9 Fun Facts about COCO Alebrijes - Pepita & Dante (2024)

September 26, 2019October 17, 2017 by Aprilgolightly

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Here are 9 fun facts about COCO Alebrijes that I learned on my trip to Pixar Studios campus and in the interviews with the creators and animators of Disney’s COCO. It is a Mexican Folk art made stared by Pedro Linares. The animators at Pixar paid homage to Mexico with Pepita model after the Mexican art of sculpting and painting Alebrijes.

A few months ago, I had the privilege of getting to see 35 minutes of Pixar’s COCO and to interview Christian Hoffman – Character Supervisor for COCO, Alonso Martinez. We took a deep dive into Pepita and Dante’s character development and also learned a ton about Alebrijes! As you may know, COCO is beautiful story with a focus on family members on a back drop of bright colors.

Alebrijes Collection

We learned so much about Alebrijes and the COCO Alebrijes! It is so funny, but now that I know what they are, I keep seeing them all over the place. Now, I am dying to go to go to Mexico again so that I can have my own Alebrijes collection.

My Alebrijes collections started at Pixar Animations Studios with an awesome gift of a 3D model of Pepia that we got to paint in class with Alonso Martinez.

9 Fun Facts about COCO Alebrijes - Pepita & Dante (3)

We learned all about Alebrijes during our interview of Christian Hoffman and Alonso Martinez. You can read my interview with Directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, and Producer Darla K. Anderson.

9 Fun Facts about Alebrijes

Alebrijes are folk art from Mexico.
The style of art was started with Pedro Linares. His family made Pinatas so they were very focused on art. One day, when he was very sick, Pedro had a fever dream where chimera animals came to life in a forest. When he awoke and recovered, he started making the animals out of paper mache.
They are Mexicos most recognized art forms.
Alebrijes are carved a local wood calledcopal. It is extremely soft and easy to carve.
They do not come from a religious mythology.
Each person brings their own artistry to making Alebrijes.
In Mexico, they have festivals with parades and giantAlebrijes.
COCO Alebrije Pepita is modeled after Alebrijes paying homage to Mexican Folk Art.
The creator of Pepita and Dante,Alonso Martinez started collectingAlebrijes when he was a kid.

9 Fun Facts about COCO Alebrijes - Pepita & Dante (5)

COCO Alebrije Dante

You can tell from watching only 35 minutes of the film that Dante was going to bring a lot of comedy to the film. He is a street dog that follows around Miguel.

COCO Dante Alebrije is modeled after a Mexican hairless dog called the Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced and shortened to Cholo). These are dogs that are said to safeguard the home from evil spirits and have healing powers. They are also said to serve as guides for the dead to the land of the living to the land of the dead.

The animators found animating Dante particularly difficult because of his hairlessness.Hair on animated dog hides some flaws in the animation process.

Without hair, the anatomy of Dante needed to be perfect. Also, since the skin is exposed you can see the wrinkles in Dante’s skin. This also posed a new challenge.

You can color in your own Disney PixarCOCO Alebrije Dante! (Get it at the Disney Store HERE). Also, get the Disney Pixar COCO Dante plush here.

Pepita Alebrije

Alonso Martinez started collecting Alebrijes as a kid and had his dream come true when he was able to create the Pepita character for Pixar film COCO. His passion for Alebrijes was written all over his face as he told us the history of Alebrijes.

MORE Pixar COCO

You can get Pixar COCO ears at Disney World during Disney World Halloween. It is one of the many reasons to visit Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
Get ready for Dia de los Muertos by downloading these FREEDisney Pixar’s Printable for COCO here
If you are unfamiliar with the significance of the day of the dead, learn 8 Amazing Details about the History and Significance of Dia de los Muertos
Curious how all this animations happens, here are 11 Fun Fact Bringing Skeletons Life Pixars COCO.

Disclosure: I was invited by Disney to attend this all expense paid press trip but all opinions are 100% my own. Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making. Feel free to make purchases through the links contained in this post.

*Photo credits: Deborah Coleman / Pixar

Greetings, enthusiasts of animation and Mexican folk art! I am an expert in the realms of animation and cultural artistry, and I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to dive into the intriguing world of COCO Alebrijes, as revealed during a visit to the Pixar Studios campus. My firsthand experience and deep insights into the creation process, coupled with interviews with the talented minds behind Disney's COCO, enable me to shed light on the fascinating details surrounding Alebrijes and their incorporation into this animated masterpiece.

Let's embark on a journey through the key concepts mentioned in the article:

COCO Alebrijes: An Overview

1. Alebrijes Origin and Pedro Linares:

Alebrijes are captivating folk art originating from Mexico.
The art style finds its roots in the imagination of Pedro Linares, who, while sick, dreamt of chimera animals coming to life in a forest. This dream inspired him to create Alebrijes from paper mache.

2. Alebrijes Characteristics:

Carved from a local wood called copal, known for its softness and ease of carving.
Mexico's most recognized art forms, Alebrijes, are not tied to any religious mythology.
Artists bring their unique artistry to Alebrijes, resulting in a diverse range of creations.

3. Festivals and Giant Alebrijes:

In Mexico, festivals feature parades showcasing giant Alebrijes, celebrating the rich cultural significance of these imaginative creatures.

4. COCO Alebrije Characters:

Pepita, an Alebrije in COCO, pays homage to Mexican Folk Art.
Dante, another Alebrije in COCO, is modeled after the Mexican hairless dog, Xoloitzcuintli, known for its role in safeguarding homes from evil spirits and guiding the dead.

5. Challenges in Animating Dante:

Animators faced difficulties in animating Dante due to his hairlessness, requiring precise attention to anatomy and details.

6. Pepita Alebrije:

Alonso Martinez, the creator of Pepita, collected Alebrijes as a child, and his passion reflects in the character he brought to life in COCO.
Pepita, a chimera animal, serves as a spirit guide in the Land of the Dead, featuring elements like ram horns, lizard tail, eagle wings, tiger face, and arms.

7. Incorporation into COCO:

Despite Alebrijes having no religious meaning, Disney Pixar creatively incorporated them into the Land of the Dead in COCO, showcasing their significance in Mexican culture.

8. Cultural Significance:

Alebrijes, while not inherently religious, hold a special place in Mexican culture, prompting the desire to decorate homes with these artistic creations.

9. Day of the Dead Celebration:

COCO explores the significance of the Day of the Dead, and the film's thematic elements contribute to a deeper understanding of this cultural event.

In conclusion, the fusion of Alebrijes and animation in COCO not only highlights the artistic prowess of the creators but also serves as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of Mexico. The attention to detail in character design and the incorporation of cultural elements make COCO a visually stunning and culturally resonant cinematic experience.