The animation is a vibrantly hued and energetic swirl of almost nonstop motion, and Miranda’s songs skip from genre to genre, from traditional Disney ballads to reggaeton-inspired tunes and even a tribute to Colombia’s own rock goddess, Shakira. She ultimately realizes that all of her family members are caught in the trap of perfectionism, believing that they have to use their gifts in the ways others want them to without remaining authentic to themselves and their desires. As she starts to see cracks in the foundation of their beloved casita, Mirabel probes deeper into the family’s magic. The only exception to the magical rule so far is the sweet, smart Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who never received her gift and has since felt like the family outcast, bending over backward to earn her place. Each Madrigal receives their gift in a coming-of-age ceremony, with powers rangingfrom super strength, high-powered hearing or talking to animals to spinning flowers out of thin air, shape-shifting, future divining, weather controlling or food healing. In desperation, she cried out for protection for herself and her infant triplets, and a magical candle raised mountains around a charmed casita, where she has raised her family since.
The Madrigal family magic was borne of extreme trauma and pain when matriarch Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero) lost her husband while fleeing violence in their village. The result is an animated musical that’s typically rousing and compassionate, rooted in the kind of therapy-inspired personal lessons about self-worth that often underpin these movies, soundtracked by Latin pop tunes written by Miranda. Jared Bush and Byron Howard, who co-wrote and co-directed the Oscar-winning “Zootopia,” have teamed with Charise Castro Smith for writing and directing duties on “Encanto,” while Jason Hand, Nancy Kruse and Lin-Manuel Miranda contributed to the story. “Encanto,” the latest Disney Animation film, sweeps audiences away to a colorful, enchanted world of Colombian magical realism, introducing the Madrigal family, who have all been granted extraordinary gifts except one member, our heroine, Mirabel ( Stefanie Beatriz), who has yet to discover her own magic. It’s not the Addams Family but the Magical Madrigals. They’re gifted and they’re kooky, even a little spooky. Because moviegoing carries risks during this time, we remind readers to follow health and safety guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials. The California Times is committed to reviewing theatrical film releases during the COVID-19 pandemic.