Disney once again ends the year with fantastical animated movie that the entire family can all sit together and enjoy. With Encanto releasing at the cinema and Disney+ you even have the choice where to watch it too.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ENCANTO tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.
Encanto is nothing like you expect, the trailers were quite misleading, it looked to have a Moana/Brave vibe to it, but it’s nothing like that at all. A story of not feeling you fit in with your family, but showing us that diversity is what brings us all together and that ultimately we all have a part to play in the family despite our differences, is very Disney, but Encanto doesn’t preach at us, it simply entertains and allows you to make your own decisions.
The musical numbers are as fantastical as the magic in the story, Composed by who else but Mr Musical 2021 – Lin Manuel Miranda, they’ll have you toe tapping and humming the ear worm tunes for days. Directors Bryon Howard and Jared Bush have created a simply fun world to be a part of for a couple of hours that not just the children will want to revisit time and again.
Encanto however will not grab you in a Disney instant classic way like say Frozen or the original Jungle Book or Lion King, but it’s one that you’ll remember and pick over most of the other modern Disney Animations.
While it’s something different for the most part, don’t think for one moment that the usual Disney tropes aren’t still there, they are, but the simmer beneath the surface while you enjoy yourselves with the world of the Madrigals.
Encanto isn’t the best Disney animated release of the last few years, but it’s the one you’ll remember most fondly.
Encanto is on release in cinemas now and is also available on Disney+
