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Movie Review: Encanto

Disney’s latest animated musical revolves around an enchanted house and a family with magical abilities—except for a girl named Mirabel who doesn’t receive a magical talent. The result is a surprisingly resonant story about family, identity and acceptance. Read the Plugged In review: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/encanto-2021/ If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

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Finding something the whole family can watch during the holidays is a perennial challenge. It’s as much a part of tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas carols on the radio soon after. This holiday season, Disney is serving up a warm, feel-good family friendly movie called “Encanto,” a Colombian magical realist tale of a family that received special powers after surviving a tragedy. Now, a few generations later, they live together in a magical house and each member develops their own talent, like the ability to control the weather, shapeshift into other people, and talk to animals. Their casita (house) responds to the family’s requests and responds to their moods. Each bedroom is magically tailored to the relative and their magical gift. All except for one, Mirabel ( Stephanie Beatriz ). 

“Encanto” follows the “girl with no apparent gift” Mirabel, who tries her best to fit in a family so extraordinary that her judgmental Abuela Alma ( María Cecilia Botero ) offers only her disappointment at every turn. For Mirabel, it’s tough to stand out when her mom, Julieta ( Angie Cepeda ), can heal wounds with her cooking—more specifically, her arepas con queso, her sister Luisa ( Jessica Darrow ) can lift the heaviest of objects with ease, and her sister Isabela ( Diane Guerrero ) can grow the most beautiful flowers without barely thinking about it. Mirabel notices the family’s casita is starting to show cracks, but no one believes her and downplays her worries as something her estranged eccentric uncle Bruno ( John Leguizamo ) would say. It’s up to Mirabel to find out what’s happening to save both her family and her home. 

Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard (“ Zootopia ”) and co-director Charise Castro Smith (” Raya and the Last Dragon ”), who bears more than a passing resemblance to the movie’s main character, have created another kind hearted movie about misfits trying to do the right thing. Most notably, there’s no villain in this Disney movie, just a nebulous “unknown” threatening the family and their home. The conflict is minimal at best, which allows for Mirabel to spend more time learning about what she can do despite her lack of powers, but it also leaves the movie feeling a bit meandering. To make up for lost action, the movie shines in its animation and design, really making use of the house with doors to new worlds and musical sequences that allow for a little more abstract artistic freedom. 

Speaking of those musical sequences, I think it’s time Lin-Manuel Miranda takes a break. After knocking it out of the park with “In the Heights,” “ Hamilton ” and “ Moana ,” his 2021 offerings have been a little lackluster. For this review, I finally watched the movie “ Vivo ,” in which he voices the title character as well as handles the song writing duties. Those numbers sounded flimsy and forgettable. In one song, he rhymes “drum” with… “drum.” In “Encanto,” the odds are a little better, more songs fare better than others, but there’s still a sense that these musical numbers are the reheated leftovers from other projects. They sound like his work, but don’t offer anything new or exciting to get stuck in our heads. Isabela and Luisa’s disposable pop songs "What Else Can I Do?" and "Surface Pressure" are cloyingly repetitive. “The Family Madrigal” is a less effective version of the opening song from “In the Heights.” Only Carlos Vives’ rendition of Miranda’s song "Colombia, Mi Encanto" sounds like a memorable stand-out.

Unimpressive songs are an unfortunate thing to befall an animated musical like “Encanto.” Thankfully, there are other elements to enjoy like the movie’s boisterous voice cast that includes Carolina Gaitán , Rhenzy Feliz , Ravi Cabot-Conyers , Wilmer Valderrama , Mauro Castillo , and one-name Latin music stars Maluma and Adassa. It’s also impressive to see an animated Disney movie finally include varying skin tones and hair textures in the same family, while also incorporating Colombian fashion like ponchos, flowing embroidered skirts, colorful dresses and guayaberas as part of a character’s details. Beatriz is magnificent as Mirabel, embodying both pain and love in her voice throughout the film, yet never losing a sense of the goofy playfulness that makes her character so likeable. Abuela’s singing voice comes from the one and only Olga Merediz , another “In the Heights” alum.

Similar to how Pixar’s “ Coco ” paid tribute to Mexican culture, “Encanto” holds many nods to its Colombian roots, from the use of flowers and animals specific to the regions to crafting songs that incorporated their respective countries’ musical palette. In both stories, the matriarchal abuelas have to also go through an emotional journey just as much (if not more) than the younger protagonists in the movie. It’s an interesting development to see both Pixar and Disney Animation move into the world tour phase of their storytelling, but I hope they avoid repeating each other in thematic and narrative elements. 

One difference is that “Encanto” explores the Madrigals’ backstory beyond their household, showing the Madrigal grandparents fleeing their homeland for safety and Abuelo’s ultimate sacrifice in an artistic flashback. The story of a homeland lost and the family who rebuilt in a new land is not an uncommon one for many immigrant families, and by sensitively including it as part of a charming Disney movie, perhaps will give a new generation a better sense of belonging or at least the comfort that others have shared their experience. It may help kids who didn’t grow up with those stories of a “paradise lost” to understand those that did. Maybe that’s an optimistic view for a movie many will flock to in a post-turkey coma, but despite a few missteps, “Encanto” is one of the more charming animated movies to hit theaters this year. 

Exclusively in theaters today. 

Monica Castillo

Monica Castillo is a critic, journalist, programmer, and curator based in New York City. She is the Senior Film Programmer at the Jacob Burns Film Center and a contributor to  RogerEbert.com .

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Film Credits

Encanto (2021)

Rated PG for some thematic elements and mild peril.

Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel Madrigal (voice)

John Leguizamo as Bruno Madrigal (voice)

María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma Madrigal (voice)

Wilmer Valderrama as Agustín Madrigal (voice)

Diane Guerrero as Isabela Madrigal (voice)

Jessica Darrow as Luisa Madrigal (voice)

Angie Cepeda as Julieta Madrigal (voice)

Adassa as Dolores Madrigal (voice)

Mauro Castillo as Félix Madrigal (voice)

Rhenzy Feliz as Camilo Madrigal (voice)

Carolina Gaitán as Pepa Madrigal (voice)

Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Antonio Madrigal (voice)

Maluma as Mariano (voice)

Alan Tudyk as Pico (voice)

• Byron Howard

Co-director

• Charise Castro Smith

Writer (story by)

• Lin-Manuel Miranda

Cinematographer

• Alessandro Jacomini
• Daniel Rice
• Nathan Detroit Warner
• Jeremy Milton

Composer (original score composed by)

• Germaine Franco

Composer (original songs by)

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Encanto review: Disney's magical realist take on superheroes is charming but breezy

The new animated musical is set in Colombia and features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Christian Holub is a writer covering comics and other geeky pop culture. He's still mad about 'Firefly' getting canceled.

The latest stop on Disney Animation Studios' world tour, following Raya and the Last Dragon 's riff on Fantasy Asia earlier this year, is Colombia. The most famous work of art to come out of Colombia (and a strong contender for the designation of greatest novel ever written) is Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude , and the studio's new film Encanto pays homage to that magical realist masterwork with its story of a multi-generational family blessed by wonderful enchantments.

It's hard to miss the rhyme between "Encanto," which is both the title of the film and a word often used by its characters to refer to the miracle that made a home for them deep in the mountains, and "Macondo," the town founded by Marquez's unforgettable Buendia family in the middle of the jungle. Of course, One Hundred Years of Solitude delves deeply into sex, politics, and the bloodstained history of imperialism in Latin America — none of which are quite suitable subjects for a Disney kids' movie. So for its structure and rhythm, Encanto leans on more familiar U.S. media touchstones.

Like the X-Men, almost every member of the Madrigal family is blessed with their own unique power: Luisa (Jessica Darrow) is strong enough to lift anything, while Isabela (Diane Guerrero) can make beautiful flowers bloom all around her. But like The Umbrella Academy , the story of Encanto focuses on the only family member who doesn't have an evident superpower: Mirabel ( Stephanie Beatriz ), the younger sister of Luisa and Isabela who desperately wants to prove she can support her family and community just as well as they can. Her lack of power seems to suggest that the family's enchantment is fading, so Mirabel decides to try investigating the source of this decline and see if it can be fixed.

Maribel embarks on a search for her prodigal uncle Bruno ( John Leguizamo ), who exiled himself from the family after his precognitive visions were dismissed as self-fulfilling doomsaying instead of helpful warnings against coming troubles. Mirabel's quest to find the truth involves reaching out to various other family members for help as well. Through charming songs, we learn that Luisa is starting to crack under the pressure of always needing to be strong, while Isabela actually possesses the spirit of a colorful, rebel artist beneath her golden child facade.

Encanto is directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, but the film's original songs were composed by Hamilton maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda . Together with Netflix's Vivo and Tick, Tick...Boom! , that makes Encanto the third film to heavily feature Miranda's touch in as many months (to say nothing of In the Heights earlier this year). It's no crime to be such a prolific artist, especially with COVID-19 delaying releases, but it also doesn't feel like the Encanto soundtrack is Miranda's best work. The songs are breezy and fun, they communicate the character beats they need to, but they probably won't be stuck in your head for days afterward.

It's not easy squeezing a multi-generational magical epic into an hour and a half, and some gaps in Encanto 's mythology might leave you scratching your head (if it's true that Mirabel doesn't have a power of her own, then why does she seem to possess such a unique level of affinity and control over the family's living house…?). But a smiling tale about familial reconciliation and learning to see your relatives for who they are rather than who you wish they were is never unwelcome. In this story, sometimes families condemned to 100 years of solitude do get a second chance on Earth. B

Related content:

• Lin-Manuel Miranda's Disney animated musical Encanto reveals enchanting first trailer
• Vivo review: Lin-Manuel Miranda's rapping kinkajou movie could use a little less rapping kinkajou
• Tick, Tick...Boom! review: Jonathan Larson's story shines in a musical that sings from the heart

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2021, Kids & family/Musical, 1h 39m

What to know

Critics Consensus

Encanto 's setting and cultural perspective are new for Disney, but the end result is the same -- enchanting, beautifully animated fun for the whole family. Read critic reviews

Audience Says

Whether you're looking for gorgeous animation, catchy songs, a heartwarming message, or all of the above, Encanto delivers. Read audience reviews

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Where to watch encanto.

Watch Encanto with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

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Encanto videos, encanto   photos.

The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

Rating: PG (Some Thematic Elements|Mild Peril)

Genre: Kids & family, Musical, Comedy, Fantasy, Animation

Original Language: English

Director: Jared Bush , Byron Howard

Producer: Yvett Merino Flores , Clark Spencer

Writer: Charise Castro Smith , Jared Bush

Release Date (Theaters): Nov 24, 2021  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Dec 24, 2021

Box Office (Gross USA): $96.1M

Runtime: 1h 39m

Distributor: Walt Disney

Production Co: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

Sound Mix: DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos

Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Stephanie Beatriz

Mirabel Madrigal Voice

María Cecilia Botero

Abuela Voice

Diane Guerrero

Isabela Madrigal Voice

Angie Cepeda

Julieta Madrigal Voice

John Leguizamo

Bruno Madrigal Voice

Jessica Darrow

Luisa Madrigal Voice

Wilmer Valderrama

Augustín Madrigal Voice

Carolina Gaitán

Pepa Madrigal Voice

Mauro Castillo

Félix Madrigal Voice

Dolores Madrigal Voice

Rhenzy Feliz

Camilo Madrigal Voice

Ravi Cabot-Conyers

Antonio Madrigal Voice

Mariano Voice

Byron Howard

Charise Castro Smith

Co-Director

Screenwriter

Yvett Merino Flores

Clark Spencer

Jennifer Lee

Executive Producer

Alessandro Jacomini

Cinematographer

Daniel Rice

Nathan Detroit Warner

Jeremy Milton

Film Editor

Germaine Franco

Original Music

Ian Gooding

Production Design

Jamie Sparer Roberts

Lin-Manuel Miranda

News & Interviews for Encanto

Awards Leaderboard: Top Movies of 2021

Where to Watch the 2022 Oscar Nominees

Oscar Nominations 2022: Full List of Nominated Films, Actors, Directors, and Filmmakers

Critic Reviews for Encanto

Audience reviews for encanto.

