Encanto: An Enchanting Musical Fantasy

Recommended for kids: (AGED 8+) Rating: (4/5)

The 60^th movie produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2021, Encanto is set in Colombia and follows the journey of the Madrigal family in which everyone – except Mirabel (the protagonist) – has been bestowed with magical powers.

Key Takeaways

Encanto is a child-friendly musical that incorporates many important life lessons, particularly in the context of family relations. One of the biggest takeaways of this movie is that everyone, no matter how they seem on the outside is susceptible to vulnerability.

At the beginning of the movie, Mirabel’s sisters Luisa and Isabela seem content with using their abilities to help and entertain those around them. But eventually it comes to light that Luisa felt worthless without her superstrength and Isabela was exhausted due to her seemingly effortless perfection.

Intergenerational Trauma

Disney’s way of exploring heavy life topics in its movies is reflected in Encanto through the way each member of the Madrigal family deals with the “gifts” they are given and in Mirabel’s case, a lack thereof.

Thus, every Madrigal face difficulty with their magical abilities (ranging from superstrength to spawning flowers) and is further troubled due to Abuela Alma’s way of dictating how they are to present themselves.

However, Abuela’s tough exterior has yet another story behind it; the loss of her home and her beloved husband at a young age caused her to fear the possibility of her family being endangered, thus her strict mannerisms and indifference towards Mirabel.

Colombian Culture

Disney over the years has come a long way in refining the way it represents cultures through cinema and Encanto is living proof of the fact.

For starters, the spanish word Encanto translates directly to english as “charm” or “enchantment”. While the initial focus of the movie in this sense is the extraordinary magical abilities the Madrigal family is known for, the moral of the story is that every individual is charming in their own unique way, and equally deserving of love and respect.

Encanto’s success in the box office is also owed to its stunning visuals and brilliant musical numbers, of which Dos Origuitas  sung by the popular Colombian singer Sebastian Yatra is a harmonious delight!   

Without doubt, Encanto is easily one of Disney’s best films yet for it beautifully portrays the struggles of being part of an immigrant household and is a must-watch for anyone who loves a timeless classic.

This article is contributed by Mariyam Shajil, an aspiring journalist who specializes in writing articles about movies and shows for children from a young adult perspective.

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