Encanto

[DisneyEra]

The problem is WDAS horrendous marketing, which has been a staple of the Revival Era "Post Raya, I believe this will be the Pandemic/Streaming era." After a month of leaks, WDAS finally drops the 1st trailer for Encanto in mid July. I knew then, there would be nothing else revealed til at least September. We got to wait a another whole month for trailer 2? Other than some book covers, there's been nothing else. And what about Searcher Clade? We gotta wait til July 2022 for the first trailer for that

We fans may not like their marketing strategy, but it works really well for them with the general public, so I don't think they'll change it.[/quote]

Your right. They've been marketing they're features like this since Tangled, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I know the general pubic couldn't care less about this, "Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar & Live-Action remakes" are the important ones. I myself am just tired of this kind of marketing over a decade. But, we're getting 2 original features from WDAS over the next year, so I'm good

[Sotiris]

The full clipart of Mirabel and Antonio that appeared on this book cover can be seen on the back cover of a Russian book about the film.

There's a lot of images of Mirabel and Antonio together. I wonder if he'll be the one accompanying her on the quest, though it seems unlikely given his age. He won't be able to provide banter and challenge her like it usually happens when two characters go on a trip together.

As for why the Madrigals are the only ones with powers, I hope it's explained in the movie.

Maybe it has something to do with that magical candle the grandmother is seen holding in both the poster and the trailer.

Lin-Manuel Miranda said in an interview that this film won't be like others in which the protagonist goes on a quest and the rest of characters then disappear, but that doesn't necessarily mean a couple of them won't go on a quest together. Perhaps the other family members will just have their own subplot and will continue appearing throughout the movie.

I think that's more likely than WDAS abandoning the "two unlikely characters go on a quest" formula. Then again, maybe Mirabel will have different partners at different points in her quest. That would would shake thing up.

[unprincess]

I think the two main characters on a quest will be Mirabel and Camillo, even though for now most of the marketing seems focused on her sisters and Antonio but that could be b/c they're just easier and safer to sell to audiences. If they make Camillo a proxy for "genderfluid/nonbinary" (I think its very possible, he's a shapeshifter who can switch btw M and F after all) they might not want to focus much of the marketing on him at first.

[D82]

Another book cover:


Source: https://www.amazon.com/Editors-Phoenix- ... ref=sr_1_4


And new interesting details from the synopsis of a French book about the movie:

In the heart of Colombia lies a magical home, where extraordinary people live: the Madrigals. Each member of this family has an exceptional power. But Mirabel has no gift.

But when cracks appear on the walls, the young girl is the only one to see them. And of course, no one believes her! Fortunately, Mirabel is willing to do anything to prevent the destruction of her house.

Source: https://www.amazon.fr/ENCANTO-FANTASTIQ ... ef=sr_1_22


She's the only one to see the cracks? Isn't that a magical power?

Your right. They've been marketing they're features like this since Tangled, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I know the general pubic couldn't care less about this, "Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar & Live-Action remakes" are the important ones. I myself am just tired of this kind of marketing over a decade. But, we're getting 2 original features from WDAS over the next year, so I'm good

I think both kinds of films you mention just have a different target audience. Marvel and Star Wars have a lot of adult fans, who like us are already interested in films that won't be released in years, so their marketing campaigns start earlier, while Disney's main audience are families and Disney has probably realized they don't need to advertise the films too much in advance to get them excited for their releases.

As for why the Madrigals are the only ones with powers, I hope it's explained in the movie.

Maybe it has something to do with that magical candle the grandmother is seen holding in both the poster and the trailer.

It could be. In the poster there's a glow or glare effect similar to pixie dust around each character and it seems to come from the candle, so perhaps the candle is the source of all the magic or at least it's connected to the magic of the Encanto and if the flame extinguishes, for example, the magic also disappears. It could also be related to the grandmother's powers. Or both things, perhaps her power is to keep the fame alive? I don't know, but that candle must definitely have an important role in the film.

Mirabel sure seems to have a connection to those yellow butterflies. I don't think she can control or communicate with them though. I think they'll function as a supernatural guide of sorts like the Will-o'-the-Wisp did in Brave.

Apparently, the yellow butterflies are most likely a reference to famous Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, who is known for popularizing magical realism. In this video, which I recommend because it explains all the Colombian references in the trailer, they say there's a character in one of his books who is always surrounded by yellow butterflies. You're right that Mirabel seems to have a connection to them. I've also noticed that in the poster and several book covers they come from the house, so maybe they're connected to the house's magic. Another thing that occurs to me is that they could be related to a deceased family member, the grandfather, for instance, since in magical realism stories many times people who have passed away appear to the living and interact with them. Perhaps he communicates with Mirabel through the butterflies.

