Encanto!!!!

Have you seen Encanto yet? It’s so good. It’s an amazing film that is connecting with kids and adults alike. If you want to see it and don’t want to pay for Disney+, the Mercer County Library System has you covered! We’ve got the DVD. We’ve got the Blu-ray. We’ve got the CD soundtrack. We’ve got the digital soundtrack through hoopla. We’ve also got a number of children’s books based on the film. The Mercer County Library System is your one-stop Encanto shop. For those of you that do not know what film I’m talking about, let me explain. I will try to tread lightly on the actual plot, but beware some things will be spoiled.

Encanto is a 2021 animated film directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, with original music from Lin-Manuel Miranda (Lin-Manuel Miranda also did the music for Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana, so they clearly like what he’s doing). Encanto is a film about the Madrigal family, specifically Mirabel Madrigal. The Madrigal family live in a magically protected village in Colombia that they call their “encanto.” The village is magically protected from the outside world because of a miracle triggered years before by Abuela (abuela is Spanish for grandma; this character’s name is actually Alma, but I had to look that up - her name never comes up in the movie). That same miracle also gave Abuela and her children a magical house that grants each member of the family a special “gift” (essentially a super power). Mirabel is the only member of the family that did not get a special gift. She pretends to be okay with not having a gift. She is definitely not okay with not having a gift. Mirabel desperately wants to make her family proud of her, so when the family miracle starts to fail, Mirabel takes it upon herself to save it. The problem is she has no idea how to do that. During Mirabel’s search she uncovers family secrets and confronts some tense family dynamics. I am just going to warn you, if you’re the family weirdo or the family underachiever, this film might bring up some uncomfortable feelings. Don’t misunderstand me, this film delivers a Disney happy ending, but getting there is quite a ride. A great ride, but still a ride. 

The strong story is only part of what makes the film great. I already mentioned that Lin-Manuel Miranda is responsible for the music and he brings his A-game. Even if you don’t know anything about the film, you’ve probably heard “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a song so popular it got a special remix performance at this year’s Oscars. But “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is not the only great song from the film. The first song in the film is “The Family Madrigal” where Mirabel introduces who her family is and what their special gifts are. The song is doing a lot of heavy lifting in terms of exposition, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s a really fun, upbeat song that introduces us to the world and the characters. The next song we hear is at Mirabel’s cousin Antonio’s gift ceremony, where he gets his special gift. The family is thrilled, but Mirabel reveals how lost she feels in her family by singing “Waiting on a Miracle.” It’s a standard Disney ‘I want’ song; in the same family as The Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World” or Mulan’s “Reflection.” Mirabel wants to make her family proud, but how does the only person in the family with no gifts do that? The next song is “Surface Pressure,” and this reveals to the audience that maybe everyone in the Madrigal family is not as happy as they seem. Mirabel’s older sister, Luisa, who has super strength, sings about how much pressure she’s under. Let me tell you, some of you might want your therapist on stand-by for this one. When Luisa sings, “I’m pretty sure I’m worthless, if I can’t be of service…” I wanted to shut the film off and go lay down. Too real, Encanto. Too real. The next song in the film is “We Don’t Talk about Bruno.” Mirabel seeks out information on the other family outcast, her uncle Bruno. Bruno’s gift was seeing the future, but his negative predictions made him extremely unpopular with the town and the family, so he “disappeared.” It’s the film’s banger for a reason. You’ve probably already heard it; I don’t have to explain to you why it’s great. The next song is unusual in that it is another Disney ‘I want’ song, but from a secondary character. In “What Else Can I Do.” Mirabel’s oldest sister, Isabela, who can control plants, sings about how much more she would like to do with her powers instead of just being the pretty, perfect family princess. Mirabel is immediately understanding and supportive, despite having a poor relationship with Isabela. It is clear at this point in the film that Mirabel’s real gift is her empathy. The next song is “Dos Oruguitas,” and Lin-Manuel Miranda has said he wanted to create a folk song that sounded like it had been around forever. He succeeds, as that is exactly what I thought “Dos Oruguitas” was. In the film, Abuela’s backstory is revealed and it is heartbreaking. I’m not going to tell you what happens, but I will tell you that you will cry. The next song is “All of You,” and it takes place after the film’s climax. Disaster has struck, but Mirabel rallies the family together and the entire town shows up for the Madrigals. Mirabel is finally recognized for the wonderful person she is. The final song, “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” is not actually sung in the film, it is played over the final scene as a tribute to the film’s setting, Colombia. The soundtrack also features an English language version of “Dos Oruguitas” called “Two Oruguitas.” After “Two Oruguitas,” the rest of the album is the film’s score. 

The animation of this film is also amazing. I was the perfect age for the Disney Renaissance; the period from 1989-1999, when Walt Disney Feature Animation was doing their best work (basically The Little Mermaid to Tarzan), so I grew up on 2D animation. I accept that 3D animation is what’s done now, but it will always have a bit of a plasticine nightmare look to me. That is not true of Encanto. This is a gorgeous film. When I mentioned previously that you would cry during “Dos Oruguitas,” part of that is because the scene features the best animation of human grief I’ve ever seen. None of that pretty face with single tear drop stuff. Abuela’s anguish looks so raw, you can’t help but be moved. Also, the characters dance a lot in this film and it looks good. Dancing is something I’ve never seen done well in animation. It’s just too difficult to animate human joy and spontaneity. Or so I thought. The Disney animators really did their best work here. 

If you haven’t seen Encanto, go see it. If you love the music as much as I do, check out the CD or the digital album. hoopla also offers the soundtrack in various world languages, so if you want to hear “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” in Mandarin, Danish, or Vietnamese, you can! And if Encanto becomes your child’s new favorite movie, then maybe borrow one or more of our children’s books based on the film. (Click on the images to go to the catalog.) You will not regret it. 

- by Shanna C., Acquisitions and Cataloging Dept.