Vibrantly colored, beautiful cast of characters, and music that's catchy as hell, Encanto is quite delightful. It also tells a valid story of feeling different in a family, and generational trauma. There are no real villains in this story, only different beliefs and family drama. It's charming as hell and vibrant in every sense.

2021 has been quite a year for Lin-Manuel Miranda who has provided the musical accompaniment to three movies, Vivo, In the Heights, and now Encanto, Disney's latest animated musical (Miranda also has the live-action Little Mermaid, though that's 2023). It would be unfair to expect a generation-defining Hamilton-esque masterpiece every time Miranda sets pen to paper; I'd happily settle for even a lesser Moana, as far as quality goes (to be fair, Moana is also brilliant). With Encanto, the musical numbers have interesting tone/melody shifts and the hip-hop syncopation we're used to from Miranda's style, but none of them will be able to be hummed by the end credits. They evaporate from memory pretty quickly [Editor's Note: Forget all that. the songs are great]. With that being said, I found the remainder of Encanto to be quite charming and emotionally resonant. It's set in Columbia and follows a magic home to a magic family where at a certain age the children are blessed with a unique magic power with a ceremony and celebration. Except for Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz) who was denied a power and is looked at with skepticism by her Abuela, who insists on sticking to their family traditions no matter if her children and grandchildren chafe from her expectations. This is a much more insular and contained musical, almost taking place entirely on the family grounds. Its great quest is much more about repairing family relationships and actually listening to another person rather than making assumptions about their life because of their status. Because of this story design, it leads to plenty of catharsis and reconciliation, and it made me blubber like a baby at points. I bought into the emotional stakes of the family, of Mirabel feeling like an outsider, and the pressure to conform. I enjoyed that near everyone in this extended family gets a chance to share their own perspective. The story felt very empathetic to its supporting players while still remembering to be entertaining and funny. The conclusion feels a bit rushed, with happy endings being doled out rather hastily, but quite satisfying. I found Encanto to be colorful, rich in feeling and theme, and delightful to experience. Also, the animated short with the raccoons beforehand hit me hard too. Nate's Grade: B+

Beautiful theme, music, and animation, but the plot was kind of a mess and wasn't satisfying.

Not a fan of the overly emotional plot as it isn't really subverting a traditional Disney narrative and it ends up feeling a little too low stakes. The song score is really good though which does carry the movie.

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Encanto upends Disney tradition with an adventure that never leaves home

Walt disney animation studios’ 60th feature is a visual feast with a family focus.

From Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs to Raya And The Last Dragon , Walt Disney Animation Studios has spent the past eight decades perfecting its signature riff on the classic hero’s journey. So it’s a bold move that for its 60th feature, Encanto, the studio turns so many of those classic tropes on their head.

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Where most Disney animated protagonists are lucky if they get at least one living parent, Encanto ’s plucky leading lady, Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz), lives in a house bustling with extended relatives. (How fun to see a Disney heroine with cousins!) And far from being special, she’s actually the one ordinary member of a family defined by their magical abilities. That makes Mirabel a sort of reverse Elsa, if you will, and instead of setting off on an adventure to find herself, her quest leads inward into her own family history and the secrets buried inside it. Therein lies Encanto ’s biggest innovation: It’s a Disney adventure that never leaves the house.

To be fair, this is no ordinary abode. The film’s casita sits at the heart of an “encanto,” a magical town tucked away in the mountains of Colombia. The enchanted house has its own quirky personality, like the carpet from Aladdin . It can also conjure up massive, magical new rooms every time a family member comes of age and gains their power. (“It’s bigger on the inside,” one visitor gasps like they’re stepping into Doctor Who ’s TARDIS, as they enter a cavernous jungle room ready-made for action sequences.)

Drawing from the Latin American tradition of magical realism, Encanto weaves its vision of magic into everyday life. The casita’s floorboards jostle to help Mirabel slip into her shoes as her glamorous older sister, Isabela (Diane Guerrero), sprouts flowers wherever she walks, Meanwhile, her mother, Julieta (Angie Cepeda), cooks food that can heal any ailment. From shape-shifting and super hearing to the ability to control the weather and talk to animals, the Madrigal family use their special gifts to keep the encanto running smoothly under the watchful, demanding eye of family matriarch Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero).

As ever, Disney succeeds at enveloping its audience in a lushly realized world that presents inventive visuals in a comfortingly classical animation style. While directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush previously made Zootopia   together, it’s Howard’s work on Tangled   that feels most influential here. The multigenerational, multiracial Madrigals offer a diverse representation of the Colombian experience, with each skin tone and hair texture represented as lovingly as Rapunzel’s locks were in that 2010 princess film. Encanto also borrows Tangled ’s use of warm, glowing light as a major motif. The Madrigal family’s powers come from an enchanted candle that appeared to them in a time of strife. They refer to it as their “miracle,” and that religious reverie   could also apply to the gorgeously twinkling imagery on screen too.

Storywise, the film’s family theme   is also a welcome departure from the overly complicated, mythology-heavy worldbuilding of recent Disney animated films like Raya and Frozen II . Despite their #blessed attitude, all isn’t right in the Madrigal household. It’s Mirabel who first starts to see the cracks (literally) emerge in the picture-perfect façade her family puts forth as leaders in their community. And her investigation into their faltering magic leads her to discover that those closest to her are struggling far more than she realized. “I’m worthless if I can’t be of service,” Maribel’s super-strong older sister Luisa (Jessica Darrow) sings while literally carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Encanto delivers a poignant message about not focusing so much on our own burdens that we miss the fact that others around us have them too.

