SCENES
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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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INT EXT INT/EXT hover for full slug
Scene Map
60
# PG SLUGLINE
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COCO Original Story By Lee Unkrich, Jason Katz, Matthew Aldrich, Adrian Molina Screenplay By Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich
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EXT. COURTYARD MIGUEL I used to run like this... Miguel pumps his arms with his hands in fists. Then he switches to flat palms.
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EXT. DINING AREA Miguel leans toward Mamá Coco at the dinner table. MIGUEL I have a dimple on this side, but not on this side. Dimple. No
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INT. RIVERA WORKSHOP - DAY We see the Rivera family tinkering in the shoe shop, no music to be heard. Miguel jogs past them. MIGUEL (V.O.) And my family’s fine with that...
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EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER Miguel weaves up to de la Cruz's mausoleum and peeks in the window. He catches a glimpse of de la Cruz's signature skull guitar. MIGUEL (V.O.)
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EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER Miguel catches up to his family. TÍO BERTO How many times have we told you -- that plaza is crawling with
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INT. RIVERA WORKSHOP The Rivera workshop is abuzz with family making shoes. WHOMP! Miguel is plopped onto a stool, ready for a lecture. ABUELITA I found your son in Mariachi Plaza!
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INT. OFRENDA ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Miguel follows his Abuelita to the family ofrenda, holding the pile of flowers as she arranges them on the altar. ABUELITA Don't give me that look. Día de
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EXT. SIDE STREET Tío Berto unloads rolls of leather from a truckbed. Nearby, Dante sleeps under the shade of a tree. He startles awake by a faint TWANGING. The dog scrambles up to the roof. He reaches a shoe sign advertising the Rivera Family business
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EXT. RIVERA COMPOUND - SUNSET Children run by with sparklers as Abuelita opens the doors to the family compound. ©2017 DISNEY•PIXAR - PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL ABUELITA
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INT. OFRENDA ROOM Miguel backs out of the courtyard and into the family ofrenda room. Nearly cornered, he ushers Dante past a sleeping Mamá Coco. He stashes the dog and the guitar under the ofrenda table.
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INT. ROOFTOP HIDEOUT Miguel goes to his secret ofrenda, to the record album of Ernesto de la Cruz. He compares the guitar in the family photo with the guitar on the sleeve. An exact match! MIGUEL
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EXT. COURTYARD - EARLY EVENING Miguel's guitar is cast at his feet, along with his de la Cruz albums. The whole family encircles the boy. ABUELITA What is all this? You keep secrets
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EXT. SIDE STREET Miguel bursts out of the compound, desperate to get away. Dante, nose buried in a trash bag, hears Miguel and chases after him. Miguel runs past a poster for the plaza “TALENT SHOW.”
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EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER A sea of candles and flowers, families gathered at graves. Miguel sneaks through the cemetery unnoticed, slipping from one shadow to the next. Dante suddenly catches up to Miguel. He barks excitedly.
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EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT A panicked Miguel runs out, trying to figure out what's going on! But the people in the cemetery walk through him too. Suddenly he hears a familiar voice. MAMÁ
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EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER Miguel and his family weave through the graves, rounding a corner. His gaze falls upon a glowing MARIGOLD BRIDGE arching before them.
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EXT. MARIGOLD GRAND CENTRAL STATION CANNED LOOP (V.O.) Welcome back to the Land of the Dead. Please have all offerings ready for re-entry. We hope you
