The woman who inspired the character of Mama Coco in the famous film Coco, produced by Pixar studios and winner of the Oscar in 2017 for best animated film, died this Sunday, Mexican authorities reported.
“I deeply regret the death of Doña María Salud Ramírez Caballero, Mama Coco, a tireless woman and example of life, who was an inspiration for this beloved character who went around the world,” reported Roberto Monroy, Secretary of Tourism of Michoacán (west ), the state of origin.
According to local media, Doña María had turned 109 last September and died in her hometown of Santa Fe de la Laguna, near the touristic Patzcuaro Lake, famous for its colorful celebration of the traditional Day of the Dead.
After the success of the film, which portrays this deep-rooted Mexican holiday, the old woman had become a kind of celebrity, with tourists visiting her to take photos with her due to her remarkable resemblance to her animated character, highlighted media Mexicans.
Coco tells the story of a boy who embarks on a fantastic journey to the world of the dead to learn the history of her ancestors, in particular her great-great-grandfather, Mama Coco’s father. “The greatest thanks to the people of Mexico. Coco would not exist without her culture and her infinitely beautiful traditions,” Lee Unkrich, the film’s director, said when he received the Oscar in March 2018.
(Taken from The World)