Disney Animation Studios has released the first trailer for “Encanto,” which releases this November 24 in theatres and Disney+ streaming services.
The tale follows the Madrigals, who live in an enchanted place where every child gets extraordinary powers, or an encanto — except one.
Marking Disney’s 60th animated feature, the Colombia-set film will follow family members who all possess magical powers, like super-strength, shape-shifting and the abilities to control animals and plants. However, Mirabel, voiced by “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “In the Heights” star Stephanie Beatriz, is the only person to not possess a special gift. When she discovers that her family’s magic might be under threat, she realizes that she is the only one who can save it. The film is directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, co-directed and co-written by Charise Castro Smith and features music written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Mirabel, 15, is the odd one out, and she struggles to find her place in her family. However, when her family’s magic becomes endangered, she must use her ordinary gifts to save Encanto.
Latina actress Stephanie Beatriz, who recently starred in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights,” is the voice of Mirabel. “I’m Colombian on my father’s side, and playing this role fills me with immense pride,” Beatriz said in a statement.
The film is directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush and co-directed by Cuban American writer and actor Charise Castro Smith, and it features music from Miranda.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Carlos Vives penned an original song for the film, titled “Colombia, Mi Encanto.” Vives, who is a native of Santa Marta, Colombia, said in a statement: “This song is a celebration of the magical diversity of Colombia. … I can’t wait to see how the music will blend with the images and the characters inspired by the encanto of Colombians.”
Voices in English also include María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, Jessica Darrow, Rhenzy Feliz, and Carolina Gaitán.
About the trailer on Twitter
Encanto features numerous dark-skinned Afro-Latino characters. Following the trailer’s release, many on social media said it was a step in Afro-Latino representation. A user on Twitter wrote, “Seeing afro Latinos in Disney’s encanto is very pleasing to me.”
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