Nearly a decade after its debut, Disney/Pixar's critically acclaimed film Coco is experiencing a significant resurgence, expanding its reach into new media and theme parks. Initially perceived as a beloved standalone story, Coco's narrative themes of memory, legacy, and the importance of family are now being amplified through multiple new ventures.
Disney Lorcana Embraces Coco
The trading card game Disney Lorcana is set to feature characters and themes from Coco in its upcoming music-themed expansion, Hyperia City, launching with prerelease events on October 16 and widely available on October 23. This expansion introduces a new setting where music, art, and technology converge. Characters like Miguel Rivera, Héctor, and Ernesto de la Cruz will be represented with unique card abilities reflecting their roles and iconic moments from the film. For instance, Mama Coco – Visiting the Park gains lore as cards enter the discard pile, mirroring her fading memory. Ernesto de la Cruz – Ruthless Musician offers an aggressive playstyle, banishing other Singer characters upon entry. The film's central song, "Remember Me," is represented by a card that allows players to bring characters back from their discard pile, mechanically reinforcing the song's theme of remembrance. Another promotional card, "Everyone Knows Juanita," enhances its card draw effect if a player has at least 10 cards in their discard pile, positioning the discard pile as Lorcana's interpretation of the Land of the Dead. A district within Hyperia City, the Marigold District, is directly inspired by Coco's depiction of the bridge connecting the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead.
Kingdom Hearts 4 and Theme Park Expansion
Coco's resurgence extends to video games with its inclusion in Kingdom Hearts 4. The game's first trailer revealed Quadratum, an 'afterworld' where Sora finds himself. The extended trailer later confirmed the Land of the Dead as the first Disney world in the sequel, featuring Sora alongside Miguel and Héctor. This thematic alignment between Coco's exploration of the boundary between life and death and Kingdom Hearts 4's narrative premise makes their collaboration a natural fit.
Additionally, Disney is developing its first theme-park attraction based on Coco for Disney California Adventure. Announced at D23 in 2024 and updated this year, the attraction will pick up a year after the film's events. The queue will lead to a 'casa museo' dedicated to Héctor Rivera's music, with the ride itself being a boat journey through the Land of the Dead, highlighting the film's characters, music, and Mexican culture.
Coco Sequel Announced
Further solidifying Coco's status as a burgeoning franchise, Disney officially announced Coco 2 in March 2025. While still in early development, reports suggest the sequel will focus on a teenage Miguel and the return of Ernesto de la Cruz seeking revenge. The film is slated for a November 21, 2029 release. This multi-faceted expansion into cards, games, theme parks, and film underscores Disney's commitment to honoring the legacy of Coco, a theme central to the original movie's poignant message.