Their ability to pivot under pressure is already being seen as a testament to their professionalism and teamwork.
Industry watchers believe that while Manon’s absence will certainly be felt, the performance will still serve as a significant opportunity for the group to shine on an international stage.
Health First: A Growing Trend in K-Pop
Manon’s decision to sit out the performance also reflects a growing and necessary shift in the K-pop industry—where idol health and mental well-being are increasingly prioritized over performance obligations.
Gone are the days when artists were expected to power through illness for the sake of appearances.
Fans and agencies alike are becoming more vocal in their support for artist welfare, and KATSEYE’s management is being commended for their transparent and empathetic response.
This aligns with recent industry practices, where idols across major groups like BTS, TWICE, and SEVENTEEN have taken breaks to recover, with fans standing firmly behind them.
