Last fall, the world was introduced to the extraordinary Madrigals in Disney’s Encanto. The movie is a beautiful exploration of family, filled with a perfect blend of drama, comedy, and music that stays in your head and heart long after watching.
It’s sure to become a longtime favorite, and Lin Manuel Miranda (who composed the film’s songs) has already stated that he’d love for an attraction based on the film to be created. It would certainly be an amazing addition to any Disney park.
While we wait for that, let’s take a look at ten things about the movie that may surprise you.
1) Magic House, Full of Magic People
The movie opens with the spirited musical number ‘Welcome to the Family Madrigal’ performed by Mirabel, with a brief portion sung by Abuela Alma Madrigal. In the number, the children of Encanto ask for an explanation of the Madrigal family tree, and the magic gifts each member possesses. It’s a whirlwind tour that not only helps us meet the film’s principal characters, but gives us a glimpse into the life of the Columbian village they call home.
Fans of the ‘91 classic Beauty and the Beast may notice that it feels similar to the song ‘Belle,’ in which we are introduced to the “little town, full of little people…” It’s no coincidence. Composer Lin Manuel Miranda, who also wrote the music for Disney’s Moana, states the song served as his inspiration.
2) From Washington Heights to Columbia
Lin Manuel Miranda burst onto the Broadway scene in 2005, with the debut of his musical ‘In the Heights,’ which tells the story of immigrants living in the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City.
In June of 2021, a movie version of the play was released and included the acting talents of Stephanie Beatriz (as Carla) and Olga Merediz (as Abuela Claudia).
Five months later, Encanto was released, with Beatriz serving as the voice of Mirabel Madrigal, and Merediz providing the singing voice for Abuela Alma.
3) Clothes Make the Character
If you look closely, you’ll notice that the wardrobe of each character displays the magical gift they possess. The barbells on Luisa’s skirt are representative of her strength. Pepa, whose mood affects the weather, wears sunshine earrings. Isabella, who can make plants and flowers grow, wears a dress covered with bright blossoms. And those are just a few examples.
The only exception is Mirabel, who was not granted a gift. Looking at her clothing, you’ll notice that it contains images representative of each member of her family, a fitting detail given that she is the one the family’s future depends upon.
Despite not being magical (because he married into the family) Agustin, Mirabel’s father, also has symbols hidden in his attire: a flower on his vest for Isabella, a sock with weights on it for Luisa, and another sock featuring embroidery like that on Mirabel’s dress.
4) Mirabel Originally Had A Different Name
In early plans for the movie, the character of Mirabel was originally known as Beatriz. It was eventually changed, with her final moniker being based on the Spanish word ‘mira’ which means ‘to look.’
The alteration fits her character, as Mirabel investigates the mysteries in her family.
5) Bruno’s Name Was Different Too
It turns out, there was a time when no one would have talked about Bruno. The reclusive member of the Madrigal clan was initially known as Oscar.
According to director Jared Bush, the team encountered a ‘legal snag’ after discovering several real people in Columbia named Oscar Madrigal, which forced them to make the change.
6) Speaking of Bruno…
For much of Encanto, Bruno is a mystery, the member of the clan who mysteriously disappeared and whom the family refuses to discuss (well, refuses to officially discuss. They gossip about him endlessly.)
At first glance, you would think he isn’t even included in the movie’s promotional poster, which features every other person in the Madrigal family. Things aren’t always how they appear, however, and a closer look reveals that he is peaking out from behind a tree, his face partially shrouded by his signature green cloak.
7) Hercules! Hercules!
In 1997, Disney released the film Hercules, starring Tate Donovan, James Woods, Susan Egan, and Danny Devito. During a portion of the film, the titular hero battles Cereberus, the three-headed dog of Hades who guards the Underworld.
During the song, ‘Surface Pressure’ Luisa Madrigal sings about struggling with the expectations that come along with her incredible strength and laments, “Under the surface. Was Hercules ever like, “Yo, I don’t wanna fight Cerberus”?
As she sings the line, we are given a brief glimpse of the hero battling the mythic beast. Though they do not resemble the characters as depicted in the ‘97 film, it’s still a fun allusion to Disney’s past.
8) The Poor Fish Never Stood a Chance
During the epic number, ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ we meet a character who claims that Bruno predicted the death of her pet fish.
While she appears to blame him for the prophecy coming true, there’s reason to believe that the little creature was doomed from the start. The woman is not given a name during the film, but according to Jared Bush, she was known as Senora Pezmuerto, which roughly translates to Mrs. Dead Fish. If that’s your name, maybe you should adopt a different pet.
9) ‘Surface Pressure’ was a Highly Personal Song for Miranda
Composer Lin Manuel Miranda states that the song ‘Surface Pressure’ was inspired by his older sister Luz.
Speaking with the Washington Post, he stated, “She takes on way more responsibility than I do — I was very aware that I was the baby brother who got away with everything — so Surface Pressure is very much a love letter to my sister.”
10) One of The Most Successful Disney Songs of All Time
In January, ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ became the first song since Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” to reach number one on Billboard’s Hot 100. Only five songs in Disney history have cracked the top five, with the others being ‘Let It Go’ from Frozen (which peaked at number 5), The Lion King’s ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ (which reached number 3), and Vanessa William’s performance of ‘Colors of the Wind’ from Pocahontas (which climbed as high as 4).
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