“Encanto”, Walt Disney’s most recent film, won Best Animated Film at the 94th Academy Awards, handing Oscars to directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush, and producers Yvett Merino, the first Latina nominee and winner in the category, Clark Spencer. The feature is the 60th animation produced by Disney Animation Studios and, in addition to contemplating the importance of cultural representation on screens, it highlights the importance of the family nucleus from a magical history marked by Latin American influences.

The film's plot center is on the Madrigal family, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a place called Encanto. Every member of the family, except for the main character, Mirabel, has a special magical gift that helps them look after the local community. The narrative of “Encanto” is based on a book: “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez. The animation has already been news on our website.

 “Encanto” was also nominated for soundtrack and original song for the song “Dos Oruguitas”, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the first song he wrote in Spanish (this was his second Oscar nomination, the first was for “How Far I'll Go”, from Disney's Moana). The song was chosen as the Oscar submission for “Encanto” before another song, written by Miranda for the film, “We Don't Talk About Bruno”, became a major hit.

“The best animated feature category was first presented at the Oscars in 2002. Enchanting marks the fourth win for Walt Disney Animation Studios, which also won Oscars for “Frozen”, “Big Hero 6” and “Zootopia”. Combined with 11 wins from sister company Pixar, “parent company” Disney can now claim 15 Oscars for best animation,” according to “The Hollywood Reporter”. 

“While ‘Encanto’s’ story is charming and its songs catchy, Miranda alluded that its real power comes from representation, giving underrepresented Latino children a moment to be seen and heard. This power was exemplified in the story of Kenzo Brooks, a 2-year-old Black boy who saw ‘Encanto’s’ Afro-Latino character Antonio Madrigal and thought it was himself on the screen”, according to ABC publication.

“I've been preparing all my life for this moment because I wanted to help create characters that kids would see themselves in. I wanted to write songs that depicted those house parties that I grew up in. And you're always kind of writing for your inner child”, he told On The Red Carpet, according to the ABC.