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INT. MARIGOLD GRAND CENTRAL STATION Miguel and his family are escorted by a security guard across an arching second floor walkway. VOICE OVER P.A. Paging Marta Gonzales-Ramos. Marta
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INT. CLERK'S OFFICE CLERK Well, you're cursed. The family gasps. MIGUEL
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INT. STAIRCASE - MOMENTS LATER Miguel hustles down a staircase with Dante. Once on the ground floor, they huddle beneath the staircase. He looks to the upper floor. The Dead Riveras are there. Tío Oscar asks a PATROLWOMAN about a boy of Miguel's height. The
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INT. NEARBY CORRIDOR Miguel and Dante hide from the patrolman. But Dante wanders off to inspect a side room. MIGUEL No, no -- Dante!
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INT. HALLWAY MIGUEL Hey. Hey! You really know de la Cruz? HÉCTOR
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EXT. MARIGOLD GRAND CENTRAL STATION Miguel and Dante burst out the door and rush down the stairs. Héctor's arm snaps to get Miguel’s attention. Miguel realizes it’s no longer attached to Héctor’s body. The arm signals backwards to Héctor who is ten paces behind.
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EXT. UNDERPASS TUNNEL - NIGHT Miguel sits on a wooden crate. Héctor uses his thumb to smudge black and white shoe polish on the boy’s face. HÉCTOR Hey, hey, hold still.
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EXT. BUSTLING STREET They make their way through a pedestrian path. HÉCTOR (CONT'D) ...It's not gonna be easy, you know? He's a busy man.
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EXT. WAREHOUSE, BENEATH WINDOWS Héctor uses his suspenders to slingshot his arm to a third floor window. The hand taps on it. INT. COSTUME ROOM CECILIA, a costumer, turns from a costume to look at the
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INT. REHEARSAL AREA MIGUEL We shouldn't be in here... Miguel follows Dante through a giant warehouse, divided into different artists workspaces. He passes papier-mâché
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EXT. UNDERPASS TUNNEL - NIGHT Pepita sweeps across the sky, landing in a darkened corner. She casts a shadow on the wall, then lurches into the light. She sniffs out the spot where Héctor painted Miguel's face, finding a canister of shoe polish. She lets out a low growl.
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EXT. NARROW STAIRWAY Miguel follows Héctor down a steep stairway. Miguel looks to his bony knuckles, concern on his face. HÉCTOR Why the heck would you wanna be a
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EXT. SHANTY TOWN Graffiti on the archway depicts skeletal angels with wings the color of marigolds. Inside the archway, a group of ratty skeletons huddle around a burning trashcan and laugh raucously. They are gray and
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INT. SHANTY BUNGALOW TENT Héctor holds the curtain open. Miguel and Dante walk in. The tent is cramped, dark, and quiet. Piles are organized everywhere: stacks of old dishes, a drawer full of pocket watches, magazines, records. This place belongs to a
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EXT. LAND OF THE DEAD Héctor and Miguel hang off the back of a moving trolley. Miguel holds Héctor's photo in his hands, scanning it, while Héctor fiddles on the guitar idly. MIGUEL
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EXT. ON STAGE An EMCEE greets her audience. EMCEE Bienvenidos a todos! Who's ready for some música?
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EXT. BACKSTAGE Miguel and Héctor stand amongst other contestants. HÉCTOR So what's the plan? What are you gonna play?
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EXT. PEDESTRIAN THOROUGHFARE Miguel hustles to get away from Héctor. Dante bounds after him, but looks back and whimpers. He barks to get Miguel's attention. MIGUEL
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EXT. NARROW STAIRCASE MAMÁ IMELDA (CONT'D) Come back! Miguel! He wriggles through an iron gate. MAMÁ IMELDA (CONT'D)
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EXT. BOTTOM OF THE TOWER Miguel arrives at the foot of the hill to de la Cruz's tower. Vehicles from all eras (limousines, motor cars, carriages) drop off finely dressed guests who line up to get aboard a funicular that scales the tower to the mansion.
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EXT. DE LA CRUZ'S MANSION The doors of the funicular open to reveal de la Cruz's lavish mansion. Los Chachalacos all file out. MIGUEL Whoa...
