On Christmas Day, Disney’s newest animated movie, Encanto, released on Disney+ for free.
Even though my girlfriend was ultimately the one that encouraged me to watch the film with her and her family, I was interested due to the stunning animation and my attachment to Pixar Animation’s, Coco. Encanto pleasantly surprised me as I found it to be an enjoyable, yet thought-provoking film.
Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film follows Mirabel Madrigal, who is a part of the magical family, the Madrigals. They live in the “Casita,” a magical house in Colombia that was settled by Mirabel’s grandmother, Abuela.
After Abuela’s husband, Pedro, died during an armed conflict, she vowed to save her three children, causing a candle to light up and develop a paradise for Abuela and her three children to live in.
As more children are born into the family, they are given “gifts,” which give them powers that help them contribute to the household and the village as a whole. Mirabel, however, is the only blood member of the family that did not receive a gift, causing a fractured relationship with many members of her family.
One night, Mirabel discovers that the magic is weakening and cracks in the household. As chaos ensues, several members of Mirabel’s family, including Abuela and her sister Isabela, continue to grow resentment for her. Mirabel has to search for answers as the fate of her family hangs in the balance.
The film is an enjoyable watch with stunning animation and spectacular music while providing analysis on traditional family roles.
Visually, Encanto is a masterpiece. I have rarely seen a film that used color as well as Encanto does. In scenes of magical bliss, the colors are vibrant to provide a sense of wonder for the viewers. Every detail is clearly defined as the colors show the paradise described during the film’s introduction. This is especially showcased with Isabela’s gift of creating flowers and the vast amount of different colors she uses.
On the other hand, when the house starts to be filled with chaos, the lighting, done by Daniel Rice, displays gloom and sadness for everyone around. It adds to the stakes of the film as I wanted to see those beautiful and vibrant colors again. The animation as a whole creates a wonderful atmosphere for each respective situation, giving me a sense of awe at the visuals throughout the entire movie.
Musically, Encanto provides a fun experience along while packing the songs with emotional substance. While many of the songs, written by Lin Manuel Miranda, are fun, most also have some underlying thematic issue lurking underneath. For example, during the first song, “The Family Madrigal,” Mirabel is showing off the powers of her family in a party-like performance. Alas, she dodges questions about her gift, indicating that she may not have one (even before its revealed).
"We Dont Talk About Bruno” is another catchy tune that explains the dysfunction of the family. He is one of Abuela’s three children who left the family after a vision showed a bleak future for the Madrigals. I enjoy the catchy, yet emotional tunes to make me feel emotions during the musical scenes.
What I loved about the film was the analysis on tradition and family roles. From talking with those close to me that have grown up in those environments, Encanto shows some of the issues presented in traditional Latin American households. Everyone in the house has a role, which can sometimes prevent true growth and happiness.
In the film, Isabela is considered the perfect princess, a role that causes everyone to treat her with flattery while pampering her. She grows frustrated with this and yearns to be different. Mirabel is looked down upon due to her being the “weakest” of the family without a gift, confining her to being a maid in the house.
Without getting into spoilers, the development these characters receive show how fluid gender roles have become in modern society and how people are able to find their true selves once those roles begin to dissolve. I enjoyed seeing a take on the flaws of tradition. Bush and co-writer Charise Castro Smith wrote the screenplay in such a way that I could relate to the characters.
My only real issue with the film is that I would have liked to have seen an outside perspective of the Madrigals. Aside from a couple small interactions from the villagers, we rarely get to see what people think of the family from the outside and the visible issues present. It would have provided more power to the climax of the film, while also analyzing of the flawed traditions running the household.
Overall, Encanto was a pleasant watch on Christmas. The animation was breathtaking and the music was enjoyable while providing thought-provoking analysis on tradition. Encanto is streaming for free on Disney+ and I highly recommend giving it a watch.
Rating: 9/10