Encanto might be one of Disney's best and brightest films in years. Their latest musical follows the Madrigal family, who live in a magical village hidden in the mountains of Colombia. Everyone in the Madrigal family has been granted a single magical gift – everyone, that is, except for Mirabel. While there is seemingly nothing extraordinary about Mirabel, she becomes the village's last hope when the magic mysteriously begins fading; it's up to her to restore the magic to the village and to her family.

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There's a lot to love about Disney's Encanto; from the always-catchy songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda to the funny and emotional narrative his songs were written for. Just like all the best animated movies out there, Encanto is a film that can actually be enjoyed by every member of the family. It's hilarious, engaging, and inspiring. But most of all, it's insanely creative, and a perfect call-back to the classic and renaissance ages of Disney.

5 The Story

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Mirabel and her mother in Encanto

Who doesn't love a creative movie? Fortunately, Encanto is one of the most creative films in years. As Mirabel investigates the source of the magic's disappearance, it's clear that Disney has been able to weave an enthralling mystery that will keep audiences of all ages engaged. It twists and turns while introducing viewers to a fantastical world that operates on its own rules.

Of course, the greatest animated movies often have an emotional point to them. Encanto's story isn't just engaging but also touching; as Mirabel follows the trail of the magic's disappearance, she also reconnects with her family, often learning that their lives aren't so perfect after all. It doesn't take long for this to happen, either. Mirabel learns that everyone sees each family member only for their gift, making their gift seem more like a curse. The emotional weight that comes with each character culminates at the movie's climax, which manages to be both exciting and moving at the same time.

4 The Colombian Setting

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Screenshot of the Casita from Encanto

Between Encanto and Moana, Disney has been branching out as far as their settings and represented cultures are concerned. And frankly, it's been working in the company's favor. The Colombian setting isn't just window dressing; the country's history is actually woven into the film's story. This also allows for characters not usually seen in animation, as well as showcasing relatively unknown voice acting talent.

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But it's not just Colombia that makes Encanto a fun world to visit. The village in which the Madrigals reside is wonderfully designed. Their house, called "the Casita", is also fueled with magic. With its own personality, the Casita practically becomes a whole new character unto itself. It's much like the Magic Carpet in Aladdin, though this time expanded to the level of an entire house. The Casita is beautifully designed thanks to the film's wondrous animation, and it becomes just as much fun and entertaining as any of the film's human characters.

3 The Characters

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Screenshot of the characters from Disney's Encanto

The best animated movies often have a host of fun characters, and Encanto has no shortage of them. Mirabel makes an excellent protagonist, and not just for being ordinary in a family of extraordinary people. As one of Disney's quirkiest and fun main characters, Mirabel ends up being both highly empathetic and highly relatable. Actress Stephanie Beatriz perfectly brings the character to life, providing both the hilarious sarcasm and emotional weight of Mirabel purely with her voice. Voice acting can arguably be more difficult than regular acting, yet Beatriz makes it look easy.

Of course, Encanto is about the entire Madrigal family, not just Mirabel. There might be a lot of them, but fortunately, nearly all of them get some time in the spotlight. Each of the characters' gifts is fun, unique, and incredibly memorable. But it's not just their unique powers but also their personalities that make them stand out. All being distinct from one another, this often results in hilarious exchanges between them that make Encanto a joy to watch. Furthermore, not only does the movie make time to explore most of the family members, but it also naturally integrates all of them into the plot. There's no character Encanto focuses on just because; they all have something to contribute to the story.

2 The Music

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Antonio and his animals in Encanto

Disney has built their bread and butter off of animated musicals. That being said, many animated films of the 21st century have abandoned the musical model, opting to provide family entertainment through more conventional storytelling. Disney has stuck by the musical genre, however, finding success in both Moana and the ever-popular Frozen movies. In particular, Moana saw the collaboration between the studio and acclaimed composer and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, resulting in songs that truly brought the Polynesian world of the story to life.

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The same can definitely be said about the Colombian world of Encanto, where Miranda returned to Disney to compose its original songs. It's difficult to find a single song that stands out from the rest in Encanto since they're all about as good as each other. The Colombian-inspired music ranges from Miranda's classic rapid-style delivery to more traditionally slower tunes. Thanks to the film's directors, the musical numbers are also creatively filmed. Each of them embraces the imaginative potential of animation with amazing visuals and transitions that are only possible in this medium.

1 The Animation

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Screenshot of Antonio's room in Encanto

It's easy to complain about the 3D animation style that has pretty much taken over Hollywood. However, Disney always finds a way to make it work. The animation for Encanto is both realistic and stylistic, making for a visually unforgettable experience. The distinct colors pop with such vividity and passion, it often feels as though the Colombian village is a living place, both figuratively and literally.

The color palette alone would be enough to praise the animation of Encanto, but the way the animation flows through the story makes it just as mesmerizing. Anyone who loves detailed animation will notice just how detailed Encanto's animation actually is. However, this doesn't take time away from creating amazing compositions where people, animals, and even flowers flow with personality and grace. Encanto is by no means a bad movie, but even if it were, the animation alone would be enough to make it worth a watch.

Encanto is currently playing in theaters.

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