Encanto: a look at the 2021 Disney animated movie

Set in the hidden mountainside of Columbia, Encanto is not your regular fantasy comedy kind of movie. It consists more of computer animations and musicals which enhances the overall feel of the movie. You get to enjoy your cartoons while vibing to great beat music in between.

On a cursory look, Encanto may seem to be a cartoon full of magic and charm as the title depicts. But on looking further we see that it comprised a lot more than just using their magic to help save the people of the town.

Mirabel, being the only Madrigal without a gift feels insecure and tries to put up a brave face and makeup by helping out here and there even when her help isn’t needed. The casita is enchanted with magic and the entire madrigal family is blessed with various gifts so it is easy for Mirabel to feel inadequate at one point or another. 

She tries so hard to make her family proud that she is forced to make some decisions without thinking of the outcome. Wanting so much to show her family what’s inside of her but not getting the chance to do so rightly, she tries to assuage her fears, regret, and sorrow with the fact that she’s still as special and a part of the family Madrigal. Children who grow up in homes where everybody else is better or bigger than them in one way or the other are also likely to feel this way. It is then the responsibility of the parent to make sure that the child feels relevant and loved enough. 

It was through the sacrifice and boldness of one man, Pedro, that the magic came into being and gave them a new home and a town for all the people to live in. If Pedro, hadn’t been loving and selfless enough to stand before the attackers, perhaps, they would all have died and no magic would have become evident. 

It was no surprise then that the miracle and charm only thrived in places of love and unity. So when the family had become broken with so many differences amongst them, the light of the candle began to dim and eventually went out. They finally came to the realization that growing together and supporting one another as a family irrespective of one’s capabilities will help them to strengthen their love and live perfectly imperfect lives. Indeed, nothing is broken that we cannot fix together.

YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR GIFT.

As Abuela rightly said, a miracle is not some magic that you’ve got, a miracle is you; not some gift, just you. A miracle is you, all of you. You are not special because of your talent or prowess, you are special because you are you and will forever remain you. You are the miracle that gives way for the magic inside of you to flourish and shine so as individuals, families, and nations, let’s not rate ourselves above one another just because of something we can do or something we possess. 

Let’s be comfortable being just who we are without trying to fit into society and be able to iron out our differences amicably while thriving on love for ourselves and for each other. For you are an ENCANTO just the way you are.

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