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INT. DE LA CRUZ’S MANSION Miguel heads into the foyer but loses de la Cruz in the crowd. MIGUEL Señor de la Cruz!
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EXT. BOTTOM OF THE TOWER CROWD Look, it's Frida! The silhouette of Frida Kahlo steps up to the security guard. HÉCTOR
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INT. DE LA CRUZ’S OFRENDA ROOM De la Cruz gestures to the massive piles of gifts from his fans: bread, fruits, flowers, instruments, etc. All piled up to the ceiling. DE LA CRUZ
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EXT. VERANDA The party guests move outside to watch the light show. INT. DE LA CRUZ’S MANSION The hall has emptied, the lights are turned down. Bursts of color from outside flash across the walls. The only light
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INT. MEXICO CITY HOTEL ROOM Héctor throws a songbook in a suitcase, shuts it. He grabs his guitar case like he means to leave. HÉCTOR (V.O.) We'd been performing on the road
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EXT. EMPTY STREET HÉCTOR (V.O.) You walked me to the train station. They walk down an empty street at night, Héctor with suitcase and guitar case in tow. Héctor stumbles, de la Cruz steadies
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INT. DE LA CRUZ’S MANSION Héctor clenches his jaw. Then he bounds at de la Cruz, tackling him to the ground. HÉCTOR How could you?!
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EXT. DE LA CRUZ'S TOWER The guards drag Miguel out the back of de la Cruz's mansion. MIGUEL Let go! They throw him into a cenote, an inescapable sinkhole behind
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INT. YOUNG COCO’S BEDROOM - DAY HÉCTOR (singing) REMEMBER ME THOUGH I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE
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INT. CENOTE The echo of Héctor’s song fades to silence. MIGUEL He stole your guitar... He stole your songs...
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EXT. NIGHT SKY Miguel, wind in his hair, hugs Dante fiercely. MIGUEL Dante, you knew he was my Papá Héctor the whole time! You ARE a
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EXT. SMALL PLAZA Pepita flies in, landing in a small plaza where the other Riveras wait. PAPÁ JULIO Look, there they are!
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EXT. SUNRISE SPECTACULAR AMPHITHEATER - BEFORE DAWN Crowds are congregated at de la Cruz's Sunrise Spectacular which takes place in an open air amphitheater. They hurry to their seats as the lights begin to dim. ON STAGE
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INT. BACKSTAGE CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER The Dead Riveras congregate in a hidden backstage corridor, shedding their Frida outfits. Miguel rips off his unibrow. MIGUEL Ow!
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INT. BELOW STAGE De la Cruz knocks over a group of giant sugar skull dancers. He emerges at a full sprint to where his rising platform is set up. DE LA CRUZ
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INT. DE LA CRUZ’S MAUSOLEUM - SUNRISE Miguel finds himself back in de la Cruz's tomb. Dazed, he looks through the windows; day has broken. On the floor is the skull guitar. Miguel grabs it. He exits the tomb and takes off out of the cemetery.
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EXT. RIVERA COMPOUND Miguel rounds the corner and follows the trail of marigolds through the front gate. He runs for Mamá Coco’s bedroom. Just as he makes it to the doorway, Abuelita steps up and blocks him.
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EXT. CEMETERY - MORNING TITLE CARD: ONE YEAR LATER The cemetery is once again filled with families cleaning off head stones and laying flowers. EXT. DE LA CRUZ'S MAUSOLEUM
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EXT. MARIGOLD GRAND CENTRAL STATION Héctor waits in the departures line nervously. MIGUEL (O.S.) (singing) SAY THAT I’M CRAZY
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EXT. FOOT OF THE BRIDGE Héctor exits from the Marigold Grand Central Station. Mamá Imelda waits on the cobblestones to greet him. They kiss. Then he hears a familiar voice. MAMÁ COCO
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EXT. STREETS OF SANTA CECILIA ©2017 DISNEY•PIXAR - PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL Dante's shadow is cast against a wall. When he rounds the corner, he is just a normal xolo dog, no wings or vibrant colors. Pepita's shadow looms large, but as she rounds the
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Coco

