Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with Pixar's Coco Concept Art to Light Up Your Altar

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Oct 29, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

When Coco came out, it meant a lot to me as a Latin American kid growing up in the U.S. My country doesn't actually celebrate Dia de los Muertos, but most of my close friends were Mexican, and honestly, back then, any kind of Latino representation on the screen felt rare enough to be seen. I mean, I held on to Dora the Explorer for way longer than was normal just because she was a fellow Latina. There was something really powerful about watching a big, beautiful Pixar film that centered and celebrated Latin culture while also giving it so much heart and soul.

Much like the holiday itself, Coco is full of layers; all of that color, music, memory, and love didn't just appear overnight. Every frame we got to see on the big screen began as a sketch, a painting, or an idea between artists and illustrators trying to capture something close to their hearts. These pieces of concept art show the early visions that built the vibrant world that still resonates with so many of us today. So, before your yearly rewatch of this classic, take a peak behind the veil by scrolling down below. 

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  • 01
    MUERTE 31 B KL PUENTE HURSO CAFR CALAVERITA VNA a MERIE
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    mm
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    S
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    B.13
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    B-19
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    B.18
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    1-20
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    171.9
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    A-4
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    B 4-23
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    A-4
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    1.15
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    ante Inla 90
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    Cheezburger Image 10569376512
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    m
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    ши
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    PEPITA BODY PACKET FEATHERS ATTACH TO THE BONE UNDERNEATH THE TWO LARGER FEATHER/ PLATES. PEPITA WITH SKELETON AND FEATHERS. PEPITA SKELETON NOTE: IF WING WERE TO FOLD THE LARGER PRIMARY FEATHER/PLATE WOULD OVERLAP THE OTHER AND THEN FOLD DOWN OVER THE SIDE OF PEPITA'S RIBS.
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    Cheezburger Image 10569376768
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    NOREARD Wen
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    Cheezburger Image 10569377280
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    Cheezburger Image 10569378048
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com
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    Cheezburger Image 10569377536
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    Cheezburger Image 10569378304
    via Disney / Pixar / CharacterDesignReferences.com

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behind the scenes disney mexico art halloween animation artist movies coco disney characters pixar illustration beautiful concept art
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