Yet like Disney’s other big November release, Eternals , Encanto struggles to serve its massive ensemble effectively. With 12 or so featured players, there’s just not enough room to flesh out their relationships to Mirabel and to one another while still making time for the requisite action-adventure moments and Mirabel’s own emotional arc too. Some characters we barely get to know at all, while others have their big issue introduced and resolved in a single song. It doesn’t help that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical numbers lean towards a pop sound that’s fun and catchy but lacks the emotional punch of Disney’s usual Broadway stylings. For all its compelling individual elements, Encanto doesn’t quite manage to weave them together into something greater than the sum of its parts—which is especially frustrating given that the idea of communal support is a driving ethos of the film.

Still, that unevenness gives way to great moments. The film’s standout sequence is a flashback montage set to Miranda’s elegiac Spanish-language song, “Dos Oruguitas.” There, Encanto re-anchors itself as a movie about intergenerational trauma—the way that the necessary survival methods of one generation can become the unhealthy coping mechanisms of another. It’s weighty but gently handled material in a thematically dense film that will likely reward multiple viewings. (Good news for parents.) While Encanto doesn’t break the Disney mold, it does give it an enchanting new shape. And it offers a timeless reminder to viewers of all ages: A problem shared is a problem halved, whether you’re leaning on your loved ones or the sturdy walls of an enchanted house.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Vibrant visuals, catchy songs, moving messages.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Includes many aspects of Colombian culture, like t

Lots of positive messages about value of empathy a

The Madrigals are helpful, strong, loyal. They lov

Depicts multigenerational, multiracial Madrigal fa

Flashbacks to a confrontation with armed men who k

A married couple is affectionate: kisses, embraces

Mirabel calls her sister "stupid perfect."

Nothing on camera, but off camera, the movie has t

A kid drinks coffee even after being told it's for

Parents need to know that Encanto is an animated Disney musical set in Colombia and featuring Mirabel Madrigal (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), the youngest granddaughter in a family that protects their enchanted village with the magical powers they've had for two generations ... except for Mirabel. As she…

Educational Value

Includes many aspects of Colombian culture, like traditional dress, dancing, music, even cuisine (arepas, a national food, are made and eaten several times).

Positive Messages

Lots of positive messages about value of empathy and teamwork, importance of honesty and acceptance in families, the need to acknowledge various talents and character strengths of people you love.

Positive Role Models

The Madrigals are helpful, strong, loyal. They love one another and want to protect and defend their family, house, town. The family exhibits the pride of serving their community, learns to accept help later in the movie. Mirabel is selfless and wants to solve problems even as she's occasionally overlooked because of her lack of superpowers.

Diverse Representations

Depicts multigenerational, multiracial Madrigal family, as well as Encanto village that's full of residents who are Black, Brown, White. Women are strong, men are supportive (in this family, husbands don't have magical abilities, but their wives and children do), and a matriarch (Abuela) leads the family and village. Colombian culture is well portrayed in form of music, costumes, dance sequences, even food, but filmmaking team, including songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda , isn't of Colombian heritage.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Flashbacks to a confrontation with armed men who kill Mirabel's abuelo with their swords while her abuela watches, holding newborn triplets. The family's home begins to crumble, and a nearby mountain splits in two, posing a danger to the family and entire village. Bruno is frightening at first sight but is just lonely. A character dangles from the edge of a cliff, and it looks like they're plunging to injury, but they end up fine. The house eventually falls, and it's occasionally scary to see all the family members fail in their attempts to save the house and their magic candle.

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Sex, Romance & Nudity

A married couple is affectionate: kisses, embraces, and partner dances in flashbacks to their wedding and other occasions.

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Products & Purchases

Nothing on camera, but off camera, the movie has tie-ins to apparel, toys, figurines, even instruments.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A kid drinks coffee even after being told it's for adults. Family toasts with an unspecified drink (presumably water) at a meal/event.

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Encanto is an animated Disney musical set in Colombia and featuring Mirabel Madrigal (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz ), the youngest granddaughter in a family that protects their enchanted village with the magical powers they've had for two generations ... except for Mirabel. As she helps her cousin prepare for his coming-of-magical-age ritual, she begins to question her role in the family. Expect a few scenes of violence: Mirabel's grandfather is killed by armed men (the actual death isn't shown), and supernatural events and catastrophes threaten the characters. There's also mild name-calling and affection between married characters. Themes of empathy, teamwork, and courage are clear, and there's strong diverse representation on-screen, with White, Black, and multiracial characters all part of the same family and voiced by famous Colombian and Latin American actors. Colombian culture is also well portrayed in the form of music, costumes, dance sequences, and even food, but the filmmaking team, including songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda , isn't of Colombian heritage. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (126)
• Kids say (247)

Based on 126 parent reviews

This film is everything. Truly.

It was hard for my 4 yr old granddaughter to follow, to much singing, not easy story line. if it was not for all the movment i would have left with my granddaughter. she asked to leave 3 times, but i kept hoping it would get better, what's the story.

In ENCANTO, Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz ) is a member of the magical Madrigal family, who were bestowed with supernatural gifts emanating from a miracle candle that also created their village and magical house, la casita . Unfortunately for Mirabel, while her relatives have gifts as wide-ranging as controlling the weather, super strength, making flowers grow, healing with food, shape-shifting, super hearing, and seeing the future, she didn't receive a supernatural gift during her coming-of-age ceremony. As her youngest cousin approaches the day that a magical door will reveal his gift, the family nervously prepares. On the day itself, Mirabel has a vision of the casita cracking and crumbling, and she dedicates herself to saving the Madrigals' magical home -- even if it means looking for her mysterious estranged Tio Bruno ( John Leguizamo ), who could predict the future, and putting herself in dangerous situations.

Is It Any Good?

