Encanto (film)
"Encanto" is a 2021 animated musical comedy film from Walt Disney that tells the story of the Madrigal family, a multigenerational Colombian clan blessed with magical powers, except for young Mirabel. The film explores themes of family dynamics, self-acceptance, and the complexities of personal flaws within the context of a vibrant and enchanted setting. It garnered critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2022 and achieving significant commercial success, grossing over $230 million worldwide.
The film features original music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, including the chart-topping song "We Don't Talk About Bruno." "Encanto" is notable for its portrayal of Colombian culture and history, addressing themes such as forced immigration and familial conflict without a traditional villain. The animation distinguishes itself by showcasing diverse hair textures and incorporating native Colombian flora and fauna. While the film leaves some aspects of its magic unexplained, it invites viewers to theorize about its deeper meanings, particularly Mirabel's role in unifying her family and their magical home. Although no sequel has been officially announced, the creative team has expressed interest in continuing the story.
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Encanto (film)
Encanto is a 2021 American animated musical comedy film produced and released by Walt Disney. It is the sixtieth such film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film took home the Academy Award for best animated feature film at the 2022 Oscars. Encanto follows the Madrigals, a multigenerational Colombian family led by seventy-five-year old family matriarch Abuela “Alma” Madrigal. Alma and the Madrigal children and grandchildren have been granted special powers by a magical candle. All the children have magical powers except one—Mirabel Madrigal. The term, “Encanto” translates to English as “to enchant or charm.” It can also be used as a term of endearment, as in “a charming person.”
The film starred Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Jessica Darrow, Wilmer Valderrama and Diane Guerrero, among others. Encanto featured two directors, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, both of whom had previously worked on Walt Disney Animation Studios films.
Overview
Encanto premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on November 3, 2021, and was released nationwide three weeks later on November 24, 2021. The soundtrack for the film features eight original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and twenty-seven score pieces composed by American film composer, conductor, and arranger Germaine Franco. Both the film and the soundtrack garnered critical acclaim.
In the film’s plot, a young married couple, Pedro and Alma Madrigal, along with their infant children, Bruno, Julieta, and Pepa flee the violence in their village in Colombia. Pedro is killed by armed assailants, but a candle carried by Alma magically fends off the attackers. The candle then creates the magical, sentient house of Casita, which is located in an enchanted town called Encanto.
Decades later, the candle bestows magical powers onto the descendants of the Madrigal name when they reach the age of five. The powers are to be used to aid villagers in need. When Bruno turns five, he acquires the ability to foresee the future, a power that leads him to leave the family and disappear due to the treatment he receives from those around him. Five-year old Antonio receives the gift of communication with animals; the second-oldest sister, Luisa, is granted super-strength; and Isabela, the oldest at twenty-one, is gifted with the ability to produce flowers and plants at will. Mother Julieta is able to heal others through her cooking and Aunt Pepa can control the weather through her moods. Others in the family possess special powers as well, but, for some reason, Mirabel does not. When her family members’ powers begin to wane, Mirabel sets out on an adventure to find out the reason why. She also wants to save their magical house, which has begun to mysteriously crack. Along the way, she learns that true power is something that comes from within.
Encanto received a 91 percent fresh rating from the review aggregation website, Rotten Tomatoes, based on more than two hundred critic reviews. The film, which had a $50 million budget, grossed more than $96 million at the US box offices and more than $230 million globally.
The music was one of the reasons for the film’s success. The song, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, topped the music charts in the United States for five weeks, and was so popular it became cultural phenomenon with social media users. It is the second song from Disney to ever top the charts. The first was “A Whole New World,” featured in 1992’s Aladdin. Another song from Encanto, “Dos Oruguitas,” was nominated for an Oscar for best original song.
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Critics have noted that although Encanto is a Disney film aimed at the younger set, it does not glaze over the violent and tumultuous history of Colombia, nor does it dwell on it. Encanto is not the first Disney film to feature a Latin American culture; 2017’s Coco, Disney/Pixar production, was applauded for its cultural and historical accuracy. However, some criticized the film for its commercialization of the Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead.
Unlike many other Disney films, Encanto does not feature a traditionally established villain, such as a witch, a power-hungry rival, or a conniving aristocrat. However, some recurring themes from other Disney animated films are still present, including a less-than-kind stepmother, an underdog, and the death of a parent. The film also tackles issues as acknowledging personal flaws and imperfections, grappling with vulnerability, and the importance and freedom of self-acceptance. Encanto also explores the concept of forced immigration, familial conflict, coping with loss, as well as the power of an ultimately loving family and community.
The film has also garnered praise from critics for the detail used to create the characters’ hair. Unlike past films such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, or Frozen, Encanto utilizes twelve hair textures. It does not opt for the straight, light hair that has been the norm over the decades in Disney films. Use of native Colombian flowers, animals and other details were also widely praised.
The film does not give much in the way of explanation as to why the magic works as it does, but fans of Encanto have their theories. Some believe Mirabel’s true “magic” is the ability to keep her family and magical home of Casita together. Disney had not announced plans for a sequel as of mid-2022, but one of the film’s directors, Jared Bush, and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda have both hinted that they would like to work on a sequel.
Bibliography
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Castillo, Monica. “Encanto.” RogerEbert.com, 24 Nov. 2021, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/encanto-movie-review-2021. Accessed 15 June 2022.
“Encanto.” IMDb, 2022, www.imdb.com/title/tt2953050/. Accessed 15 June 2022.
“Encanto (2021).” The Numbers, 2022, www.the-numbers.com/movie/Encanto-(2021)#tab=summary. Accessed 15 June 2022.
LeGardye, Quinci. “The Magic of ‘Encanto,’ Explained.” Marie Claire, 22 Jan. 2022, www.marieclaire.com/culture/encanto-meaning/. Accessed 15 June 2022.
Nair, Shreejit. “Encanto Movie Review & Summary: Disney Brings its Magic to Enchanted Columbia.” The Movie Culture, 30 Jan. 2022, themovieculture.com/encanto-movie-review-and-summary. Accessed 15 June 2022.
Travis, Ben. “Encanto Sequel Teased By Director: ‘What’s Next … I Hope We’ll See’” Empire, 25 Mar. 2022, www.empireonline.com/movies/news/encanto-sequel-teased-by-director/. Accessed 15 June 2022.
Umansky-Castro, Rachel. “‘Encanto’ Provides Latinx Representation Through Culture, Music.” Huntington News, 3 Feb. 2022, huntnewsnu.com/67662/lifestyle/encanto-provides-latinx-representation-through-culture-music/. Accessed 15 June 2022.