When a young boy named Miguel discovers his family's forgotten musical heritage, he embarks on a magical journey to the Land of the Dead to uncover the truth about his great-great grandfather and restore his family's legacy. Other loglines ›

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

What makes 'Coco' unique is its heartfelt exploration of Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead, combined with a universal theme of family and self-discovery. The narrative's emotional resonance, particularly through the character of Miguel and his relationship with his ancestors, creates a compelling story that is both entertaining and deeply meaningful. The vibrant visuals and music further enhance its appeal, making it a standout in the animated feature genre.

AI Verdict

How to read these: in industry coverage, Pass is the default outcome for the majority of professional scripts, and Consider means the reader stayed in the room. Industry-wide, the median professional evaluation sits at a 6 — scores of 8+ are rare everywhere, on purpose.

Synthesis Where readers agree and split
8.5

The script’s distinctive musical and cultural engine makes it championable, and it requires targeted revision on late-act causal pressure before it can secure a higher band.

Readers read as Mainstream commercial2 Elevated commercial3 majority
Genres Animation5 Fantasy5 Musical4 Family3 Coming of age2 Adventure1

An elevated commercial animated feature aiming for emotional accumulation through a culturally specific supernatural quest, clear musical motifs, and a family reconciliation that is earned through song and cost.

Readers split on the contract: three read this as elevated commercial, two as mainstream commercial. The split traces to tonal register and dialogue directness — the elevated read sees deliberate cultural restraint, the mainstream read sees functional accessibility.

Why not lower

The script’s clear structural spine, purposeful musical motifs, and earned emotional payoff anchor the read above lower bands despite late-act compression.

Why not higher

Late-act reversals and family reconciliation rely on rapid resolution rather than accumulated pressure, and the antagonist’s interiority remains functional rather than deeply layered.

Rewrite map

A script with a distinctive musical and cultural engine that needs targeted work on the antagonist’s behavioral seeding, the living family’s reconciliation pacing, and the midsection’s causal pressure.

Readers read as Mainstream commercial2 Elevated commercial3 majority

Start here

Seed the antagonist’s interiority and the living family’s behavioral shift in act two so the late-act turns rest on dramatized cost rather than revelation, which simultaneously tightens the midsection momentum and earns the final reconciliation.

Protect while fixing 2
Remember Me as shifting emotional anchor

Tightening the midsection or accelerating the antagonist reveal risks flattening the song’s three distinct contextual returns into a single thematic statement.

Keep the contrast between the grandiose public performance, the intimate lullaby, and the final memory-recovery scene stark, ensuring each return changes the song’s emotional weight rather than repeating it.

Culturally specific visual world-building

Compressing the middle-act detours or clarifying the blessing mechanics could inadvertently strip away the distinctive cultural texture that grounds the fantasy.

Preserve the papel picado prologue, marigold bridge, and spirit creature sequences as self-contained visual storytelling units rather than trimming them to serve plot efficiency.

Fix first 3
Antagonist pivot lacks seeded behavioral tells

The reader experiences the villain’s turn as a sudden plot switch rather than an inevitable character revelation, which lowers the dramatic weight of the final confrontation.

Root cause

The script establishes the antagonist’s charm and public image but withholds his ruthless interiority until the late reveal, missing early moments of image-management or suppressed guilt that would make the betrayal legible in hindsight.

One direction

Seed one or two subtle moments of possessiveness, image-control, or suppressed regret during the mansion sequences so the late turn reads as the exposure of a pre-existing flaw rather than a tonal lurch.

Living family’s acceptance resolves too quickly

The reader feels the emotional destination but misses the journey of the family changing its behavior, making the final reconciliation feel more like a thematic statement than a dramatized relationship shift.

Root cause

The script concentrates the family’s emotional shift in the Land of the Dead and resolves the living family’s prohibition through a final montage rather than through a specific, consequential exchange or choice.

One direction

Insert a brief, specific moment where the living family witnesses or responds to the protagonist’s music before the final courtyard scene, so their acceptance is enacted rather than implied.

Middle quest relies on episodic access hurdles Medium confidence

The reader experiences the middle section as a series of logistical obstacles that pause emotional progression, causing the sunrise deadline to feel present but not personally costly.

Root cause

Consecutive sequences are organized around gaining access to the next person or venue rather than consistently changing what the protagonist and his companion want from each other, flattening forward pressure between major turns.

One direction

Compress or reframe the access-based detours so each encounter materially alters the protagonist’s relationship with his companion or increases the personal cost of his pursuit.

Your decisions 1
Tonal register: elevated commercial restraint vs. mainstream commercial accessibility Consequential
Side A

Committing to elevated commercial means leaning into the cultural specificity and emotional restraint, accepting that the pacing and dialogue prioritize thematic resonance over broad accessibility.

