In Pixar’s Coco, the spirit guides of the Land of the Dead are called alebrijes.
Alebrijes are fantastical creatures inspired by Mexican folk art. In the film, they appear as brightly colored animal-like beings that can guide or protect souls. Pepita, Mamá Imelda’s enormous winged companion, is the most prominent example, while Dante eventually takes on a magical role connected with the same tradition.
The film’s alebrijes combine recognizable animals with imaginative forms, vivid colors, and supernatural abilities. This visual language helps distinguish the Land of the Dead from the ordinary world and gives the afterlife a specifically Mexican artistic identity.
In real-world Mexican art, alebrijes are associated especially with the work of artist Pedro Linares, who developed the fantastical figures in the twentieth century. The film adapts the idea for storytelling, so its spirit guides should not be treated as a literal description of every traditional alebrije.