Jorge Gutierrez created something visually explosive back in 2014. If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. The textures look like carved wood. The colors bleed into each other like a dream. But when it came to The Book of Life movie toys, things got a little weird for collectors. Usually, a big animated flick gets a massive rollout at Target or Walmart with aisles of plastic. This wasn't that.
Finding a Manolo Sanchez figure today isn’t just about going to a store. It’s a hunt. Honestly, it’s kinda frustrating because the character designs were literally meant to be toys. They were designed as wooden puppets! Yet, the merchandise didn't flood the shelves like a Disney or Pixar release might. It was niche. It was specific. And now, those few pieces that did make it to production are fetching some wild prices on the secondary market.
The Funko Legacy and the "Glow" Factor
When people talk about The Book of Life movie toys, the first thing they usually mention is Funko. This was back when Funko was really starting to flex its muscles with licenses that weren't just "mainstream." They released a core set of Pop! Vinyl figures that captured that specific Mexican folk-art aesthetic remarkably well.
You had Manolo, Maria, and Joaquin. But the real stars? La Muerte and Xibalba. If you own a La Muerte Pop! figure in good condition, you’re basically sitting on a small treasure chest. The detail on her hat—the tiny candles and the marigolds—was a massive step up from the "black eyes and simple shape" formula Funko usually stuck to.
Then there’s the glow-in-the-dark stuff. People go crazy for those. The Maria figure had a few variants, but nothing compares to the aftermarket demand for the La Muerte variant. I’ve seen them go for hundreds of dollars because they just don't make them anymore. They were produced in limited quantities, and once the movie left theaters, the production lines stopped. That’s the thing about licensed toys for non-franchise films; once that window shuts, it’s bolted tight.
Why Did Dark Horse Get Involved?
Most folks associate Dark Horse with comics like Hellboy or The Umbrella Academy. But they actually stepped up to produce some of the highest-quality The Book of Life movie toys available. These weren't exactly "toys" in the sense that you’d give them to a toddler to chew on. They were vinyl figures, but they felt like art pieces.
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The Dark Horse set included 4-inch versions of Manolo and Maria. They captured the "wood grain" texture that Jorge Gutierrez fought so hard to keep in the film. It's rare to see a toy company actually care about the texture of a digital model. Usually, they just smooth everything out to save on molding costs. Dark Horse didn’t. They kept the notches, the angular joints, and that hand-painted feel.
They also did a larger 8-inch Manolo. It's heavy. It feels substantial. If you find one with the guitar intact, you've won. The guitar is almost always the first thing to snap off or get lost in a move. Collectors call this "complete in box" or CIB, and for this specific movie, "complete" is a very high bar to clear.
The Mystery of the McDonald’s Happy Meal
We have to talk about the Happy Meal toys. Every kid in 2014 probably had one of these rolling around in a toy box. Are they "high art"? No. Are they essential for a complete collection of The Book of Life movie toys? Absolutely.
The set was actually pretty decent for fast-food plastic. You had a Manolo that played music, a Joaquin with a "heroic" action, and a Xibalba with wings that moved. The scale was totally off, though. Xibalba was the same size as the humans, which feels wrong if you're a purist. But for many fans, this was the only way to get a physical piece of the movie without spending $50 on eBay.
Interestingly, these cheap plastic figures have stayed surprisingly durable. The paint doesn't flake as much as you'd expect. I think it’s because the color palette of the movie is so bold that even a basic factory spray-job looks vibrant ten years later.
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Misconceptions About "Coco" Merch
Let’s address the elephant in the room. A lot of people see Dia de los Muertos toys and assume they are related to Disney’s Coco. I’ve seen eBay listings for "Book of Life toys" that are actually just generic Day of the Dead skeletons or, worse, bootleg Coco merchandise.
The aesthetic is similar because they draw from the same cultural well, but the "wood carving" look is the dead giveaway for The Book of Life movie toys. If it doesn't look like it was whittled out of a block of cedar by a supernatural artisan, it’s probably not from the Gutierrez universe. Real collectors look for the specific jointing—those ball-and-socket looks on the elbows and knees that mimic old-school marionettes.
The Secondary Market is a Wild West
If you're trying to start a collection now, be prepared. You aren't walking into a store and finding these. You’re hunting on Mercari, eBay, and specialized toy forums. Prices fluctuate wildly. One week a Funko La Muerte is $150, the next it’s $300 because a TikTok went viral.
- Check the Guitars: Manolo's guitar is the most fragile part of almost every toy line produced for this film.
- Verify the Boxes: For the Dark Horse figures, the boxes are actually quite beautiful and add about 30% to the value.
- Watch for "Customs": Because official merch is so scarce, there is a huge market for custom-made The Book of Life movie toys. Some are incredible 3D-printed statues; others are just painted over generic dolls. Know the difference before you drop cash.
It’s honestly a shame we didn't get more. I would have killed for a high-end resin statue of the Cave of Souls or the different versions of the Land of the Remembered. The world-building was so dense that they could have made hundreds of different spirits and skeletons. Instead, we have a handful of treasures.
How to Source Authentic Pieces Right Now
Don't just search "Book of Life toys" on Google and click the first link. You'll get hit with weird dropshipping sites or generic party supplies. You have to be more surgical. Use specific search terms like "Dark Horse Manolo Vinyl" or "Funko Pop 149."
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Also, look into local Mexican folk art shops. Sometimes, they carry officially licensed (or high-quality "inspired by") figurines that capture the spirit of the movie better than a mass-produced piece from a mega-corp ever could. The movie was a love letter to Mexican culture, and often, the best "toys" are the hand-crafted Alebrijes that remind you of the film's vibrant energy.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you want to own a piece of this movie's history, start with the Funko Pop! Manolo. It’s the most "attainable" of the vaulted figures. Avoid the temptation to buy "New Old Stock" from questionable third-party sellers on giant retail sites; they are often scams. Stick to platforms with buyer protection.
Join a Jorge Gutierrez fan group on social media. The director is still very active and often shares photos of fan-made creations or rare promos. Sometimes collectors in those groups decide to offload their sets, and you’ll get a much better price—and a guarantee of authenticity—than you would from a random flipper.
Keep an eye on the "Land of the Remembered" aesthetic. It’s timeless. Even if you can't find the exact The Book of Life movie toys you want today, the influence of that movie’s design is everywhere now. The hunt is half the fun, even if it feels like you're searching through the Land of the Forgotten sometimes.