Side B

Committing to mainstream commercial means prioritizing clear emotional legibility and broad accessibility, accepting that the functional dialogue and straightforward structure serve a wider audience.

Quick credibility wins 1
Strip action-line typography and on-the-nose dialogue

Remove stacked-capital sound effects and exclamation marks from action lines, and convert direct emotional declarations into subtext or behavioral cues so the prose carries the moment without typographic crutches.

Ask AI about this read
Would readers champion it · Rewrite depth · Voice · Score stability
What's working 4 of 5 readers agree

The shifting emotional anchor of the central song mechanism is a championable asset because it links the film’s opening family history, its musical identity, and its emotional climax into a single chain that a reader can track from start to finish.

What's blocking Readers disagree

Readers diverged on the primary blocker, with some citing the antagonist’s compressed reveal, others pointing to the lack of antagonist interiority, and a third group flagging the rapid family reconciliation. This divergence implies that the draft’s late-act pressure is diffuse rather than localized to a single structural flaw.

Would readers champion it?
Not yetNot yetReaders wouldn’t actively push for it.
Early interestEarly interestMentioned, but no real push behind it.
ModeratelyModeratelyMentioned favorably to the right buyer.
StronglyStronglyActively championed across their network.
ClaudeStronglyGPT5StronglyGeminiStronglyGrokStronglyDeepSeekModerately
How much rewrite does it need?
Start from scratchStart from scratchPremise or core engine isn’t working. Page-one rebuild.
Structural rewriteStructural rewriteSpecific acts or zones need rebuilding — not starting over, but significant revision work on those sections.
Targeted rewriteTargeted rewriteSpecific scenes or threads need rework. ~1 month.
Just polishJust polishLines and pacing tweaks. A few weeks.
ClaudeTargeted rewriteDeepSeekTargeted rewriteGPT5Targeted rewriteGeminiJust polishGrokJust polish
How distinctive is the voice?
GenericGenericReads like other scripts in the genre.
EmergingEmergingHints of a distinctive voice, not yet locked in.
DistinctiveDistinctiveA clear, recognizable authorial voice.
One-of-a-kindOne-of-a-kindA voice that couldn’t be anyone else’s.
ClaudeDistinctiveGPT5DistinctiveGrokDistinctiveGeminiOne-of-a-kindDeepSeekEmerging

On the score: The score sits between two verdicts — small changes in either direction could flip it.

Story Facts
Genres:
Fantasy 50% Drama 40% Comedy 30%

Setting: Modern day, during the Día de los Muertos celebration, Santa Cecilia, Mexico, and the Land of the Dead

Themes: Family, Music, Memory and Forgetting, Identity and Self-Discovery, The Power of Love and Sacrifice

Conflict & Stakes: Miguel's struggle to pursue his passion for music against his family's strict ban, risking his connection to his family and their traditions.

Mood: Nostalgic and heartfelt, with moments of joy and tension.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The exploration of Día de los Muertos and its significance in Mexican culture, providing a rich backdrop for the story.
  • Major Twist: The revelation that Héctor is Miguel's true ancestor and the emotional connection they share through music.
  • Distinctive Setting: The vibrant and fantastical Land of the Dead, filled with colorful characters and imaginative visuals.
  • Innovative Ideas: The integration of music as a central theme that drives the narrative and character development.

Comparable Scripts: Coco, The Book of Life, Soul, Moana, The Lion King, A Wrinkle in Time, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella

Script Level Analysis

Writer Exec

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

Breaks down your script along various categories.

Overall Score: 9.09
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Story Critique
Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.
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Characters
Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.
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Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

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Goals and Philosophical Conflict
Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.
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Themes
Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.
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Logic & Inconsistencies
Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.
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Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
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Other Analyses

Writer Exec

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice
Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.
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Writer's Craft
Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.
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Memorable Lines
Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.
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Tropes
Highlights common or genre-specific tropes found in the script.
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World Building
Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.
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Correlations
Identifies patterns in scene scores.
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Loglines
Presents logline variations based on theme, genre, and hook.
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Script•o•Scope