I think the two main characters on a quest will be Mirabel and Camillo, even though for now most of the marketing seems focused on her sisters and Antonio but that could be b/c they're just easier and safer to sell to audiences. If they make Camillo a proxy for "genderfluid/nonbinary" (I think its very possible, he's a shapeshifter who can switch btw M and F after all) they might not want to focus much of the marketing on him at first.

If he really is a genderfluid or nonbinary character, I don't think they'll give him such an important role in the film. And they'll probably just hint at his sexuality, but won't completely confirm anything.

[D82]

Here are some more replies to old comments about the characters:

Mirabel's cousin, Dolores (name not final).


Source: https://www.facebook.com/EncantoMovie/p ... 7043319015

Judging by her pose, I bet she has supernatural hearing powers. The patterns on her blouse also look like sound waves, and I think that's no accident. I've noticed that the way each character dresses reflects their powers: Isabela has flowers everywhere, there are weights on the pattern of Luisa's skirt, Pepa has sun-shaped earrings, etc. I wonder if the embroidery on Mirabel's outfit could tell us what her power is, if she has one.

Mirabel's parents, Julieta and Fernando (father's name not final).


Source: https://twitter.com/DisneyAnimation/sta ... 3567434756

I now think you were right Julieta is the one with healing powers, but the kitchen stuff seems related to her powers as well. The mortar she's using here and the herbs she seems to have in her pockets in the image below make me think she probably makes magical potions, which is what heals people. Also, one of the Russian book synopses said something about "healing food".



Speaking of the Madrigals' magical powers, I think all of them are probably represented in the first teaser poster, on the magical house's door. I've decided to show it with the help of the image below as it's easier for me than explaining it all in written form. I've put a question mark next to the ones I'm not completely sure about.



I first thought the two identical parrots on the top symbolized Camilo's power, but I now think it's those drawings near the bottom, which are part of the frame. I believe they're chameleons, and I've noticed the pattern on Camilo's poncho has chameleons as well, which makes sense for someone who can shapeshift.

One symbol we haven't seen in other materials is the hourglass. I wonder if that means someone can control time. There's a sundial right below the grandmother in the poster and hourglass symbols on the tiles above her, so maybe she's the one who can do that. Although, there's also the candle she holds, as I mentioned in my previous post, plus the pattern on her collar and the shape of her earrings which look a bit like flames, so it's also likely her magical ability is related to light. I think it's possible that's not her actual room since the house was rearranged for the poster and some parts of the house are in a different place. In the real house, there's not a window there and the candle is shown in another room in some book covers, which could be the grandmother's actual bedroom. In that case, the time powers could belong to another family member.

Were you able to find out which character Wilmer Valderrama is voicing? He posted a photo of himself in the recording booth.

No, I wasn't. But he talked a bit about the movie in a recent interview:

In addition to the new season of “NCIS” premiering in September, Valderrama will also be seen — well, heard — in “Encanto,” Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming Colombia-set film that features music written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. “My mom is the Colombian side of me and when I showed her the trailer, she couldn’t believe they were making a movie about a town in Colombia,” Valderrama says. “She grew up in one of those towns. She couldn’t believe she was seeing Disney bring it to life.” And yes, Valderrama says he has some singing chops: “I am experiencing some challenges because Lin-Manuel is so brilliant with his melodies. It’s a lot more rehearsal than just winging it.”

Source: https://variety.com/2021/film/columns/w ... 235028634/


I don't know why some actors are allowed to reveal info about their characters while others aren't. As I said in a previous post, though, I believe the voice actors announced so far most likely correspond to the members of the Madrigal family who have also been revealed. Since we already know who provides the voice for the other male characters, I think he can only be Mirabel's father. In addition to that, he's in his forties, and Mirabel's father must be more or less around the same age.

Oh… but there’s more! For all the fans of “Buff Encanto Lady” - AKA Luisa Madrigal - today is officially a wrap on the absolute bad-ass Jessica Darrow. We love you, rockstar!

