In Pixar’s Coco, Mamá Imelda’s colorful spirit animal is named Pepita.
Pepita is an alebrije, a fantastical creature inspired by Mexican folk-art traditions. In the Land of the Dead, she appears as a large, brightly colored winged animal with features associated with several real creatures, including a jaguar, eagle, and ram. Her striking design reflects the film’s use of vivid colors and handcrafted visual ideas.
Pepita serves as Mamá Imelda’s spirit guide and protector. She helps Imelda pursue Miguel and later assists the family during the story’s conflicts in the Land of the Dead. Her size and dramatic appearance make her one of the film’s most recognizable supernatural characters.
Pepita is sometimes confused with Dante, Miguel’s dog. Dante is Miguel’s spirit animal and eventually becomes an alebrije, while Pepita is specifically connected to Mamá Imelda. The film helped introduce many international viewers to the concept of alebrijes, although its magical creatures are imaginative adaptations rather than direct copies of one traditional design.