by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
There are certain things we have come to expect from every Disney Animations Studios release: stellar animation, heartwarming stories, and fantastical music are just some among them. Sometimes they use these elements to push the boundaries beyond the stories we’ve come to know and love from the studio, and sometimes they choose to use the talents at their behest to showcase what they can do, and the best way they can do it.
One thing that Disney hasn’t ever really delivered is an unpredictable story. Seldom have I gone into any Disney-owned property, and not had an idea of where we would end up, especially if it’s one of their animations. Yes, there might be unexpected beats, twists, and character motivations along the way, and the way in which the story is told might be one that hadn’t been explored before, but let’s all be honest with ourselves: Disney doesn’t do unhappy endings.
This is an important framing argument for Encanto, not because I’m going to spoil what happens, or give a think piece into the reality of Disney properties, but because I feel that lately there’s been an appetite in the entertainment viewing community for ‘different, new, exciting, and unexpected,’ and just because something doesn’t adhere to all four of these tenets, doesn’t mean it’s not good.
So, having said that, what did I think of Disney’s 60th feature film, Encanto?
Going in I didn’t have many expectations; I’d avoided most of the trailers, and only knew the basic premise, as well as the fact that it was a Disney Animations film.
For those who aren’t in the know, Encanto follows Mirabel Madrigal, a young Colombian woman, who has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.
Immediately, you are assaulted with bouts of sparkle, color and the constant essence of magic. The best way I can describe the look and feel is to picture the lantern scene of Tangled dialed up to 3,000. With every film that passes, it seems that Disney is just going that extra step with its animation and is creating some truly spectacular visuals. From the crispness of the vivacity to the texture of the characters’ hair, my eyes were working overtime trying to take in all the beauty that was being presented.
The film also takes great pride in its Colombian setting, ensuring to have moments that speak to the culture and history of the country through its presentation of background and character. The whole film is very clearly heavily inspired by the writings of Gabriel García Márquez, a famous Colombian writer who often incorporated magical realism into his novels, such as One Hundred Years of Solitude. For anyone familiar with his work, it’s clear from the outset that Encanto is a homage to Márquez, and to the Colombian spirit of hope, family, and duty as a whole.
This only helps bolster forth every element of the story, as there is clearly much care that has gone into the presentation of this movie. Not just on a visual or cultural level, but in its characters. Each one is given their chance to shine and become memorable to the audience in their own way, especially when it comes to our lead of Mirabel.
Voiced by Stephanie Beatriz (better known for her previous role as stoic detective Rosa in Brooklyn 99), this film’s thesis rests in the magic of not being special, of not being the one who has everyone’s hopes and dreams resting on their shoulders, and of being the one who’s often left behind as a result. It’s about how expectations can come to hurt, not just the ones who carry them, but also the ones who wish to be burdened by them, and how this can create cracks in the most important part of this particular Colombian community’s life: the family foundation.
These are important themes are only accentuated by the truly top-tier soundtrack created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Every song serves an important purpose of pushing the story forward, but doing so in a way that takes you completely by surprise. Each is unique, but still makes up a holistic musical piece — I genuinely believe this is one of the best soundtracks to come out of modern Disney. I’ve already listened to it three times since leaving the cinema, and it definitely won’t be my last.
The stellar animation, heartwarming story, and fantastical music is delivered here, and delivered well. The story has both properly funny jokes, and emotional climaxes (I can admit that I was full on crying at one point). The animation is something that needs to be seen with your own eyes to be believed, and the music — the MUSIC — is on another level.
However, the plot pretty much progresses how any seasoned Disney viewer would expect it to; there are very few surprises, and that’s the point. This isn’t a film that is here to shock audiences or pull the rug out from under them. This is a viewing experience that is meant to remind audiences about the magic of Disney — of why it exists in the first place, and why it’s always existed.
As long as you go in with that frame of mind, I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed in Encanto.
Grade: A
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