Source: https://twitter.com/thejaredbush/status ... 8080558081

After that reveal we now have confirmation on the voices of six of the characters. In this video, a youtuber shares her guesses for who plays each character and I agree with her choices. Here are the confirmed voice roles (in black) and her guesses for the other characters (in red):

• Mirabel Madrigal: Stephanie Beatriz
• Andrea? (Mirabel's grandmother): María Cecilia Botero
• Pepa (Mirabel's aunt): Carolina Gaitán
• Félix (Mirabel's uncle): Mauro Castillo
• Camilo (Mirabel's cousin): Rhenzy Feliz
• Luisa (Mirabel's sister): Jessica Darrow
• Isabela (Mirabel's sister): Diane Guerrero
• Dolores? (Mirabel's cousin): Adassa
• Julieta (Mirabel's mother): Angie Cepeda
• Fernando? (Mirabel's father): Wilmer Valderrama
• Antonio: Not announced yet

By the way, that same youtuber raised an interesting question in this other video, which is something I also wondered when I first looked at the poster of the family and the house: will the characters who are married into the family have magical powers or not? Felix (who's definitely married into the family) and Mirabel's father doesn't seem to show any magical abilities in the poster, so they may not have any powers. If that was true, Mirabel wouldn't be the only family member without powers, but the only one born as a Madrigal with no powers.

Finally, here's a family tree I found on Instagram. I think it's all accurate except that Mirabel's father is probably the one married into the family and not her mother.


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRhqXFWFBtg/

[Disney's Divinity]

If the butterflies actually do represent someone who is passed (the grandfather as theorized),it's possible Mirabel's power is being able to talk to those have passed on / spirits. It's not something you would get an opportunity to practice, so no wonder she would think she has no powers, if so.

[D82]

New book cover and its description:

Inspired by characters and scenes from the film, this brightly illustrated picture book celebrates a love of animals, new friends, and the magical gifts of the Encanto.

Source: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Books/dp/ ... ef=sr_1_18


Also, the first pages of a book about the film are available on a Russian website, so finally we have answers to some of our questions, though also a lot of new ones . It has taken me a while to extract the text and translate it, since it seems it was encrypted, but I've finally been able to do it. Of course, it contains spoilers from the beginning of the film.

CHAPTER 1

The golden flicker of a candle filled the room where the little girl and her grandmother sat snuggled together. The flame bounced off the girl's large glasses, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight. - Open your eyes... - said the grandmother, looking at her granddaughter with love. - The little girl named Mirabel lifted her eyelids and saw a marvelous, magical candle, its fire rippling with magic. - Is this the source of our magic? -she asked her grandmother.

- Yep, it contains the miracle given to our family. - How did we get it? Grandmother put her arm around Mirabel's shoulders, and the fire burned brighter. Grandmother began to tell the story of the miracle. The story unfolded before Mirabel with every movement of the flame. Here is grandmother Alma and her husband, Pedro, in their humble abode, gazing dotingly at the three newborns. On the table next to them, the same candle flickers softly. Suddenly, a ruthless fire flashes outside the window. The smiles of tenderness disappear from the faces of the young couple. - A long time ago, when I just gave birth to triplets, your grandfather Pedro and I had to leave our home. - Pedro, holding a candle, leads the frightened people behind him. They cross a picturesque river. -And although many joined us in the hope of finding a new home, the dangers could not be avoided... and your grandfather died. -Grandma's eyes glistened in the flames as she recalled the night the young family fled the violence that swept through their hometown. Many families followed behind them - all of them were seeking refuge. Lighting the path with a candle, Pedro led his and the other families into the night.

As she listened to her grandmother's story, Mirabel moved closer, worried about the families. She watched them cross the river together. Pedro suddenly looked back. The hope in his eyes was replaced by concern. Danger had followed them all this time. He had no choice but to face it and protect his family. He looked tenderly into his wife's eyes, held out a candle to her, and went away to stand up for those he cared for. The flame of the candle went out, and darkness crept closer. (Alma understood something terrible had happened. Pedro would not return. Overwhelmed with grief, she knelt by the river. She prayed, holding a candle in front of her. When all seemed lost, the candle suddenly came to life, burning brightly and surely. And then butterflies woven of light fluttered about, dispersing the darkness. The earth rumbled as mountains grew around the families, creating a valley of shelter.

- The candle became a magic fire that never goes out, and blessed us by giving us shelter. A wondrous creation... Encanto, - continued the grandmother. The miracle grew, and the house itself came to life to welcome us. - Young Alma's prayers were answered. The candle burned brighter and a magnificent house rose from the ground. Together with the triplets she found herself in the courtyard of a wonderful home as alive as they were! Casita greeted them, slamming the shutters. The toddlers shrieked with delight. - As the children grew older, the miracle blessed each of them with a magical gift, handy to us," Grandmother Alma continued. - And when their children grew older... - They too received magic," interrupted Mirabel, smiling happily. Mirabel saw the triplets, who were now five years old. In front of each was a door. The magic candle had brought them there, to give them their powers. The children touched the doorknobs, and a bright light shone, bestowing magic gifts upon the trio. The house immediately created bedrooms to match their skills.

