Encanto is Disney’s newest smash hit movie musical. In regular Disney fashion, it breaks boundaries and sets new standards for the movie viewing experience. What exactly makes Encanto such a well received film? To me, it’s the message lying at the heart of it  s story. 

It’s no secret that Disney has mastered the art of creating music that resonates with audiences even outside of the film. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is currently the stand out song from the film. As of January 25th 2022, it charted at 2nd on the Billboard Hot 100. A song that centers around a man that can predict the future is somehow relatable to audiences everywhere. A lot of this can be attributed to how catchy the song is, but after listening to a song so many times, you inevitably have to appreciate the message behind it. After asking several people why they enjoyed the song, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” it became clear to me why it’s so digestible. It’s the story of a family member that doesn’t fit in, someone who is outcasted. The song intrigues outcasts as it offers a new perspective for them. The song stays with people because of its ability to apply to real world circumstances.

The story of Encanto centers on an outcast. The protagonist, Mirabel, finds herself in a family where every member except for her has super human ability. Ultimately, it is up to only her to save her family’s gift. The overall message that Encanto emits is love. Like the title suggests, love is at the core of the film. Specifically that everyone is deserving of it, no matter what they are able to contribute. Despite Mirabel’s inability to perform superhuman tasks, she is still able to save her family through her compassion . She is able to recognize that her Uncle Bruno is worthy of said compassion despite what he has contributed to the family in the past. 

Compassion, empathy, and redemption are what make Encanto such a lovable film. We have all done things we aren’t proud of, and most of us can’t be the best at everything we do. Despite all of this,  it’s comforting to know that we are all still worthy of love.