Encanto Review: Best Disney animated film since Moana

The 60th film from Disney Animation, Encanto, is the best Disney or Pixar animated film in the last 5 years.

Every member of the Madrigal family is blessed with a magical gift with the exception of Mirabel. For unknown reasons, she doesn’t receive her gift. Mirabel is a wonderful protagonist in a similar vein to Moana. She’s the family outcast who will stop at nothing to protect what her family has, even if it hurts her deep down. Stephanie Beatriz is outstanding as the voice of Mirabel. John Leguizamo provides ample comedic relief and heart as another family outcast.

The magical gifts are easy enough to understand for children. Super strength, the ability to control the weather and communicating with animals are some of the gifts.

Encanto is a surprisingly contained story. Moana and Frozen II are adventure movies in animated form. Encanto is largely a family drama dealing with the magic beginning to fade. As the film goes along, Mirabel begins to talk to different members of the family in order to solve the mystery.

Lin-Manuel Miranda caps off a strong 2021 by writing all of the music. These songs are fantastic and do an excellent job of propelling the story forward.

There isn’t a single negative aspect to this film. Whether you’re a child or an adult, Encanto is one of the best films of the year.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into Disney’s 60th animated film. There may be some minor spoilers. Encanto is available in theaters.

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The Magical Gifts in Encanto

Encanto does a great job of establishing how certain powers are chosen and given to each member of the Madrigal family. Antonio, one of Mirabel’s cousins is receiving his gift during a ceremony. The early moments of the film are also a showcase of how valuable Mirabel is to every member of the family.

Antonio is nervous about the ceremony and trying to hide from Abuela Alma and the rest of the Madrigals. Mirabel knows exactly where Antonio is hiding and what to say to encourage him to go to the ceremony. She gives him his favorite stuffed animal to build up his confidence. During the ceremony, despite prompting from the house itself, Antonio is too scared to walk forward without Mirabel.

Mirabel puts aside her humiliation over being the only person that hasn’t received a magical gift. She holds Antonio’s hand and walks him to the front of the room. The gift process works. Antonio’s gift is the ability to communicate and control animals. The little moment was all we needed to show how each character’s personality influences the abilities they receive.

Mirabel is the Miracle

Mirabel uncovers the magic is fading away. In Mirabel’s situation, she could do one or two things. She could keep the problem to herself and let the magic fade, which would make every one like her, ordinary. The option Mirabel chooses is to immediately tell Abuela Alma. Of course, no one believes her. Although her mom is pretty sympathetic and heals Mirabel’s hand with food.

After the rejection, Mirabel doesn’t stop. She presses forward. She talks to her sisters Isabela and Luisa. Her tenacity leads to finding her reclusive uncle Bruno who is an outcast not unlike Mirabel. Mirabel even gathers information about Bruno’s ability to predict the future from her aunt Pepa (with some support from her uncle and cousins).

The songs really pack a punch during Mirabel’s investigation. Not only do the songs reveal more about Mirabel’s family, but it shows Mirabel a side to her sisters she didn’t know. Ultimately, these songs bring the sisters closer together.

Casa Madrigal

The house itself is literally teeming with life. Encanto‘s story is contained within Mirabel’s village. Most of the story takes place just inside the house.

Encanto never feels small. The gifts don’t just transform the Madrigal’s, they also reconfigure their rooms into giant temples. Antonio’s room is a giant jungle. Isabela’s room is caked in role petals. Bruno’s could easily be mistaken for The Cave of Wonders in Aladdin.

Early in the film, only three people are aware of the cracks, which are tearing the house apart. There’s Abuela Alma, Uncle Bruno and Mirabel. They each respond to the cracks in different ways.

Mirabel immediately works to tackle the problem head-on. She stops at nothing to find the cause behind the magic fading away. Abuela Alma outwardly denies the cracks to the family but knows the truth. She shifts the blame to Mirabel and urges her granddaughter to stop pushing for answers. Bruno is trying to patch the cracks in the wall but isn’t using his gift to actually find a solution. It’s his way of helping without having to face a family who views him as an outcast. The way Mirabel goes about solving the problem and pushing forward no matter the adversity shows Mirabel was the miracle the Madrigal’s needed all along.

Encanto Final Thoughts

The best compliment I can give Encanto is that it never cheats or gives Mirabel an easy out. Mirabel is never certain about the direction she should take. However, the love she has for her family pushers Mirabel forward.

The only animated film in the last few years that matches the music, animation and performance is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Encanto should be the runaway winner for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Encanto also features one of the best animated short films in Far from the Tree. A story about how children react to lessons from their parents.

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