- Right. And together, their magical powers turned our community into a paradise on earth. - Thanks to magic, the wilderness surrounding the house was transformed into a land of sunshine. Tall wax palms stretched toward the blue sky, and trees covered with fruit and bright buds bloomed all year long. And it all began with a promise to protect the family that Grandpa Pedro had made to Grandma. Mirabel looked at the candle in awe. How could something so small have such power? The grandmother hugged her granddaughter, overflowing with pride. - Tonight the candle will give you its gift, my dear child. Strengthen our community, strengthen our family. Make your family proud of you. - Make my family proud of me," repeated Mirabel in a firm voice. Fireworks bang outside the window, and the house reminded them it was time to start. - Yes, Casita, here we come," grinned Granny. The home pushed Mirabel's shoes. Like the girl, it looked forward to the cherished moment. Stopping at the door, Grandma and Mirabel held hands. - Which gift do you think I will get? - Mirabel asked her grandmother. Grandma leaned over to Mirabel. - You are a miracle, Mirabel," she said, exuding love and pride. - Whatever gift awaits you, it will be as special as you are. Mirabel took the candle in her tiny hands. She felt warmth and anticipation for the event to come. She was ready to fulfill her promise and shine!

CHAPTER 2

Years later, fifteen-year-old Mirabel got up at dawn. It was a special day, and she couldn't wait to get ready. There was so much to do for the day of her little cousin's gift! She bustled about the room, getting dressed, and the house could barely keep up with her! It rolled her shoes and green-rimmed glasses in her direction but barely had time to catch her nightdress when Mirabel quickly pulled her embroidered skirt and blouse on. Now she's ready!

The bedroom door swung open. - Okay," Mirabel said to herself. She exhaled. - You can do it. The home quickly pushed her up the stairs past the portrait of her grandfather Pedro, whom she knew only from her grandmother's stories. In the picture he was young and incredibly handsome. - Good morning, grandpa. Mirabel began to set the table for breakfast. The home hissed, opening the shutters and letting in the golden sunlight. Outside the window, a lively pack of rustic kids had gathered. They were excited about the great feast that was to be held that evening. The Madrigal family's gift ceremony was a grand event. The whole city was eagerly anticipating it and the people were eager to attend. As Mirabel prepared for breakfast, the children excitedly shouted out questions to the window. - Hey, when does the magic start?! - exclaimed a little boy. - Antonio's celebration will take place in the evening," Mirabel answered calmly as she continued arranging the dishes. I'm going to have to set up the dishes. The healthier it is, the better. Today is an important day for the family.

- What's his gift? - shouted the same boy. - Then we'll find out," said Mirabel. – And what is yours? - asked another kid. - Who's asking? - teased Mirabel, not stopping her work for a moment. - We are! - said the little boy, pointing to three more kids nearby. - Well, 'you guys,' if I tell you all about myself, you won't know the whole story," Mirabel replied. This time the children spoke in unison, "What's the story? - Well, you won't leave me alone, will you? - she said as she went back into the bedroom. To share her family's full story with the children, Mirabel would have to tell them about all her relatives and their magical powers from "a" to "z". And she'll need a little help from Casita.

The house has always taken care of Mirabel and the other Madrigals. There was a special bond between them, and each day promised a new adventure in the magical house. And today was not just any day. Today was going to be magical. - Crates! – said Mirabel. They closed instantly, and everything was in order. - Floors! - The tiles underfoot flipped over and fell back into place, shining with cleanliness. - Doors! - The doors of every bedroom in the house lit up with a magical glow. - Go! - shouted Mirabelle. She and Casita bustled about and woke up the rest of the household. Soon, all members of the Madrigal family were dressing and eating in a hurry. After waking up and cleaning themselves, the family went into town to prepare for the special day. The children gathered in front of the house, gazing at the procession of the Madrigal family. - Oh, my God, it's them! - The little kids were screaming and pointing their fingers. - What powers do they have? What could he do? And she? Mirabel smiled indulgently. She decided the children had waited long enough.

