Disney recently released their 60th animated film entitled “Encanto” which was released to theaters on Nov. 24, 2021 and added to streaming platforms a month later.
Set in rural Columbia in the 20th century, the Madrigal family is given magical gifts which are used for the betterment of their community. Young Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the only member without a gift, makes a special discovery.
The magic which fuels her family and keeps her home standing, is dying. Encanto follows the story of Mirabel and her journey to “Save the encanto,” through healing bonds with her family.
The run time of the film is 1 hour and 34 minutes and was directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard. “Encanto” earned a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Encanto” has become a beloved movie by many, and each person has their own reason. The film increases the diversity of cultures displayed in the Disney Universe, thus increasing representation of these cultures. To see oneself in a character and have a relatability factor is important.
“Encanto” also plays an essential role in displaying struggles many families face, especially in the Latin community. The film depicts themes such as generational trauma and healing, the pressures that come with the need to be perfect, and the usually unspoken hardships of being a child with too much responsibility.
The themes are also displayed through the musical writings of Lin-Manuel Miranda who has previously worked with Disney for “Moana”.
Another notable mention is Germaine Franco who is the first woman to score a Disney animated feature. Other works of hers include “Coco”, “Kung Fu Panda 3”, “The Book of Life”, “Rio 2” and more.
The soundtrack has gained widespread fame and has spread like a wildfire throughout social media, especially Tiktok. A fan favorite “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” landed no. 5 on the Billboard 100 on January 13, 2022. Other popular tracks include “The Family Madrigal” and “Surface Pressure”.
The creative team of Encanto added many details that give a nod to Columbia shown through food, animals, agriculture, music, and garments. In the film, one can spot arepas con queso, tinto and white rice in ajiaco.
We can also spot chigüiros (capybaras), men wearing guayaberas and a variety of instruments including the tiple. Colombian flag colors of yellow, blue, and red are scattered throughout.
Personally, I am a huge fan of the film but I felt that it was incomplete. I viewed the ending as abrupt but enjoyable nonetheless. I would have preferred more family members stories to be explored.
I think the lack of exploration of other members of la familia Madrigal leaves room for a spin-off series and I’d love to watch it, but no news of future projects has been released.
“Encanto” may be directed towards children; however it has shown to resonate across generations and may even be building a bridge between the gaps.
The film has given more of the world’s population a chance to see themselves represented through ethnicity or emotionally. Between the touching storyline and well developed songs, “Encanto” is a film difficult to not enjoy.
