10 Details of “Enchantment” That Make It One of the Most Beautiful Animated Films

It is not new that Disney animations usually delight children and adults of all ages. Perhaps, this happens due to the fact that they usually bring in their stories messages capable of causing reflection, emotion and, for the most attentive eyes, real challenges of perception through the numerous references and easter eggs that are usually used.

With Encanto was no different: the feature that features Latino characters as protagonists even won one of the categories of the last edition of the Golden Globes, and one of its original songs reached really historic peaks in the music charts. No wonder, since, in addition to the positive review, the numbers show how much many liked the film.

The question is: would liking a movie be synonymous with capturing all the details? To answer this question, the awesome.club invites you to check the list of plot references below. Although they are right “in front of us”, they can go unnoticed. Check it out!

At the end of the song “We don’t talk about Bruno”, which became a real hit on the music charts, there is a moment when the members of the Madrigal family are surrounding Mirabel, and a secondary character is seen holding an aquarium. However, the camera rotates and it disappears from the screen. When she would return to the scene, another figure appears in the frame: Dolores. Was it a purposeful replacement or an editing error that “turned out”?

In the scene in which Bruno, the character who until then seemed to be an antagonist in the plot, appears for the first time in the spotlight, it is possible to observe at the back of his hiding place, a bootie with a plant inside on one of the shelves in the room: the same object considered a symbol of another animation from the same production company: WALL-E.

Encanto, in addition to bringing a totally Latin approach to Disney, in this animation, the production company also immerses itself specifically in Colombian culture for the creation of its characters: in the ambiance of the places where they live and even in the strong and contrasting colors. However, anyone who thinks that everything is fiction is wrong.

In one of the emblematic scenes at the end of the plot, it is possible to observe the unfolding of the conversation between the characters Abuela and Mirabel, which takes place on the banks of a multicolored river. Although it looks like just a common scenario, it really exists, it has five colors and is called “Caño Cristales”. In addition, it is known as “The river that escaped from paradise” and “The most beautiful in the world”. Well, we can’t deny there are reasons for that, can we?

The power of one of the members of the Madrigal family, Antonio, is to talk to animals. In the plot, therefore, not only the setting refers to the Colombian culture, but also to the fauna. The character, after receiving his power, is asked by a toucan about something that only he can understand, and he responds positively. What follows is the emergence of various wild animals on the scene, among them, in addition to the toucan, capybaras, tapirs, coatis, macaws and even a jaguar. Apparently, the animals the boy attracts are also native Latinos.

Another curiosity is that throughout the story, it is possible to notice that sometimes, Antonio felt displaced from the rest of the family. And Mirabel was the one who was his company in many moments. Perhaps, for that reason, his power assured him that he would not feel alone again—as he would always be in communion with the animals. In addition, the girl who was born “without a gift” and who also felt distant from the Madrigal family, curiously, also seems to have a strong dialogue with the butterflies, as Antonio has with his toucan, throughout the narrative. At the very least, a nice association between the characters and the animals’ role as companions, don’t you think?

Although both Viva — A Vida é uma Festa and Encanto are animations inspired by Latin American culture, the first in Mexican and the second in Colombian, this does not seem to be the only relationship that is established between the two productions.

In one frame, which precedes the ceremony of the powers of the character Antonio, we see the local population arriving at the magic house of the Madrigal family and being welcomed by Camilo, who has the power to assume the form of any other human being. It is at this moment that a figure with gray braids and dressed in a Quechquémitl, typical costume of Mexican culture is also observed — which is readily associated with a character already known in the “Disney Universe”, with the same attributions, but from another plot: to Mama Ines.

It is common for film producers, before releasing them, to present their posters, trailers and other promotional materials. In Encanto, therefore, although the character “Bruno” does not appear immediately in the plot with a certain focus, he had already been introduced to the world a long time ago, since the first posters advertising the animation. In the background, it is possible to notice it “camouflaged” amidst the richness of details of both images.

One of Encanto’s coolest curiosities is that the house where the main characters live seems not only to have life, but also to be one of the protagonists of the story. In addition to communicating directly with members of the Madrigal family, it has doors that specifically represent the powers of each of them.

However, this is not the only highlight that the “doors” seem to have in the course of the plot. During Luisa’s performance, with many fast and colorful scenes, one detail may not have been evident to the less attentive eyes: the extremely strong woman pushing a series of doors in a domino effect. Something common, were it not for the connection that seems to exist with another famous Disney movie: Monsters Inc., in which the doors also play an important role, as they are the portal that allows access to what would be our world.

Another easter egg that involves the strong woman, Luisa, is one of her struggles throughout the narrative — in this case, against Cerberus, a three-headed dog. It turns out that the same situation plays out in another famous Disney animation, Hercules, from 1997, when the hero also fights the mythological creature. At least a clear reference, isn’t it?

Close to the final scenes, when Bruno, the hitherto “hidden” character of the plot, comes to light and resumes his relationship with the Madrigal family, a song is started. During the melody, however, in which the character encourages one of his sisters to have greater freedom with her powers, the phrase “Come rain, come snow. Lets roll”.

In English, the snippet would be the following Let it rain, let it snow. Let it go. A possible (big) reference to the famous song Let It Go, from the movie Frozen — one of Disney’s biggest hits.

If you’ve never stopped to repair the costumes of characters from animations, maybe this is the best time to start doing it. Often, they keep details that may only seem cute at first glance, but actually have really relevant meanings.

In Encanto, the dress of the protagonist Mirabel seems to have designs referring to the powers of some members of the Madrigal family: Abuela’s candle; Antonio’s animals; Mirabel’s own face; Isabela’s flowers; Pepa’s sun, in reference to the climate; the chameleon, in reference to Camilo’s metamorphosis; the bread basket for Juliet; and the hand holding a bar with Luisa’s two washers. Below, you can check them out, respectively.

Are there any other details or references you noticed while watching the plot that we haven’t listed here? Tell in the comments! We’d love to know! 🇧🇷