- All right, all right, calm down," she said. - Calm down here, of course! - The little boy shrieked, holding his coffee mug. Mirabel looked at him anxiously. Soon other children raised their voices. - Tell us everything! Who is doing what? What powers do they have? The little boy with the cup of coffee turned red and wailed louder: - Just tell us what each of them can do! - That's why coffee is for adults," remarked Mirabel, snatching the drink from him. Following Mirabel through the city, the children passed by a beautifully painted mural. It depicted Mirabel's grandmother with her triplets, Pepa, Bruno, and Julieta. Mirabel explained that they were the first to gain magical powers. Auntie Pepa had a gift that made the weather depend on her mood! When she's happy, the sun shines all day long. When she's sad... it's better to grab...

Source: https://eksmo.ru/book/enkanto-ITD1199494/

[Farerb]

Thank you for all that info

[D82]

^You're welcome, Farerb. There are many interesting things to discuss, but perhaps the most surprising to me was that there's a family member who hadn't been revealed yet. Mirabel's grandmother is not only the mother of Julieta and Pepa, but also of a character named Bruno. They must have kept him hidden from the marketing campaign so far for a reason. I have a feeling he might be the film's villain.

[D82]

Some things confirmed by the Russian book. I'll first post the non-spoilery ones and then the spoilery:

- The grandmother is called Alma, which means "soul" in Spanish. I only know one woman called Alma, so I don't think it's a very popular name in Spain, but maybe it's more common in Colombia. It's curious that several of the final names for the characters start with the same letter as their old names: Juana/Julieta, Lydia/Luisa, Carlos/Camilo and now Andrea/Alma.

- Alma and her husband, who was called Pedro, had three children: Pepa, Bruno, and Julieta (Mirabel's mother). They're triplets. I don't think Bruno has been revealed to the public yet.

- The magical house is called Casita ("little house" in Spanish, as was already mentioned) and the Encanto seems to be the whole magical valley where the Madrigals and other families live.

- The candle is indeed the source of all the magic. It seems the yellow butterflies are also a manifestation of the magic of the candle. I still think it's possible, though, that they may have something to do with the grandfather since they first appeared after his death.

- As in most of the films from the revival, we'll see the protagonist as a toddler in the movie. We already suspected that because of the portrait of Mirabel as a little girl in the teaser poster, but now we have official confirmation.

- The first Madrigals to get magical powers were Alma's triplets and after them it seems only the children born in the house get them, so the grandmother and the family members married into the family most likely have no gifts. Neither had Grandfather Pedro.

- We now know that the footage of Mirabel talking to the kids is from the beginning of the movie.


I also have some questions and thoughts I wanted to share.

- What are Mirabel's grandparents and the other families running away from at the beginning? Is it war? It seems the film will have quite a dark prologue.

- I read the other day that in magical realism stories, the magical elements are usually not explained, so I feared we wouldn't get an explanation for the family's powers here. I'm glad the origins of the magic are explained. I found the explanation quite satisfying, though the magical house reminds me of the ocean from Moana even more now, and the magical valley made me think of the tower in Tangled. I also like that religion is involved with it (the "miracle"), as it makes the story seem more authentic to the setting and less like a superhero movie.

- I wonder what prevented Mirabel from getting her gift. At first, I thought that maybe the candle didn't give her any gift on purpose, because it knew the magic was going to be in danger in the future and in order to save it she had to have no gifts. But then, why was the house excited too for the ceremony? Although, maybe Casita is a creation independent from the candle and didn't know about the candle's plans? Could it also be possible that Mirabel did something wrong in her ceremony and that's why she didn't get her gift?

- Why do the village kids don't know more about the family's powers and are so excited when they see the family members exiting the house? Do the Madrigals not go out often?

- And as I said in my previous post, I'm really intrigued by the new character called Bruno. Why hasn't he been revealed yet? Is he with the rest of the family at Antonio's celebration and he's just been hidden in the marketing or did something happen to him before that? Maybe, like the grandfather, he too died. Or perhaps he left home for some reason, or for example, used his powers for evil or selfish purposes and was punished in some way. He could've also had an accident. I bet he's the one who can control time. Maybe he got trapped in another time period or in a time loop or something? I don't know, but like I said, there must be a reason why we hadn't heard of him until now and I suspect it's because he's the villain or at least has something to do with the conflict.

[D82]

The cover for the artbook has been revealed. According to our fellow forum member Prince Kido on Twitter, the illustration is by Lorelay Bové.


Source: https://www.amazon.com/Disney/dp/1797200860/ref=sr_1_13


In the preview of the Russian book I posted it said there was a portrait of Mirabel's grandfather Pedro near the stairs, so the man in the portrait behind Mirabel could be him.

[unprincess]

D82 great detective work there! I tempted by those spoilers ...are any of them about Camillo?

