The upcoming movie Encanto is the latest in a long line of animated Disney movies, and promises to be another magical and charming addition to the family. With almost a century's worth of animated movies preceding it, there is always that hint of pressure to succeed given the Disney legacy.
With the trailers giving fans a taste of what is to come, anticipation is building for Encanto, before its theatrical release on November 24th, with streaming on Disney+ set to follow 30 days later in December.
10 The Future Of Magic Is The Main Premise Of The Movie
The family in the spotlight in Encanto are the Madrigals. They are a large and extraordinary family who live in a magical house, with all of them possessing incredible powers and magical skills, except for the protagonist, Mirabel.
Her lack of magic makes her the most special of them all, as it is her drive and optimism in the face of adversity that carries the hopes and dreams of her entire family. The magic of Disney movies is often talked about, but a movie where magic is in danger of disappearing and becoming extinct is a concerning metaphor to consider.
9 Encanto Is Walt Disney Animation's 60th Movie
Upon its release on November 24th, Encanto will forever be known as Walt Disney Animation Studios' 60th movie, with its last one being Raya and the Last Dragon. Considering that the first one was released in 1937, being Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, it is an incredible feat, especially given that the hundred-years mark is fast approaching.
Across all 60 movies, various themes and cultures have been explored with varying tones, while always keeping within the general realms and ideals of the Disney way.
8 Lin-Manuel Miranda Brings His Musical Expertise To Another Disney Animated Movie
With Lin-Manuel Miranda working on the music for the movie, this will be his second musical contribution to a Walt Disney Animation Studios movie after his work on Moana.
Known for including a spectacular mix of humor and generally clever vocals, with a pleasing and catchy delivery, Lin-Manuel Miranda's inclusion in a musical capacity is sure to spell success for Encanto. He worked on the film's songs, while Germaine Franco provided the score.
7 The Movie Is Set In The Colombian Mountains
Encanto is set in Colombia, in a vibrant town hidden in the mountains of the South American country. This obviously is not the Colombia as the real world knows it, with fantasy aspects and concepts aplenty, as per the norm in the realms of Disney animated movies.
Latin America is pushed to the forefront and is the focus in this movie, and given a magical twist to give the classic Disney feel. Initial reports and rumors suggested that Encanto was going to be based on and in Brazil and Brazilian family, but this was false, and Colombia was the confirmed country as of 2020.
6 Encanto Is The First Disney Movie To Focus Solely On One Specific Latin American Culture
While the likes of Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros from the 1940s were package movies with shorts taking place in multiple Latin American countries, Encanto is technically the first Disney Animated Canon movie to just feature one confirmed Latin American culture, despite being the fourth to explore Latin American culture in general.
Emperor's New Groove never provided a concise actual location and was considered to have a mixture of influences regarding Latin American cultures, including the likes of Incan and pre-Incan Peru, so cannot technically claim this title from Encanto.
5 Stephanie Beatriz's Character Could Not Be More Different Than Rosa Diaz
Stephanie Beatriz is the voice of the protagonist, Mirabel Midragal, and could not be further from her infamous role as Detective Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Mirabel is an energetic and optimistic young girl, surrounded by a loving family, while Rosa Diaz is a terrifying and more lonesome individual.
This is Beatriz's third animated movie role, after voicing characters in Ice Age: Collision Course and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Her vocal range is as commendable as her physical range, which is showcased in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the role of Mirabel showcases as much.
4 Encanto Boasts A Talented Latin American Cast
In addition to the Argentine-born Stephanie Beatriz, the majority of the other Midragal family members are played by actors with South American roots. John Leguizamo, known for many roles over the years including Sid the sloth in the Ice Age franchise, is a Colombian-American, while Diane Guerrero is also from a Colombian family, despite having lived in the U.S. her whole life.
Another example is Wilmer Valderrama, who voices Agustin Madrigal, who is a Venezuelan-American actor. Encanto boasts a talented and varied cast.
3 Encanto Is The Second Disney Animated Canon Movie To Have A Non-English Title
Encanto is the second Disney Animated Canon movie to have a non-English title, with the first being Saludos Amigos back in the 1940s. The word Encanto comes from the Spanish for enchant, spell, or charm. It can be used in spell-form when performing a magic incantation but also holding meaning as an adjective for "sweetheart."
Using Encanto instead of enchant or another English translation ensures that it doesn't immediately lose its roots in Latin American culture due to a simple translation.
2 Mirabel's Sister, Luisa, Allegedly Went Through A Number Of Changes In Design & Character
The Madrigals are a huge family with a wide variety of characters and personalities despite them all sharing the same family name. One character in particular that could have been even more different from her final form is Mirabel's sister, Luisa.
Voiced by Jessica Darrow, Luisa is considered the muscles of the family with her super strength literally being her magical power. Allegedly, the character designers and artists had to fight for Luisa being as buff as she is, and was initially planned to be smaller. Not only that, but her name was also Lydia in early production, before they eventually settled on Luisa.
1 2021 Has Been A Good Year For Disney Movies With Spirited Female Protagonists
2021 is the first year in Disney history that two movies have been released that have human female lead protagonists, with Encanto following in the footsteps of Raya and the Last Dragon, which was released in March 2020.
Both stories even have similar parallels in that they focus on strong-willed young women doing whatever they can to save their family from unknown and unpredictable dangers, while at the same time having that classic Disney charm and magic about them.