Disney's delightful animated musical is a tribute to Colombian culture, magical realism, and the power of multigenerational families. Encanto works on multiple levels. It's a kid-friendly musical with a magical house and relatives, most of them teens and tweens. Main character Mirabel is lovable and loyal, but also the family's beloved but underappreciated underdog, which makes her easy to cheer for and relate to as she tries to prove she's worthy of the family name. Deeper still, the movie's thematic elements are an homage to magical realism, the literary genre that legendary late Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez was famous for elevating, with magical golden butterflies reminding viewers of migration, change, and hope. Beatriz is terrific as Mirabel, and the cast of Colombian actors and singers does a great job with the Germaine Franco-composed/Lin-Manuel Miranda-penned songs, particularly "The Family Madrigal," "We Don't Talk About Bruno," and "All of You." Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Sebastián Yatra are also prominent on the authentic, cumbia-infused soundtrack (listen for the accordion and percussion!). The movie's attention to cultural detail also includes traditional dress (the embroidered, ruffled tops and skirts and the black-and-white cane hats are iconic) and the making of typical foods like the healing arepas that Mirabel's mami (Angie Cepeda) feeds family and villagers.

Beyond the cultural sensitivity (and it should be noted that, behind the scenes, none of the writer-directors -- Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith -- are Colombian), this is a funny and deeper-than-it-looks family adventure. Audiences will laugh aloud at the animal cameos (Tio Bruno's pet rats are especially entertaining) and the chorus of three village kids who pop up at various key moments for comic relief. They'll also sing along to Miranda's toe-tapping choruses "We don't talk about Bruno-no-no-no" and the Anna-and-Elsa-like duets between Mirabel and each of her two sisters -- big-and-strong Luisa (Jessica Darrow) and perfect-and-pretty Isabela (Diane Guerrero). It's a joy to watch Mirabel bravely protect her family and her town. There's also a simmering truth to the idea that people are much more than what they initially seem. Everyone has gifts and strengths, whether they're obvious or subtle, and what's meaningful is how people use them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Encanto 's messages about embracing differences, learning to rethink weaknesses and strengths, and the importance of family togetherness. What are some other positive themes in the story?

Talk about the family dynamics in the movie. Why does Mirabel feel like she has to prove her worth to her family? How does she display courage , empathy , and teamwork ? Why are those important character strengths?

What aspects of Colombian culture are highlighted in the story? How do costumes, music, dance, and food play a role in the movie? How is magical realism, which is associated with Latin American literature, a big part of the movie?

Why does representation behind the camera matter as much as in front of the camera? While most of the movie's cast and the soundtrack's performing musicians are Colombian, the filmmakers themselves aren't. How could a Colombian filmmaker have enriched the film?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 24, 2021
• On DVD or streaming : February 8, 2022
• Cast : Stephanie Beatriz , John Leguizamo , Wilmer Valderrama
• Directors : Jared Bush , Byron Howard
• Inclusion Information : Gay directors, Female actors, Bisexual actors, Latino actors
• Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Brothers and Sisters , Music and Sing-Along
• Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Teamwork
• Run time : 99 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some thematic elements and mild peril
• Awards : Academy Award , Common Sense Selection , Golden Globe
• Last updated : February 6, 2024

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

Disney’s ‘Encanto’ has a simple but powerful message: It’s not what you do, but who you are that counts

Mirabel Madrigal has a problem — or maybe she is the problem.

The 15-year-old heroine of “Encanto,” Disney’s the latest shoo-in for an animated-feature Oscar nomination, belongs to a very special family. Years ago, when her grandmother (voice of María Cecilia Botero) was forced to flee her home with infant triplets, she was “granted a miracle,” though by whom and why is never explained. First part of that miracle? A magical house, high in the mountains of Colombia, that is almost a living organism. Second: Every member of the Madrigal family — not including in-laws — is given a special ability as a child. Mirabel’s mother (Angie Cepeda) can heal injury and sickness with her cooking. Aunt Pepa (Carolina Gaitan) controls the weather via her emotions. One sister has super-strength, while another is effortlessly graceful, gorgeous and can summon flowers from thin air. But Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) has no gift.

Her grandmother reminds her of this often.

When the house’s foundations start to crack, and her relatives’ gifts begin dimming and disappearing, Mirabel decides to track down the problem. What follows is delightfully complicated; it’s a quest in which our heroine never leaves home, and the enemy — if there is one — isn’t who you’d expect. Even if the story lacks logic at some points, when you keep in mind that the whole saga started with an unexplained miracle, it’s easy enough to forgive the lack of cohesion. The characters deepen marvelously as the story goes on, and it becomes clearer that the blessings received as children have now become burdens. If you can manipulate the weather, for example, there’s a lot of pressure to keep things sunny. And the film’s overarching message, while one we’ve heard before — people are worthy of love because of who they are, not what they do — is simple yet powerful.

The visuals are lush and lovely, down to such tiny details as the reflections in Mirabel’s glasses. (In an important step for representation, she’s the first bespectacled Disney “princess.”) Her adorably rumpled curls beg the questions: What product does she use to keep then from going frizzy in the Colombian humidity? Directors Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Charise Castro Smith rely heavily on close-ups: Watching Mirabel’s “performance” is a joy on par with watching a master actor at work. The slightest movement of an eyebrow or the twitch of her mouth conveys so much meaning that it’s easy to forget you’re watching someone who doesn’t actually exist. Combined with Beatriz’s excellent voice work, the character animation makes Mirabel a welcome addition to the pantheon of Disney heroines.

While Germaine Franco’s score is outstanding, the original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda don’t have the catchiness or the power we’ve come to expect from other Disney films. They’re also incredibly similar, though inarguably weaker, than Miranda’s earlier work. The big number “Waiting on a Miracle” sounds so much like “Burn” from “Hamilton” that it feels plagiarized. Some of the songs also feel unnecessary; they don’t move the story along or deepen our understanding of the characters. It’s like Miranda was trying to make a quota.

