‘Encanto’ Was Disney Animators’ ‘Hardest Film We Have Ever Worked on’: ‘This Time, It Was Much Bigger’ (2024)

Encanto introduces a magical world that touches on the bond of family and self-discovery. Audiences of all ages are able to connect with Disney’s latest message. Encanto heads of animation Renato dos Anjos and Kira Lehtomaki called Disney’s latest movie the “hardest film we have ever worked on” and explained what made the film so complex.

‘Encanto’ introduces the Mirabel Madrigal and her family

‘Encanto’ Was Disney Animators’ ‘Hardest Film We Have Ever Worked on’: ‘This Time, It Was Much Bigger’ (1)

Encanto tells the story of a Colombian teenage girl named Mirabel Madrigal (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz). The entire village highly respects the Madrigal family, especially when considering their magic powers. They use their abilities for good, which is granted to them when they come of age. However, Mirabel is the only one to not get any powers.

The Madrigal family’s abilities range from Luisa’s super-strength to Pepa’s controlling the weather, all of which aid the family and other villagers. However, Mirabel discovers that the magical candle is fading along with the Madrigals family’s abilities. As a result, she must get to the bottom of what’s going on to save the family.

Heads of animation Renato dos Anjos and Kira Lehtomaki call ‘Encanto’ the ‘hardest film we have ever worked on’

Animation World Network talked with dos Anjos and Lehtomaki about working on the Disney film Encanto. They worked on many of the studio’s animated projects over the years, including Big Hero Six, Tangled, Frozen, and Moana. They called Encanto “the hardest film we have ever worked on.”

“It’s due to the complexity,” Lehtomaki said. “Having 12 main characters, all heavily featured within the film, who we had to find and do character exploration for, that was a larger task than [what we’ve faced on] some of the movies we’ve worked on in the past. Even ones with large casts, ultimately it still boils down to two or three main characters that you’re focusing on. This time, it was much bigger.”

“I think, ironically, the biggest challenge of all these characters was actually Mirabel,” Lehtomaki said. “You would think that given we’ve done multiple Disney heroines before, she wouldn’t be so hard. But, early on, the directors really put forth that Mirabel had to be different, and we couldn’t commandeer any animation seen on any other character and have it work on her.”

Dos Anjos and Lehtomaki also talked about the difficulty of introducing choreography, bringing the magical Madrigal house to life, and getting the physicality of every character just right.

Heading into the Oscars 2022 awards season

Congratulations to all of @WaltDisneyCo's Academy Award nominees, including Best Animated Feature nominees #Encanto, #PixarLuca, and #RayaAndTheLastDragon, Steven Spielberg's #WestSideStory, nominated for seven #Oscars including Best Picture, and more: https://t.co/zP8xvIn8iz pic.twitter.com/EQvRQ7SPPe

— Disney (@Disney) February 8, 2022

Disney’s Encanto is one of the year’s biggest movies. It made a huge splash into the awards conversation upon its release in theaters. However, its Disney+ release brought the film’s family magic to audiences around the world in a more accessible format.

Encanto is the frontrunner to take home the Best Animated Feature award at the Oscars 2022. It’s also a contender for Best Original Score and Best Original Song with “Dos Oruguitas.” Encanto has wide appeal and infuses the Disney magic into a cultural piece that touched so many folks.

Encanto is now streaming on Disney+.

‘Encanto’ Was Disney Animators’ ‘Hardest Film We Have Ever Worked on’: ‘This Time, It Was Much Bigger’ (2024)

FAQs

Was Disney Encanto a flop? ›

Although it underperformed at the box office, grossing $256.8 million worldwide against a $120–150 million budget, it achieved wider commercial success after its release on Disney+ on December 24, 2021.

How long did it take to animate Encanto? ›

Released in November 2021, Encanto is an animated feature made by Disney. The film took several years to develop. According to Miranda, the song creation spanned five years alone. Encanto is Disney's first full-length animated feature to take place in Colombia.

Is Encanto CGI or Animated? ›

Weird but magical. With every new CG animated movie new tricks are used to bring scenes to life, and this includes Disney's Encanto. Some of these techniques can be through advances in technology, but one shot in Disney's Encanto used a more practical approach.

Why is Encanto controversial? ›

Unnecessary Pressure On Kids

Every person of the Madrigal bloodline has special gifts, aside from Maribel, that give way to unfathomable pressure being placed on them to be great and “help the family”. This pressure has led to some sad scenes taking place in Encanto that left fans' hearts aching for the Madrigal kids.

Did Frozen or Encanto make more money? ›

2021's Encanto fared slightly better, making just over $256 million, though this is still a fraction of the money that Frozen II made. Pixar has suffered similarly, with 2022's Lightyear failing at the box office, making just over $226 million worldwide, against a $200 million budget.

Why didn't Mirabel get a gift? ›

As the theory explained, "Because Mirabel already had the brains to take over as matriarch, she didn't need a gift bestowed by the house, so it gifted the brawn and the beauty to her sisters so that the three of them make the perfect group to lead the family into the future." According to the theory, the reason why ...

What nationality is Encanto based on? ›

"Encanto" is about a family living in a small mountain town in Colombia. But the Madrigal family is anything but ordinary. Nearly every child has their own magical gift — all but Mirabel.

What the heck is Encanto about? ›

Certified fresh score. Fresh audience score. 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.

What was Disney's first CGI animated movie? ›

Arriving a decade after Toy Story, Chicken Little was Disney's first fully computer-animated feature. Strangely, this film feels inspired by an outside rival: DreamWorks' Shrek.

Why didn't people like Encanto? ›

Encanto is a creative movie featuring beautiful and vibrant animation. However, the story feels a little underdeveloped. While there are some magical and emotional moments, it seems as if they didn't know how to end the movie. The lack of a strong villain also makes this movie a little less compelling.

Is there an inappropriate scene in Encanto? ›

Very slightly suggestive scene when Dolores says "Tonight, he wants 5 babies" and Isabella blushes. Some kissing, but nothing incredibly sexual. Mirabel's bloomers can occasionally be seen briefly under her skirt.

What is the main problem in Encanto? ›

The main conflict of the story comes when Mirabel notices the magic begins to fade. Eventually, the family comes together after losing their magic and realizes that having one another is the real gift, not magic.

Was Encanto a success for Disney? ›

"Encanto" was indeed a massive hit. Disney+ said in March 2022 that subscribers who had watched the film streamed it an average of five times, with 180 million global re-watches since its launch.

Was Disney's Wish a flop? ›

Disney's Wish earned nearly $255 million at the global box office, a figure that would make many animation producers envious. But for Disney, the film is considered a money-losing flop.

Are Disney movies flopping? ›

Disney's epic fails

Disney endured a series of box office flops in 2023, with disappointing releases like The Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny losing the studio millions.

How popular did Encanto get? ›

Since its release, “Encanto” has had the equivalent of just under one million sales in the United States, according to MRC Data, the tracking service used in compiling Billboard's charts. This week, “Encanto” tops the rapper Kodak Black's new “Back for Everything” (No. 2) and albums by Morgan Wallen (No. 3), Gunna (No.

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