[D82]

^Thanks, unprincess. No, there wasn't anything about Camilo in the text I posted. However, we now have official confirmation that the character in the poncho is indeed him. The first two chapters of another Russian book are now available too on the same website and there's a family tree illustration in them, which confirms that, and reveals the last two final family names: Mirabel's father is called Agustín, and Dolores' name is the only one which hasn't changed; she's still called Dolores. Here's the family tree. I'm only posting the link just in case, although between my previous posts and this one, I think I've already revealed all its content.

Bruno looks a bit scruffy, but he doesn't look like a villain to me. Though, that doesn't mean he can't be one. Also, he looks around the same age as his siblings, so most likely he doesn't die before the adventure starts. It seems he's not married nor has any children.

Here's also the new text. It's quite similar to the previous one. There are no new big reveals this time, but there are some new details that weren't in the other preview. This time I've just used one online translator because comparing the results of more than one like I did last time was too time consuming (it took me around 4 hours to do it) and I think you'll still be able to follow the story the way it is here. Again, spoilers for the beginning of the film.

Prologue

Once upon a time there was a family. They had a father, Pedro Madrigal, a mother, Alma Madrigal, and three children in whom they, like all parents, of course, loved very much. And so, with thoughts of their beloved children, Pedro and Alma decided to set off to find them a new home, to give them protection, a safe shelter and a better life than before.

A single candle illuminated their path, and yet behind Pedro and Alma and their three young children, two daughters and a son, others followed, others who had also set out in search of peace and security. They walked through desolate, barren lands. They overcame steep cliffs and bravely stepped on narrow paths. Neither inclement weather nor fearsome outlaws could stop them. Pedro and Alma were determined to start a new life, and they weren't going to give up - not for anything.

But there were many dangers along the way. When the travelers found themselves on the banks of a fast river, they tried to wade through the stormy waters. Stepping uncertainly step by step, they all began to make their way to the other side. Alma Madrigal hesitated, clutching her children tightly to her. The river was swift and in some places deep. But when she saw the encouragement in Pedro's eyes, Alma decided she could do it.

When she reached the other side she was exhausted. She did not want to let go of her husband's hand. But then, outlaws appeared on the road and attacked the travelers with threats. Pedro diverted them so that the family could escape.

Pedro was killed, and Alma's grief was over. However, she knew she had to protect the children. Alma gathered them around her and watched the candle flicker and fade. The danger was approaching. But before the candle could go out completely, a miracle happened. Before Alma's eyes the little flame was filled with magic. It burst into flames, butterflies fluttered about, and darkness fell away. The bandits were gone. And the candle's tiny light burst into an inextinguishable flame, and in the same place it created the wondrous land of peace and prosperity, Encanto.

The Madrigal family's new home was nestled between high mountains. The steep slopes securely encircled the green valley. Here, waterfalls sparkled, palm trees swayed, and flowers bloomed. And in the heart of Encanto, a fairy-tale house rose from the ground. The house itself was alive and magical.

Alma was the heart of Encanto. And her faithful support remained her three children, each with a magical gift.

As the years passed, the family prospered. Alma's children took on families of their own and then children of their own. The house changed and grew to accommodate each new family member. An entire town began to grow around it, and it prospered as well. Encanto was a paradise for all its inhabitants and the Madrigal family lived in the heart of it.


Chapter 1 - Mirabel

Everything spills out before my eyes... But I don't really need my glasses, I know where I woke up without them: in the nursery, where Antonio, our cousin, is sleeping with me. I squint against the bright sun - it's shining right in my face. Grrr-m. You can't wake a teenager up this early. I stretch and rub my eyes and yawn and then I remember what day it is. I sit up in bed and hurriedly put on my glasses.

Today is Antonio's birthday - he's five years old! More importantly, today is the day of his gift. If all goes well, as of today he will sleep in his new room. In his own room! I wonder what his gift will be? I look toward Antonio's crib - now that everything is visible - but... Instead of a boy with brown hair, I see an empty bed. Where's my primito1 gone?.