Anyone who has ever felt left out by their family will see themselves in Mirabel. (Frankly, anyone who has a family will recognize — or identify with — someone in this movie.) While Mirabel is at the center of “Encanto,” the story is really about the Madrigals as a whole. What makes a family? Who belongs in what role? How can familial approval be something that both heals and hurts? It’s a creative, fresh take on a story that is much more complex than your standard fairy tale.

PG.  At area theaters; available Dec. 24 on Disney Plus. Contains mature thematic elements and mild peril. 109 minutes

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Encanto review – Disney musical casts its spell with a little help from Lin-Manuel Miranda

Miranda’s slinky soundtrack and unexpected subtleties align as Disney’s new outsider heroine tries to save her family from ruin

T he Madrigal clan are a little unusual. The burly Luisa (voiced by Jessica Darrow) possesses superhuman strength, Isabela (Diane Guerrero) has the ability to make flowers burst into bloom, Pepa (Carolina Gaitán) can control the weather with her mood. It’s only bespectacled Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) who hasn’t been blessed with magic. An outsider in her own family, she fits right into a lineage of recent Disney animation heroines, including Moana and Frozen’ s Elsa. When the Madrigals’ prized enchanted candle begins to dim (and with it, everyone’s powers), cracks appear in the foundation of the family casa. It’s Mirabel who must figure out how to keep the flame alight.

Set among the mountains of Colombia, this sparky musical covers plenty of well-trodden terrain, including sibling rivalry and the crushing weight of family expectations. What’s interesting and unexpected is the film’s subtle acknowledgement of culturally specific generational trauma and displacement. “We can’t lose our home,” repeats matriarch Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero), who recounts being forced from her house by “unknown forces” once before. The film also boasts a soundtrack of earworms written by Lin-Manuel Miranda; the slinky, salsa-influenced We Don’t Talk About Bruno rattled around in my head for days.

• Animation in film
• The Observer
• Family films
• Lin-Manuel Miranda

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Movie Review: Encanto

Disney’s "Encanto" revolves around a magical family, even as it reminds us that family might be the most magical thing. Read the Plugged In review: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/encanto-2021/ If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

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Disney’s latest animated musical revolves around an enchanted house and a family with magical abilities—except for a girl named Mirabel who doesn’t receive a magical talent. The result is a surprisingly resonant story about family, identity and acceptance. Read the Plugged In review: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/encanto-2021/ If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Encanto’ on Disney+, a Typically Enchanting Animated Mouse House Musical

Where to stream:.

• Family Movies

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New movies on streaming: 'kung fu panda 4,' 'sleeping dogs' + more, stream it or skip it: ‘kung fu panda 4’ on vod, another round of skadooshing for a franchise in twilight, stream it or skip it: ‘wish’ on disney+, an exercise in corporate self-congratulations.

Disney+ subscribers get a Christmas gift this year in Encanto , the Mouse House’s new animated musical about a Colombian family with magical powers. Notably, the film’s original songs were penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, further adding to his ubiquity here in 2021, a year in which he directed tick… tick… BOOM! , produced In the Heights and voice acted in, produced and wrote songs for Vivo . Anyone experiencing LMM fatigue – likely to be further tested considering the high probability of his receiving Oscar nominations – will be happy to know that his presence in Encanto isn’t immediately prevalent, because the film stands on its own as a perfectly delightful fantasy for the whole family.

ENCANTO : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: DATELINE: COLOMBIA. A place out of time – we’re always looking for cell phones to get a specific idea of a movie’s setting, aren’t we, and there are none here, nor even a radio or, unless I’m mistaken, an electric light. So this is a kind of fairy tale then: Got it. It’s about the Madrigal family, led by Abuela (voice of Maria Cecilia Botero), widow, mother of triplets, founder of a village paradise for her kin and fellow refugees, keeper of a flame on a magical candle that endows her children and grandchildren with superhuman “gifts” and keeps the town safe. She’s one hell of a woman, is what I’m getting at.

But Abuela isn’t perfect – who is? – and we’ll get to that in a minute. We meet her granddaughter Maribel (Stephanie Beatriz), who’s the only Madrigal without magical powers. She gives us a Madrigal who’s-who via an upbeat song: Her mother Julieta (Angie Cepeda) can cure ailments with her cooking, sister Luisa (Jessica Darrow) is super strong, sister Isabela (Diane Guerrero) can make flowers grow, aunt Pepa’s (Carolina Gaitan) moods influence the weather, little cousin Antonio (Ravi-Cabot Conyers) can talk to animals, and there are others, which I’ll sum up by simply saying, “etc.” One might think Mirabel’s gift is the ability to summon earworms via imminently catchy expositional musical numbers, but one apparently would be wrong. She is the Madrigal misfit as the screenplay dictates, and one will just have to deal with it.

However, she isn’t the only Madrigal misfit. Nobody’s allowed to talk about her uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo), who’s been banished from the family’s magical, sentient house, dubbed Casita. Maribel discovers this buried family secret while investigating a potential threat to the Madrigal magic, manifesting via cracks in the Casita walls that apparently only she can see. It prompts a little quest of sorts for Maribel, who sniffs around behind the walls of the house and finds herself on an Indiana Jones set, and sings some more ditties as she pieces together the plot. Abuela, however, will have none of this; she’d rather cover up the family’s problems and pretend they don’t exist, believing it’ll preserve the candle flame. But as anybody who got at least a C in Psych 101 knows, suppressing ugly truths never works. So maybe Maribel has found her purpose: Shredding tradition in the name of enlightened progress, it seems.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: In the pantheon of animated Disney musicals from the past decade: Moana > Frozen > Encanto > Frozen II , which isn’t to imply that any of them are lousy in the least. (And this is where I remind you, almost apropos of nothing, that The Princess and the Frog is criminally underrated and you need to watch/rewatch it.)

Performance Worth Watching: As the voice of Maribel, Beatriz finds the perfect blend of substance and hopeful buoyancy.

