Encanto

Walt Disney Animation Studios released Encanto in November 2021 worldwide. Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith directed Encanto. Castro Smith also served as screenwriter and co-wrote its screenplay. Set in Colombia, story follows Madrigal family, living near mountains. Alma receives magical candle after fleeing conflict with young triplets. Its flame creates Casita and grants extraordinary gifts to descendants. Every Madrigal child receives a supernatural ability at age five. Mirabel, however, receives no visible gift during her ceremony itself. Years later, cracks appear, and Casita begins losing magic quickly. Mirabel investigates after seeing Bruno's prophetic vision about their future. Bruno, Alma's estranged son, secretly hides within Casita for years. His visions were misunderstood, making relatives fear and reject him. Mirabel discovers Bruno's image predicts destruction surrounding the family home. The film's conflict concerns family expectations, secrecy, and inherited trauma. Mirabel confronts Alma, who values magical perfection over emotional honesty. Alma eventually recognizes how fear has wounded her family deeply. Casita collapses, and the candle's flame finally disappears completely too. Mirabel and Alma reconcile beside the river where Pedro died. Their reconciliation restores the family's emotional connection, though not magic. Together, the Madrigals rebuild Casita with help from nearby villagers. Mirabel's new role becomes uniting relatives rather than receiving powers. Disney released the film theatrically before placing it on Disney+. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote "We Don't Talk About Bruno" and others. The song topped Billboard's Hot 100, becoming Disney's first number-one. "Surface Pressure" explores Luisa's burden beneath her strength and reliability. Jessica Darrow performed Luisa, while Stephanie Beatriz voiced Mirabel Madrigal. María Cecilia Botero voiced elderly Alma in the English version. Colombian cultural details shape clothing, architecture, food, landscapes, and music. Animators studied Colombian environments and consulted cultural experts during production. Encanto includes cumbia, vallenato, and other Colombian musical influences throughout. The family members' abilities reflect their personalities and emotional pressures. Isabela controls flowers, while Antonio communicates with animals nearby easily. Dolores hears everything, making privacy nearly impossible for her relatives. Pepa's weather changes visibly with her emotional state throughout Encanto. Camilo shapeshifts, and Félix supports Pepa's volatile, affectionate temperament daily. Julieta heals people by feeding them food she prepares herself. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for animation. Encanto became especially associated with family-centered storytelling and Colombian representation. Its success expanded the Madrigals' story through later Disney productions.