|
This character is so dastardly, hated and popular that this character was voted most hated character of: November 2024. |
| “ | Seize your moment. | „ |
| ~ Ernesto de la Cruz's catchphrase |
Ernesto de la Cruz is the main antagonist of Pixar's 19th full-length animated feature film Coco.
He was a famed Mexican musician who was beloved by many, leaving audiences in awe over his music and looks. He was killed by a falling bell in 1942, after which his soul stayed in the Land of the Dead. He still holds concerts in the Land of the Dead, and many still idolize him, including Miguel Rivera, who even believes that Ernesto was his great-great-grandfather. After Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead, he sets out to find his "great-great-grandfather".
However, he learns from Héctor (another soul in the Land of the Dead) about Ernesto's true history and motivations. Héctor reveals that he was Ernesto's former music partner, and that Ernesto murdered him after he wanted to see his family and go home. Afterwards, Ernesto stole and took credit for Héctor's songs without any remorse for killing his partner. It is also revealed that Ernesto wanted to become a musician not because he genuinely loved music, but because he could soak in all the prestige that being a renowned musician would bring him.
He was voiced by Benjamin Bratt, barring his singing voice which was provided by Antonio Sol.
What Makes Him a Hate Sink?[]
- He murdered Héctor Rivera (his childhood friend) by secretly putting poison in his tequila, when he wanted to go home to his family, for his songs without a tint of remorse. What's more is he never at least told Héctor's family of his death (he logically could claim Héctor died of food/alcohol poisoning), which caused his wife Imelda and the rest of their descendants to hate Hector for seemingly abandoning them and music by extension.
- Not to mention that he even went as far as to consider Hector's music as his own when they aren't, and even adulterate his songs like turning the slow ballad that was Remember Me into an overly fast song lacking in sentimental value.
- Héctor's bond with him was so strong, that he saw Ernesto as a brother, further making this action even worse.
- There's also the fact that one of his films features a scene where he plays as a hero that was nearly poisoned but survives, further signifying his lack of guilt for poisoning his best friend and brother figure.
- While he did save Miguel from drowning out of genuine kindness and even got along with him, he later subverts this upon his exposure.
- He crushed Miguel's marigold petal into powder to prevent him from going back to the Land of the Living, before coldly admitting to Miguel about his murder of Hector.
- He admits his murder of Héctor and his theft of Hector's music to Miguel, explaining he did it to "seize his moment" by becoming a famous musician.
- After confessing his crimes, Ernesto tells the horrified Miguel that he knows he understands his "reasons" for becoming a musician as he has guards drag the boy and trap him in a cenote so he can't escape. Even worse, he thought Miguel was his own grandson at this moment and still had no problem with killing him.
- He intends to make sure Héctor is forgotten by stealing his photo, which also keeps his former friend from seeing his elderly daughter in the Land of the Living during the Day of the Dead.
- He throws Miguel, a living child, off a cliff after confessing his crimes without any regrets, smirks at the former, then gives Héctor a cruel and sarcastic/mocking apology as he walks past him. Thankfully, the boy is saved by Pepita, who then gives the fraud what he deserves, by receiving the same fate being his death, which was being crushed by a giant bell.
- Before Pepita throws him at the bell, Ernesto can be heard pathetically begging for mercy, showing us he is a complete coward.
- His final fate is played for satisfaction and stress relief, so he won't receive a final death with majority of the people remembering him as a permanently disgraced fraud and a murderer, with him being put in a fate worse than death.
- Overall, he's nothing but an ironically soulless man who underestimated the values of both family and music, being more focused on fame and attention, all the while not caring about his audience.
Trivia[]
- Ernesto de la Cruz is the fifth Pixar villain to die, after Hopper, Syndrome, Charles Muntz, and Mor'du, and before the Curse Dragon. However, unlike these other villains, his death occurs before the main events of the film, and is not a part of his ultimate defeat.
- Benjamin Bratt also voiced El Macho, who ironically is a Magnificent Baddie.
External links[]
- Ernesto de la Cruz on the Villains Wiki
- Ernesto de la Cruz on the Disney Wiki
- Ernesto de la Cruz on the Pixar Wiki
[]
 Hate Sinks
| ||
|
Animated Features Pixar Others Live-Action Features Star Wars Marvel Studios Animated Television Darkwing Duck Kim Possible American Dragon: Jake Long Phineas and Ferb Gravity Falls Star vs. the Forces of Evil DuckTales (2017) Marvel's Spider-Man (2017) Big Hero 6: The Series Amphibia The Owl House The Ghost and Molly McGee Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Others: Live-Action Television Video Games Shorts Literature Musicals Fanon Fanscription: Character What: All For Luz: The Angel of the Owl House: Boiling Isles and Beyond: The Gods Awaken: Dennis_Main: Five Nights at Treasure Island: Wednesday's Infidelity: MoringMark: Others: Crossovers See Also: | ||
 Hate Sinks
| ||
|
Animated Features See Also | ||
| Hated Characters of the Month | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2026
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||