Disney Releases New Latinx Movie: Encanto
“Encanto” is the newest installment in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (Disney) collection of culturally diverse films, and is set to release on Nov. 24. The movie is set in the fictional city of Encanto, an enchanted place located in Colombia and tells the story of the Madrigals family. The magic of Encanto grants each child of the family unique powers, with the exception of Mirabel. When the magic of Encanto is under threat, it is up to Mirabel to save her family and their magic.
“Encanto” has gathered lots of attention since the release of its teaser trailer on July 8. The YouTube trailer, which was uploaded on Sep. 29, has gathered nearly 33 million views. Many people are excited for the representation and cultural diversity that will be portrayed in this movie. Several Famous Latinx actors have been casted as the voice behind many animated characters in the film. The movie features Stephanie Beatriz as the voice of Mirabel Madrigal, as well as other famous actors such as Wilmer Valderrama voicing Agustin Madrigal and Diane Guerrero playing Isabel Madrigal. “Encanto” is directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, and co-directed by Charise Castro Smith. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has collaborated with Disney since 2014 for “Moana,” is behind the eight original songs composed for the movie. Earlier this year, Miranda also worked on “In the Heights,” a musical with massive Latinx representation. The musical starred Stephanie Beatriz as well, another contributor to Latinx representation in American media. Sophomore Natalia Martinez has viewed the trailer and hopes the representation and portrayal of the culture is accurate.
“[I] look forward to seeing how culturally accurate ‘Encanto’ will be,” Martinez said. “I think it’s nice that they are setting the film in Colombia as it makes the story we will be getting feel more unique and authentic. I’m excited that we are getting more Latinx representation in media that isn’t just Mexican or Spanish, but other countries as well.”
Due to Disney’s decision to feature Colombian culture, it has gathered a large Latinx fanbase. Most of the actors in the cast are Colombian and are very excited that they get to share the diversity of their country with the world. Some of these actors that are ethnically Colombian are Stephanie Beatriz, Diane Guerrero, Carolina Gaitán, Maluma, Angie Cepeda, Adassa and Mauro Castillo (The Hollywood Reporter). Specifically, the cast and directors of “Encanto” visited the Cocora Valley in Columbia for inspiration because they wanted the story to feel realistic and be as accurate as possible. The music featured in “Encanto” utilizes traditional Colombian instruments such as the guacharaca, tiple, tambora, gaita and arpa llanera. Sophomore Mia Ortiz appreciates that Colombia is getting representation on the big screen, as she feels it is usually ignored in American media and is highly anticipating watching “Encanto”.
“[I] am looking forward to “Encanto” because [I] myself am Colombian, and this movie is based in Colombia,” Ortiz said. “I love the diversity because we usually get overlooked a lot due to the fact that we are smaller. When choosing to represent Latinx culture, the American media usually focuses more on Mexico, Brazil or Spain. That is why I think it is really nice that they are doing Colombia for once.”
Some of Disney’s other latest works indicate an increase in representation and diversity in their films. “Coco”, another highly successful animated movie from Pixar Animation Studios (Pixar), became Pixar’s fifth-biggest global earner ever, grossing $807.8 million in total (National Broadcasting Company). “Coco” and “Encanto” have many similarities, both representing Latinx culture and including an underlying theme of family. However, “Coco” takes place in Mexico, focusing more on the culture there and the holiday of the Day of the Dead, while “Encanto” takes place in Colombia. Many people in the Latinx community hope that movies like “Coco” and “Encanto” will show Hollywood executives that diverse films can still be highly successful, and will pave the way for other diverse movies portraying other less represented cultures. This will allow future generations to be exposed to more Latinx representation, and also to a variety of other cultures and traditions from areas they might not have been exposed to previously. Sophomore Saniah Ramirez is excited for future generations to be able to see themselves and their culture represented in the movies they watch.
“When I was younger, I did not [see] any [characters] that looked like me,” Ramirez said. “Now, I am happy that these movies are coming out because my little siblings can see them [and see themselves in the main character].”“Encanto” represents a growing change in Latinx representation and specifically Colombian representation in Disney and Pixar films. With many people having high expectations for “Encanto” and the representation it brings, there is a lot of anticipation regarding the success of Disney’s newest film. Stephanie Beatriz, the voice of Mirabel Madrigal, spoke on the issue of diversity at the premiere and how important it is that people see themselves represented. “For many [people, they see films] and say, ‘Wow, I love that story. I connect so much with that hero. Too bad there is nobody that looks like me as the hero.’ [But] that is changing.” Beatriz said. “The world is changing and part of that change is [influential forces] like Disney Animation deciding that they are going to set their movie in Colombia about a Colombian family.”
