Big Screen: Encanto

The sixtieth film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Encanto tells the story of the Madrigals, a multigenerational family blessed with magical powers generated by their enchanted home. Life in their rural community, hidden in the mountains of Colombia, seems perfect until young Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) discovers that her family members are secretly losing their powers. Determined to uncover the mysteries behind her family’s complicated history, Mirabel sets out to find a way to reignite their powers and restore her home to its former glory. A critical and commercial hit, Encanto won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and boasts a Billboard chart-topping soundtrack with original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Its magical realist narrative and exploration of intergenerational trauma come to life with rich, vibrant animation and joyous musical numbers.

Producer and UCSB alumnus Yvett Merino will join moderator Dolores Inés Casillas (Chicana and Chicano Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of Encanto.