I get out of bed. The dresser drawers fly out, and I throw off my shirt and pull on my blouse and skirt... Hmm, there's a thread hanging from the bowtie I embroidered yesterday - but okay, I'll figure it out later. Right now it's more important to find Antonio.
- Buenos días2, Casita!3" I shouted to the house as I ran out of the nursery. Casita - our house - picks up the door on the fly so it doesn't slam, and closes it gently behind me. - Oh, I'm sorry," I say to the house, my favorite magic house. I stroke the handrail with my palm and peer from the gallery into the patio. - Hey, has anyone seen Antonio?
But there's no one downstairs. I run down the steps. Ugh, I almost tripped - Casita catches me gently in the carpet. Gracias!4

1 Cousin.
2 Good morning.
3 House.
4 Thanks!

Everyone is busy today, and I really want to help. I go to the canteen. Where is my mother? I may be only fifteen and the youngest of the three sisters, but I can be useful too! I'll go and set the table. I'll get our family plates. They're all different: we all have our own.
Well, it's stuffy in here!
- Casita, open the shutters! - I ask. The shutters open with a clatter and give me a view of our land, the Encanto. The magical valley in which we live is surrounded by steep mountains that jut up into lush clouds. On the rocky slopes you can see here and there a coffee tree, a cottonwood tree, or a patch of bright flowers. Often the mountains are drowned in a haze that hangs low over the escarpments and swirls in the setting sun in the evenings. From the upper windows of Casita you can see our little town: the cobblestone streets, the church with its elegant spire, the pretty white houses under the red tile roofs. Each one has a lush flower bed under its window, and brightly colored shutters.

In the heart of Encanto is our house. Casita. When you return home after a walk into town, the first thing you see is a lush bougainvillea, a kind of curly plant, crawling up the terracotta walls. A chimney usually blows a puff of smoke from the wood-burning hearth in the kitchen. At the top of the house is a turret, like a soldier on guard duty.

I'm busy, and I stick my head out of the kitchen window and take a deep breath. Mm. Ripe mangoes. Black earth. Plantains. Orchids. Inhaling all-all the smells. Smells of home. I close my eyes, and it feels like, perhaps, everything will end up like nel...
- And when will the gift be? - There's a cry from someone.
I open one eye. Downstairs, right under the window, the city niños1 are peeking in - always curious, always needing to pester me. They love our family, our house. They're always asking me to tell them things. I don't mind.
- Who's asking? - I shout downstairs.
- It's us!
A little face stands out from the crowd.
- Я!
- Everyone! All of us! Here are the funny ones.
- The magic will happen tonight, at the gala for Antonio," I tell them, and meanwhile I slowly start setting the table. - And the magic will be amazing.
- Why?
- Because we are the Madrigal family.
- And what will he be gifted with? - asks one voice.
- And what is your gift? - Another asks.
I let that last question pass my lips. I'd rather concentrate on the dishes: I set up my sisters' plates one by one, put my aunt's cup on the table, and put out my grandmother's silverware.
- What Antonio's gift will be," I tell the children, "we'll find out later.
- What do you have to do? - A little voice asks.
What am I supposed to do, really? I hope I will be allowed to take part in the feast. I may not be like all the other Madrigals, but I can be useful.
I'll try to dodge the question.
- I can't just tell you what my role is," I tell the children, "because if you can't imagine the whole thing, you can't imagine it individually.
The table is set and breakfast is served. I can hear the rest of the family getting up, and I can hear the rest of the family getting up.

1 Children.

Source: https://eksmo.ru/book/enkanto-istoriya- ... TD1199495/

[Disney's Divinity]

Lorelay Bove's work is great as usual. Probably better than the film actually merits, tbh. Hopefully, she'll be making the cover for Hunchback's Legacy release, too.

[D82]

^Yes, that cover is beautiful. I also hope she makes the artwork for Hunchback and other possible future Legacy Collection titles.

[DisneyEra]

The whole Famliy.


https://imgur.com/a/PSo0z7U

[Farerb]

Warning - minor rant:
I can already see how this prologue is going to play and I think it is unfortunate that nowadays every film just starts with a prologue. I don't have an issue with films starting with a prologue, but there is more than one way to start a film and at some point it just feels lazy, just tells you everything instead of taking advantage of the visual medium, and they are usually long and dull. FFS this a musical - start it with a musical number!
The prologues have also plagued their live action films, it's just unfortunate how there's no distinction between the two studios, but that's what happens when everything is made to appease the corporate.

So this film already has 12 characters in the family alone, numerous animal sidekicks (hopefully they don't speak), the children from Mirabel's kindergarten and some rude people from the town. Mmm... you know some months after Raya was released I asked my nieces and nephews what was their opinion about Sisu and Namaari - they had no idea who they were, guess that's what happens when your film has many one-note forgettable characters.

