Throughout the film, Xibalba functions as the "trickster" archetype, a staple of folklore. He cheats in his wager with La Muerte, using a two-headed snake medal to manipulate the outcome and kill Manolo prematurely. While these actions are antagonistic, they serve as the catalyst for Manolo’s hero’s journey. Xibalba acts as a test-maker; he places obstacles in Manolo’s path that strip away Manolo’s physical life, forcing the young matador to rely on his wit and heart. When Manolo enters the Land of the Forgotten to find his family, he is traversing Xibalba’s domain. It is here that Manolo learns the truth about his ancestors and gains the courage to reject the legacy of violence (bullfighting) imposed by his father. Without Xibalba’s interference, Manolo might never have broken the cycle of toxic masculinity that plagued the Sanchez family.
Thematically, Xibalba represents the fear of being forgotten, which serves as the driving force of the plot. The film posits a tripartite afterlife: the Land of the Remembered for those who live on in memory, the Land of the Unknown for those who died unremarkably, and the bleak, gray Land of the Forgotten for those whose memories have faded. Xibalba’s resentment stems from his exile to this desolate realm. This backstory adds a layer of tragedy to his character; his villainy is motivated by loneliness and a desire to be relevant. In this way, Xibalba personifies the ultimate human anxiety—that a life lived without love or impact results in a second, permanent death. By casting his wager to take over the Land of the Remembered, he sets the stakes for the mortal characters, forcing the protagonist, Manolo, to prove that love is stronger than death. libro de la vida xibalba