Memorable Dialogue: “Maybe your gift is being in denial.” – a random kid in the village zings Mirabel

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: Encanto is immediately gorgeous to the eye: Gobs and gobs of color, inspired character design and deep, rich backgrounds. The Casita, with it’s chattering floor tiles and stairs that transform into slides, is enchanting; a sequence in which little Antonio realizes his gift and rides through the jungle on the back of a jaguar is an absolute joy; another that seeks to resolve the rivalry between Mirabel and her “perfect” sister Isabela is as emotionally touching as it is visually lovely. This isn’t unexpected, it’s just Disney’s animation studio sparing no expense and putting for par, par excellence.

Maribel is a somewhat typical plucky teen protagonist who does her best to stave off her insecurities. She’s easy to love and empathize with. She sings a song referencing her “unspoken invisible pain,” but we never see her brood like Elsa; she’s the primary source of Encanto ’s bright, uptempo tone, which dominates despite some relatively complex subject matter. Refreshingly, Maribel isn’t a princess per se, and she doesn’t face a villain. The only bad guy here is an abstraction – an outmoded notion that showing strength, even if it’s an illusion, can protect a family or a people. It’s a riff on generational discord, with Maribel challenging Abuela’s control, stemming from the Madrigal matriarch’s past trauma and a deep-seated fear of showing vulnerability.

Sounds heavy, doesn’t it? It’s really not. The movie’s pretty sneaky in the way it incorporates its ideas into its vivid aesthetic, brimming with light comedy, scads of eye candy and cheery, medium-catchy songs. (My initial inclination to interpret the story as a commentary on the need to dismantle the British monarchy turned out to be a bit of a stretch.) The film gets a little thematically muddy as it insists upon a shiny-happy ending, but the implication is, the Madrigal family needed to be torn down in order to move forward – and who better to do that than the black sheep? Encanto doesn’t conclude with the action-heavy chaos of so many other films of its ilk, because it’s more about rebuilding than destruction. And the rebuild is always about emphasizing hope for the future instead of a longing for the past.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Encanto is thoroughly enjoyable, witty and intelligent, robust in its multigenerational appeal.

Will you stream or skip enchantingly entertaining #Encanto on @disneyplus ? #SIOSI #EncantoMovie — Decider (@decider) December 25, 2021

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com .

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Content Caution

In Theaters

• Rudy Mancuso as Rudy; Camila Mendes as Isabella; Francesca Reale as Haley; Maria Mancuso as Maria; J.B. Smoove as Anwar

Home Release Date

• April 4, 2024
• Rudy Mancuso

Distributor

• Amazon Prime Video

Movie Review

Imagine, if you will, some guys tossing around a basketball, creating a beat every time the ball touches the ground. Nearby kids complement the sound with the pitter patter of their feet as they jump rope. Then a couple of people playing checkers join in with the tapping of the game pieces against the board. The birds add a melody. Passing cars create harmony. And all these sounds come together in perfect rhythm to create music.

Except that nobody can hear it but you .

That’s life in a nutshell for Rudy. What most folks recognize as normal, everyday sounds—dishes clinking in a diner, students typing notes on their laptops—Rudy hears as music.

It’s a condition known as synesthesia .

Sometimes, it’s beautiful. And Rudy really enjoys those little moments where the whole world seems to be in sync.

Other times, it’s detrimentally distracting. A form of torture only perceivable to him. It breaks his focus, interrupts his thoughts and, from his girlfriend Haley’s perspective, causes him to tune out of important conversations about their future.

Well, ex -girlfriend. Haley finally gets fed up with Rudy’s seeming disinterest in anything she has to say and dumps him.

But even as Rudy is still reeling from this change in relationship status, he meets someone new.

Isabella is smart, funny and Brazilian (an important factor since Rudy’s Brazilian mother wants him to marry someone from their culture). More importantly, Isabella seems to understand Rudy in ways Haley never did. She encourages his close relationship with his mother. She supports his love of puppetry and his desire to turn it into a career. She sympathizes with how his synesthesia affects him.

But what really excites Rudy about Isabella is that when he looks at her, the whole world seems to stop moving, and a pleasant little tune starts playing in his head.

Positive Elements

Isabella is sympathetic toward Rudy’s condition. Rather than tease him or scoff at his explanations for why he “tunes out,” she empathizes. She says his synesthesia is a gift since it allows him to perceive the world in a way others can’t. And when the noises begin to overwhelm him in one particularly critical moment, she covers his ears in an effort to help him focus instead of getting upset with him.

Isabella also helps Rudy realize what matters most to him. When he insults his neighborhood, she helps him to see how full of life and culture it is. She pushes him to take his puppet show (his true passion which is currently just a hobby) to the next level and to pursue it professionally. And she encourages his relationship with his mother, telling him that family is a blessing, not a burden.

And it’s a good thing Isabella does so, because even though Rudy is insecure about his relationship with his mom, he considers her to be his best friend. We see how the mother-son duo truly loves and cares for each other throughout the film. And when Rudy messes up, his mom is forgiving and helpful instead of scornful, only wanting her son to be happy.

When Rudy’s ex, Haley, expresses interest in getting back together with him, he ultimately winds up dating her and Isabella at the same time. And this admittedly self-focused choice serves as a cautionary tale since it not only puts stress on Rudy, forcing him to lie to both women (and his mom), but it also shows how damaging being dishonest can be to all parties involved.

[ Spoiler warning ] Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rudy hurts both women by not being honest with them. He apologizes to Isabella, and she forgives him. However, she doesn’t resume dating him. Rather, she has enough emotional intelligence and self-respect to realize that although Rudy truly is sorry, he’s just not ready to be in a romantic relationship. And she encourages him to figure out what he wants in life and where he’s going before trying to drag someone along with him for the ride. Which he does.

Spiritual Elements

Rudy has a tattoo of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Elsewhere, we see a church in the background of one scene.

Anwar, a friend of Rudy’s who owns a food truck, wears a yarmulke when selling food in a Jewish neighborhood even though he’s not Jewish himself.