[D82]

Some updates:

• New promotional images from a puzzle and a watch:


Sources:
https://www.elpalaciodehierro.com/novel ... 18272.html
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Disney-Encan ... /800459616


• I've also found this on a catalogue of licensed books from New Zealand. I highly doubt Ben Stiller voices a character in this movie, since he's not Latin American like the rest of the cast. I think it's most likely a mistake from the people who made the catalogue. The songs including some words in Spanish like in Coco is more believable, though.


Source: https://www.scholastic.co.nz/media/5656 ... parade.pdf


• There's something else, but it's a bit spoilery. Susana Illera Martínez, the author of the book based on the movie titled "El don de una familia / The Gift of Family" has posted a video in which the first page of the book appears. In it there's an illustration of the whole Madrigal family and it gives us a better look at Bruno. Here it is. He not only looks scruffy here, but he's sitting on the floor with a sad expression and surrounded by rats. If you notice, he even has one on his shoulder. I don't think he can communicate with animals, since that's Antonio's power. Could he be a beggar, for instance? Maybe he left the Encanto for some reason and now has to survive outside living on the streets or something like that.

Warning - minor rant:
I can already see how this prologue is going to play and I think it is unfortunate that nowadays every film just starts with a prologue. I don't have an issue with films starting with a prologue, but there is more than one way to start a film and at some point it just feels lazy, just tells you everything instead of taking advantage of the visual medium, and they are usually long and dull. FFS this a musical - start it with a musical number!
The prologues have also plagued their live action films, it's just unfortunate how there's no distinction between the two studios, but that's what happens when everything is made to appease the corporate.

I personally love prologues, especially in fairytale films. I guess what I like so much about them is the feeling of being listening to a fairytale they create. The music also helps in many cases, like in Beauty and the Beast or Tangled, for example. I also like the transitions or clever ways to condense the story they often use in them. Sometimes, I watch the prologues of some movies on their own. I've seen the Tangled or the Moana ones separately from the movies many times. I never find them boring either, but it's true that there have been several movies which begin that way lately and I agree that they should try to be more varied in that regard.

In this movie, it's not only the prologue what may seem a bit tired by now, but the fact that once again a toddler version of the main character is featured in it. It seems they always find a way to include that in their films. The problem I personally have with this prologue, as I already said, is that it reminds me a bit too much of Tangled. The hidden valley where the Madrigals live reminds me of the hidden valley where Rapunzel's tower is, and the flame of the candle being the origin of the magic here is similar to the drop of sunlight in Tangled. In both cases, the origin of the magic is also connected to religion. That doesn't mean I don't like it, on the contrary; it has made me more excited for the movie. I just hope the full movies don't resemble each other too much.

By the way, which are the live action movies that begin with a prologue you were referring to? I don't remember any recent one who does right now.

So this film already has 12 characters in the family alone, numerous animal sidekicks (hopefully they don't speak), the children from Mirabel's kindergarten and some rude people from the town. Mmm... you know some months after Raya was released I asked my nieces and nephews what was their opinion about Sisu and Namaari - they had no idea who they were, guess that's what happens when your film has many one-note forgettable characters.

It's true that there are going to be a lot of characters in the movie and that sometimes can be a problem. I guess it'll depend on how they handle it. Probably, some family members will have more screen time than others. And the children and the other people from the village are probably very secondary. Same with the animals. Personally, I found most of the characters in Raya memorable, so I'm not too worried about this film having many characters. At least, not yet. But I understand your concern.

[Farerb]

It's not that I hate prologues, I love Beauty and the Beast's prologue and I like the storybooks prologues. The thing is that these prologues were short and creative. Tangled and Moana also have short prologues. Maybe this one will have too, I don't know, but it does seem they rely on prologues too much. If I think about the Renaissance - you had many creative openings.

As for the live actions - Cruella had a pretty long one, Jungle Cruise as well. I don't really remember Mulan, but I think it had one as well (I remember she was shown as a little girl).

I wanted to say that it's not a HUGE issue for me, just something I noticed.

[D82]

I know you don't hate prologues and that this wasn't a big issue for you; I just wanted to explain why I'm personally not tired of them yet. But, to be honest, I hadn't noticed there had been so many movies to open that way lately. Maybe you're right they're relying on them too much. And it's true that some are better than others.

I wanted to clarify too that, though I love prologues, that's not the only type of opening I like and I don't think all the movies should begin with one. I would like there was variety in that as well. I agree that the Renaissance was quite good in that regard. I love the openings of films like The Little Mermaid or The Lion King, for example, which doesn't have a prologue.

Oh, you're right! Cruella had a long prologue. I think Mulan also had one, or at least a narrator. As for Jungle Cruise, I've seen it, but I can't remember the opening right now.