What object does Miguel take from Ernesto de la Cruz’s mausoleum in Pixar’s Coco?

Miguel takes Ernesto de la Cruz’s guitar from the singer’s mausoleum in Pixar’s Coco.

Miguel believes Ernesto is his great-great-grandfather and sees the famous musician as a personal inspiration. Desperate to enter a Día de Muertos talent contest, Miguel takes the guitar because his family refuses to let him play music.

The act triggers the film’s supernatural journey: after taking the instrument, Miguel becomes unable to interact normally with the living and crosses into the Land of the Dead. The guitar therefore functions as both a physical object and a turning point in the story.

The guitar is not simply a generic musical instrument in the plot. It is associated with Ernesto’s public image and helps Miguel connect his own musical ambition with the family mystery he is trying to solve.