ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: I do want to talk about “Encanto”
On Nov. 24, Disney released its brand new animated movie, “Encanto.” While the release date is reaching its third month, it has remained high on Billboard charts for its fifth week in a row for its outstanding soundtrack.
“Hamilton” star, playwright, and songwriter, Lin-Manuel Miranda, has outdone himself once again. The recent three Oscar nominations that “Encanto” has received seem to agree, as well as the public, that this movie truly is exceptional.
The soundtrack is a work of art, but the racial inclusion, storyline, and overall execution of the movie in terms of being relatable are truly what makes this movie shine.
Beginning with the plot, it is about time that a female Disney character is not a damsel in distress. The main character, Mirabel Madrigal, comes from a family of 10 where each member has a special “gift.”
The story follows Mirabel as she follows her journey of feeling ungifted and insignificant due to her lack of a magical gift.
As the movie progresses, Mirabel turns into the only family member who is made aware that their magical home, which has its own personality, is dying alongside the family’s magic. Without any spoilers, what I can say is that Mirabel turns out to have the greatest gift of them all.
Moving onto the music, the creative staff of this film brought on powerhouses of actors to play these characters. The notable thing to mention is, all but two of the eleven main characters have played a role in which singing played a part.
You would never know that this rookie lineup is behind one of the biggest animated hits, as it hits the top of box office numbers and the Billboard music charts.
Now, onto the soundtrack:
- “The Family Madrigal” — opening song, gives major “Hamilton” vibes in all of the best ways possible.
- “Waiting On A Miracle” — this song pulled on my heartstrings. It’s the first time the audience sees Mirabel experience pain as her gifted family shares a moment without her.
- “Surface Pressure” — if you find yourself overworked and constantly trying to please others, this song will resonate with you.
- “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” — the song everyone is talking about. In my opinion, it is overrated, but it still is a fun and spunky song.
- “What Else Can I Do” — sisterly love after years of not getting along? Yes, please. Definitely a cute song and teaches of the beauty of imperfection.
- “Dos Oruguitas” — this song is beautiful, sentimental, and I see a lot of weddings in the future using it.
- “All Of You” — okay, maybe this is my favorite song, I just can’t pick. It’s the perfect end and pulls everything full circle and endorses the importance of community.
- “¡Hola casita!” — the song is as happy as the title looks.
One of the BEST aspects of the movie is the racial inclusion and diversity present. Not only are a handful of races depicted, but there is also size representation. The cultural representation is evident in the family as each of the Colombian siblings has a different complexion/appearance.
Additionally, the two individuals who married into the family vary in ethnic backgrounds which in turn results in even more diversity within the second generation.
Additionally, there is a beautiful representation of a more muscular female body, all different hair types, but specifically kinky/afro-textured hair, and even the need for glasses- it’s all pictured in this movie.
It is important for people to see themselves or someone that looks like them on the big screen, and Disney broke boundaries when building characters for “Encanto.”
It feels a bit silly to say an animated film is relatable, but it’s true. “Encanto” captures the heart and soul of what it means to be a family. The bad times that the Madrigals go through are depicted in such a raw way that is easy to resonate with.
While the idea of magic is not relatable, the reality that family relationships are hard and have ups and downs is. Through all the pain and hardships within their family, there is redemption, forgiveness, and growth.
Needless to say, if you haven’t seen “Encanto,” you can borrow my Disney+ login.