From the creative team that brought you Moana and Zootopia, comes Encanto. “Encanto” is the Spanish for “enchanted”.

The movie tells the story of a magical house — una casita encanta — and the family who lives in it. Everyone in the family has a magical gift except for Mirabel. Naturally, she will be the heroine, the only who can save the magic,

Antonio speaks to animals. Luisa has super-strength. Julieta heals. Isabela is graceful. Mirabel has no special gifts, or at least she thinks she doesn’t. Fantasy novelists Robin McKinley and Mercedes Lackey have both pointed out that when latent magical powers are late in appearing, they more than make up for their tardiness in increased power. That’s something worth watching for.
Trailer park

A Columbian Story with Many Hispanic Voices

Encanto is set in Columbia. The voice cast comes from all over the Hispanic world. Argentinian actress Stephanie Beatriz (Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine) voices Mirabel Madrigal; she’s the same actor who voiced Chimi in the upcoming Maya and the Three. Half-Columbian, half-Venezuelan American-born actor Wilmer Valderrama voices Augustín Madrigal. Vaderrama is currently Agent Nick Torres in NCIS . He was Carlos Madrigal in From Dusk to Dawn: the Series, and before that the voice of Manny in Disney’s Handy Manny. Diane Guerrero, a nativeborn US citizen of Columbian heritage, portrays Isabela, whom Mirabel calls Senorita Perfecta; she also portrays Crazy Jane in Doom Patrol. Cuban-American actress Jessica Darrow portrays the super strong sister Luisa. Ten-year-old Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Jasper Barnett in The Resident, Kam Barris in #Black AF) plays Antonio. Columbian-born John Leguizamo (Tybalt in Romeo + Juliet) voices Bruno. Columbian actress Maria Cecilia Botero will voice Abuela, the matriarch of this magical family.

Puerto Rican Pulitzer and Tony winning actor/playwright/composer Dr. Lin-Manuel Miranda is responsible for some of Encanto‘s music. Maybe this will be the movie that finally gains him the coveted EGOT status. Dr. Miranda already has two Emmy Awards, three Grammies, and three Tony Awards. All he lacks is the Oscar.

How will Mirabel save the magic?

For the answer to that question, you’ll need to wait until Encanto is released. It’s due out November 24, 2021, right before Thanksgiving, so those who want to skip the madness and mayhem of Black Friday can go to the movies instead.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.