Disney’s animated film Encanto has become a sensation amongst recently released films. It has been critically acclaimed all throughout the world due to its interesting yet accurate portrayal of Colombia. The movie has been praised highly by critics for its animation style, diversity, and songs as well as its relation to different topics like the violence of 20th century Colombia, the relation between multigenerational families, and the feeling of not belonging. These aspects of the movie have not only caused the film’s exponential rise to fame, but also created a different perception of Colombia, its culture, and its people.

What Is It About?

Encanto follows the Madrigal family, a magical family that lives hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a little place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every member of the Madrigals with a unique gift, every child except Mirabel, the film’s main character. The plot revolves around her family’s magic becoming endangered and her having to use her ordinary gifts to save the Encanto.

The movie is set in rural Colombia after a period known as La Violencia, an armed conflict between different government parties and paramilitary groups which caused millions of Colombians to abandon their homes. La Violencia was just one of the few elements and references in the film that define its accuracy. Some references include the famous colorful Colombian river, Caño Cristales, native animals like the capybara and the jaguar, and cultural references like the arepa de queso and salsa dancing.

Portrayal of Colombia

It’s common when first mentioned Colombia to immediately associate it with violence, drugs, a failed state, jungles, and also sometimes if you’re lucky the production of coffee. But who can blame society when almost everything that is known about Colombia comes from movies, television, and stereotypical thoughts. This movie came to change all of that and to give people another way of looking at Colombia while emphasizing its beauty, its people, and its nature as well as get rid of the common misconception of a violent, drug-controlled, third-world country.

The movie did a great job at portraying the intergenerational Latin American family experience as well as the massively rich cultural and natural diversity of Colombia. Like some of the best movies made by Disney, it knows how to incorporate the dramatic elements not only through humor or through music, but also through the profound connection of the protagonists with society, whether they are human, animals, or inanimate beings. Overall, it got a really accurate representation of Colombian culture from accents to outfits to little details like cutlery, clothing, food, the different skin tones, and even native animals.

“It’s impressive to see an animated Disney movie finally include varying skin tones and hair textures in the same family, while also incorporating Colombian fashion like ponchos, flowing embroidered skirts, colorful dresses, and guayaberas as part of a character’s details.” Monica Castillo, an American-Hispanic film critic, said on the website RogerEbert.com.

In 2018, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film’s directors, as well as Grammy award-winner Lin Manuel Miranda, who wrote the original music for the film, went on a research trip to Colombia in which they immersed themselves in the country’s culture. They provided a look at Colombia through the lens of magical realism, centering on the magical abilities of the Madrigal family as well as some themes and aesthetics of Colombian literature like Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. Colombians have shown their excitement in seeing the many details, Easter eggs, and references that demonstrate the sheer depths Disney went to in their research on the country.

“I feel like it captured the mysticism of what Colombia is like. For instance, Gabriel Garcia Márquez is like our number one writer there, and he’s heavily into that surrealism of making things kind of like fantasies. I thought they captured that really well. I also thought they captured our music and our whole kind of vibe very well too.” Gabriel Martinez, Colombian journalism sophomore, said in an interview for The State News.

Social Impacts

Encanto has been described as empowering, accurate, emotional, and much more by critics from all over the world. You could say the success of the movie was due to the large reach it had throughout different communities, countries, and more. It was able to connect with people regardless of their age, culture, skin color, or religion. Not only did Encanto have representation through characters’ appearances, but it also portrayed culture, captured the country’s essence, and was able to get to the heart of the Colombian experience that many might overlook.

“It’s not easy squeezing a multi-generational magical epic into an hour and a half, and some gaps in Encanto’s mythology might leave you scratching your head. But a smiling tale about familial reconciliation and learning to see your relatives for who they are rather than who you wish they were is always welcomed.” Christian Holub, a writer for Entertainment Weekly magazine, said.

The film also served as a way to change stereotypes of Colombia as it showed Colombia as close to reality as possible. It had immense influence all over the world because not only did it show Colombia’s true colors, but it also has a wonderful moral of the story. It’s been nominated for dozens of prizes all around the world including this year’s Academy Awards for best animated feature, best original score, and best original song.

“The computer animation, some of the best from any major studio in the last several years, presents a dazzling confabulation of hues and a meticulous weaving of precious details — like the embroidery on skirts, the golden-brown crust of a cheese arepa, and the selection of native Colombian flora,” Maya Phillips, a writer for The New York Times, said on her review of Encanto.

It’s clear that Encanto did a great job at portraying this story about a magical yet complicated Colombian family. It was able to connect with many people through its references and elements as well as give another perspective to this often criticized country. The movie served as a tribute to Colombian culture and impacted societies from all around the world with its magical realism, music, characters, and much more. Beyond the cultural sensitivity, this is a funny and well-constructed feature of just a traditional Colombian family looking to show us that family is not perfect, but that it is the thing we can rely on in times of crisis.

“In a time where the pandemic situation only seemed like it was becoming more hopeless, “Encanto” has managed to bring us together with a heartfelt reminder of what’s most important — the magic found within family and community. ” Lynn Chu, a writer for The Daily Free Press, said.