In Pixar’s Coco, Miguel plays a guitar during his audition for Ernesto de la Cruz.
Miguel secretly teaches himself guitar because his family has banned music for generations. He idolizes the legendary singer Ernesto de la Cruz and hopes to become a musician, despite the Rivera family’s shoemaking tradition and opposition to musical performance.
After Miguel’s homemade guitar is damaged, he takes Ernesto’s famous guitar from the singer’s mausoleum. That act transports him to the Land of the Dead, where the guitar remains an important symbol of Miguel’s ambition and his mistaken belief that Ernesto is his great-great-grandfather.
The instrument’s design also connects the film to Mexican musical traditions. Miguel’s playing includes songs associated with the story, especially “Remember Me.” The guitar is therefore both a practical instrument and a visual representation of his desire to understand his family history.