Sexual Content

While dating both women, Rudy kisses Haley and Isabella each several times throughout the film.

Rudy’s mom sets him up on a date with a Brazilian woman. Rudy is freaked out, telling his mom not to be his “pimp,” but the woman finds it normal. She puts her hand on Rudy’s knee and tries to kiss him several times while his mom looks on.

Some women wear tops showing cleavage and midriffs. We see Haley in a silky tank top-and-shorts combo. Rudy wakes one morning with his shirt unbuttoned, revealing his chest.

Characters flirt. Rudy and Isabella press against one another while switching seats in a truck. A young boy says that “butts” are the first thing that show up in a Google search of the word Brazil . There’s a joke about a strip club. Rudy’s puppet says he’s dating nine other puppets and a sock.

Violent Content

Rudy often complains that his neighborhood is “sketchy.” Isabella, who lives in the same area, initially laughs this off, optimistically citing its many positive attributes. And while Isabella isn’t wrong, neither is Rudy. On the evening of their first date, Rudy gets hit in the shoulder (we see some blood) by a stray bullet. He’s rushed to the hospital but heals up pretty quickly (we’re told it was only a flesh wound).

A man is knocked unconscious when he’s accidentally hit in the head by a frozen fish. Rudy gets whacked in the head by trash several times during a montage. Rudy rehearses a scene with his puppets wherein a male character purposely bangs his head several times to impress a female character.

A flashback shows Rudy’s parents arguing. His dad knocks a pot onto the floor and then tosses Rudy’s mom onto the floor as well.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear two uses of the f-word, once when Rudy says it and then immediately after when his mother tells him not to say it. There are at least 30 uses of the s-word, plus an additional two dozen or so when a song repeats that vulgarity over and over.

We also hear uses of “a–hole,” “b–ch,” “d–n” and “h—.” God’s name is misused about six times.

Rudy imagines that the word “butts” is being repeated by a child several times when his synesthesia kicks in.

Drug and Alcohol Content

When Rudy inadvertently winds up at a restaurant where Haley and Isabella are both present, he drinks heavily, hoping the drinks will give him the courage to finally tell both women the truth. Rudy also gets blackout drunk when his buddy mixes a drink for him at a party. (He passes out and his friend takes him home.)

People drink alcohol casually throughout the film. Isabella says she might open a bar or lounge someday. A woman excuses her mom’s poor behavior, saying that her mother was drunk.

Other Negative Elements

Rudy winds up dating Haley and Isabella at the same time because he’s unable to choose between the two women. And even though he knows it’s wrong, he lies to both women and his mother to prevent any of them figuring out what he’s doing. This cowardice hurts all of them when they find out.

Audiences may be tempted to ask why Rudy is dating Haley to begin with. She’s unsupportive of his puppetry. She keeps pushing him toward a job he doesn’t want. And she wants him to leave his home and mom in Newark to join her in New York City.

However, this isn’t entirely her fault. For the past four years, Rudy has been pursuing a degree in marketing, leading Haley to believe that’s what he wants, just like her. He’s also repeatedly told her how much he hates Newark and feels stuck there. And even though he loves his mom, he appears to blame her for that, stating that he is “all she has.”

That said, Haley is woefully unaware of Rudy’s connection to his culture. In four years of dating, she’s never truly spent time in his neighborhood, opting instead to invite Rudy to the country club her family has a membership at. And even though she tries to be more empathetic about these things when they get back together, she’s clearly embarrassed that he isn’t more ambitious, since she lies to her parents about his plans for the future. Similarly Rudy’s mom seemingly references that cultural gap when she derogatorily dubs Haley a “gringa” several times.

But Haley’s family is arguably worse. After Rudy says that his mom immigrated from Brazil, they quickly ask if she did so legally. They also state that their housekeeper is Guatemalan, as if that somehow connects her to Rudy since she is also from South America; it’s statement that demonstrates their ignorance of the different languages and cultures present around them (and one that prompts the housekeeper to call them racist in Spanish). It’s clear that they look down on Rudy since he was raised by a single mother; they say that didn’t have a “typical upbringing.” (Though Rudy defends that it was typical to him.)

It can be inferred that Rudy’s dad abandoned him and his mom. We also learn that Isabella’s mother moved back to Brazil for a guy when Isabella was 15. And though she talks to her mom on occasion, this selfish choice obviously still hurts Isabella.

Depending on which neighborhood he’s in, Anwar (a friend of Rudy’s who owns a food truck) will change his food prices and the celebrity poster hanging on his wall. (When he’s in an upper-class neighborhood, the prices increase. When he’s in a Jewish neighborhood, he hangs a poster of Barbra Streisand on the wall.)

Ultimately, Rudy learns that the música in his head isn’t a bad thing. Yes, it’s distracting. Sure, it can overwhelm him at times. And yeah, it has definitely caused some relational issues.

But it’s also what drives him. It inspires him. And it allows him to see the world in new ways.

The music shows Rudy how special Isabella is. Isabella, in turn, shows Rudy how special he is.

Of course, everything doesn’t necessarily turn out happily ever after, since Rudy still has a lot to learn about life and love.

Rudy lies to three women he cares about, ultimately hurting them all. But this story doesn’t justify Rudy’s actions or immediately invite viewers to forgive him when he apologizes. Rather, Rudy learns the hard way that there are consequences for his actions. And he also realizes that what he really needed to do was get his life together—to respect the people already and intrinsically a part of it, like his mom—before trying to invite new people in.

Música has a lot of harsh language and a few sexual implications. There are a few instances of excessive drinking, and Rudy gets shot at one point (though he’s ultimately OK and this serves more as a comedic told-you-so than anything).

However, the film also shines a light on the largely misunderstood condition of synesthesia—which writer, director and star Rudy Mancuso has been diagnosed with. And audiences willing to navigate the film’s murkier waters will find a heartfelt and artistic story about a young man learning what—and who —really matters in life.

Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

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