The elderly woman who inspired the character ‘Mama Coco’ in the movie Coco (Pixar), passed away this Sunday at the age of 109. Her name was María Salud Ramírez, she was Mexican, and thanks in part to her, the animation studio won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2018.
Roberto Monroy, Secretary of Tourism of Michoacán was responsible for announcing her death. He did so via Twitter:
I deeply regret the passing of Doña María Salud Ramírez Caballero, "Mamá Coco,” a tireless woman and example of life, who was the inspiration for this beloved character that went around the world. My prayers for her eternal rest and for her family to find peace.
- ROBERTO MONROY G (@robertomonroy1) October 16, 2022
According to Mexican media, María Salud Ramírez died of natural causes in her hometown of Santa Fe de La Laguna, a town located near the lake of Patzcuaro, known for the celebration of the Day of the Dead. This is precisely the festival that forms a fundamental part of the plot of the movie which made the elderly lady a celebrity. Many tourists came to where Maria Salud lived to have their picture taken with her.
Doña María Salud Ramírez Caballero, known as "Mamá Coco", has passed away in Santa Fe de la Laguna. She had just turned 109 years old.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/jkuuedEBJL- La Voz de Michoacán (@vozmichoacan) October 16, 2022
Disney did not recognize Maria Salud as an inspiration for 'Mama Coco'
The film stars Miguel, a young boy who begins a fantastic journey to the Land of the Dead to learn about the history of his ancestors, especially Hector, his great-great-grandfather and the father of Mama Coco, his great-grandmother. Mama Coco is a character who, due to her age and illness, could forget Hector and therefore remove him from the family's Day of the Dead celebration.
The movie would not have been possible without Mexicans such as Lee Unkrick, director of Coco. When he received his Oscar in March 2018, he said "The biggest thank you is to the people of Mexico. Coco would not exist without their infinitely beautiful culture and traditions."
However, Disney never acknowledged that she was inspired by 'Nana Salud,’ as she was affectionately known in the town. As reported by El Universal, the Coco production team took a photograph of Maria Salud years before the film's release. However, she was never recognized as the inspiration for the character of 'Mama Coco.’ Darla K. Anderson, the company's producer, merely noted that her inspiration had been "all the things they (the families) told the team and the artists". In this way they took all the limelight away from María Salud as the real inspiration to create 'Mamá Coco,’ something that really saddens her family: "The character is based on her features and movements, as well as the way she walks, talks and behaves,” they said.
