12-year-old Miguel lives in a Mexican village in a family of shoemakers and secretly dreams of becoming a musician. Secretly, because in his family music is considered a curse. His great-great-grandfather once left his wife, Miguel's great-great-grandmother, for a dream that now keeps his great-great-grandson at bay. Since then, the subject of music has been taboo in the family. Miguel discovers that there is a connection between him and his favorite singer Ernesto de la Cruz, now deceased. The boy goes to his idol in the Land of the Dead, where he meets the souls of his ancestors. Miguel gets acquainted there with a skeleton spirit named Hector, who becomes his guide. Together they go in search of de la Cruz.