Why does Miguel turn into a skeleton?

Answered by Douglas Hiatt

Miguel turns into a skeleton in order to disguise himself and avoid suspicion from the other residents of the Land of the Dead. This transformation is necessary because Miguel is a living boy who has crossed over from the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead. As a living being, he stands out among the deceased residents of the Land of the Dead, which could potentially lead to trouble and unwanted attention.

The Land of the Dead is a place where only the deceased reside, and the living are not supposed to be present. Miguel’s presence in the Land of the Dead is already quite unusual and could raise questions and concerns among the residents. In order to blend in and prevent any suspicion, Miguel and his friend Héctor come up with the idea of disguising Miguel as a skeleton.

By transforming into a skeleton, Miguel is able to adopt the appearance of a typical resident of the Land of the Dead. Skeletons are a common sight in this realm, and by mimicking their appearance, Miguel can avoid drawing attention to himself. This disguise allows him to navigate the Land of the Dead more freely and carry out his mission of finding his deceased great-great-grandfather, Ernesto de la Cruz.

Héctor, being an experienced resident of the Land of the Dead, helps Miguel in this transformation. He guides Miguel to an alley where they can hide and proceeds to disguise Miguel as a skeleton. This involves painting Miguel’s face and body to resemble the skeletal appearance of the residents of the Land of the Dead. The transformation is essential to ensure Miguel’s safety and to prevent any suspicion or interference from the other inhabitants.

Miguel turns into a skeleton as a means of blending in and avoiding suspicion from the other residents of the Land of the Dead. This disguise enables him to navigate the realm more freely and pursue his goal of finding his great-great-grandfather.