Encanto contains all the usual Disney trademarks: great animation, catchy songs, and wonderful, wholesome themes for younger audiences. Available now to stream, but be sure to grab this to OWN on Blu-ray or 4k on 2/8/22!
“Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ENCANTO, with all-new songs by award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the tale of the Madrigals, an extraordinary family living in a magical house in the Colombian mountains. But when Mirabel, the only ordinary family member, discovers the magic surrounding their home is in danger, she may be her family’s last hope.”
Disney’s latest animated film, Encanto, follows the Madrigal family whose matriarch, Alma (María Cecilia Botero) flees to the mountains with her husband, three infant children, and several others from an unknown conflict that endangers them all. After her husband sacrifices himself to save the group, a magical candle imbues Alma with an extraordinary gift and creates a magical house and sanctuary for the refugees. Each member of the Madrigal bloodline is bestowed a surprise magical gift when they come of age, a gift that defines them and their contribution to the village. When it’s time for Alma’s granddaughter Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) to receive her gift, nothing happens. Years later, the gifts her entire family has begin to vanish, and it’s up to Mirabel, the most unlikely one of all, to figure out what’s happening and to save the village.
Animation has continually become more and more impressive as the years pass, and with the Disney powerhouse always one of the frontrunners in the animation department in the history of cinema, I have to say that the animation in Encanto is one of the most impressive I’ve seen in any of their films. The hair and clothing of the characters especially moving with such an organic way, everything looks very life-like and only adds to the beauty of the film.
Disney films aren’t too hard to predict, but there is always an elegance in their simplicity, always telling a morally uplifting story while exposing audiences to cultures that are different and unique. In Encanto, we explore Columbian culture and large family dynamics often with matriarchal structures. While this only scratches the surface of Columbian culture in general, Disney has made it a point in modern times to be as diverse and inclusive as possible, giving those who may feel unrepresented in modern storytelling a platform for their beliefs and cultures to be recognized and celebrated. Additionally, gender norms are continually explored, often with interesting twists, and Disney continues to steer itself away from the ‘Disney Princess’ mentality and replace that character-type with strong, independent female characters who no doubt inspire young audiences.
Perhaps the best aspect of the film and best representation of the Columbian culture comes from the music, which had the lyrics and music written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also wrote the songs in Moana. The songs in Encanto are incredibly powerful, packed with a lot of emotion and stunning visuals that ends up telling more about each character singing their respective song than any line of dialogue. The styles of each are very different and instantly catchy, highlighting a lot of unique aspects of the culture.
As always, the themes demonstrated in this Disney film are wholesome and teachable to younger audiences. The characters in the film who have been imbued with magic feel defined by their gifts, never truly able to be themselves, just who they are expected to be by others. It teaches that everyone is special, and you don’t have to have some magical power to prove that to yourself or anyone else. Being your true self is most important of all, and accepting those in your life that may be different, family or not, is what brings true happiness.
We were given a digital copy of this film for review, with the physical release due out on 2/8/2022. The disc is sure to have extras, with superior video and audio, something that cannot be accurately reviewed based on internet connections. With the pandemic, the film received a short run in theaters before it was available to stream on Disney+. Those who purchase the film on another streaming service will receive a free upgrade to 4k UHD on 1/26/22. Disney may be the front-runner for a lot of cutting-edge technology and filmmaking, but their focus on their streaming service I’m sure will soon push out physical media little by little. Buying the film digitally does not ensure you own the film, as Disney can, and has, magically made previously owned digital content disappear from platforms. Wait to get this on Blu-ray or 4k, it’s worth it.
