12-year-old Miguel lives in a Mexican village in a family of shoemakers and secretly dreams of becoming a musician. Secretly, because for his family music is considered a curse. Once his great-great-grandfather left his wife, Miguel's great-great-grandmother, for a dream that now does not let his great-great-grandson live in peace. That musical theme in the family has become taboo. Miguel discovers that there is some connection between them and his beloved singer Ernesto de la Cruz, who is now deceased. The boy travels to his idol in the Land of the Dead, where he meets the souls of his ancestors. Miguel meets there a skeletal spirit named Hector, who becomes his guide. Together they set out in search of Ernesto de la Cruz.