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13 January 2022, 17:28
Watch Disney’s Encanto trailer
From the Madrigal's outfits to the tiny moments you'll have only noticed if you were watching very closely.
Disney's latest masterpiece Encanto, which has already picked up Best Animated Film at the 2022 Golden Globes, has taken the internet by storm. Viewers have fallen in love with the characters, the soundtrack is blowing up in the charts, and people are already dying for a sequel.
Whether you've just had your first watch or you're on fourteenth, you're probably still discovering so many incredible, small and/or hidden details that you missed the first time around. The entire film is packed with them.
From the Madrigal's outfits and the Disney references to the tiny moments you'll have only noticed if you were watching very closely, here's all the amazing details that you might've missed in Encanto on your first viewing.
READ MORE: Encanto's 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' won't be nominated for an Oscar
'Waiting on a Miracle', which is sung by Mirabel, is written in a 3/4 time signature, while the rest are in 4/4. Lin-Manuel Miranda explained to The Washington Post that that was done to show that Mirabel is in a “different rhythmic universe than the rest of her family”. It was also inspired by local Colombian musicians during a research trip.
One of the best things about Encanto is the attention to detail on everyone's outfits. While it's not necessarily hidden, the small details might have passed you by on your first watch. Each of the magical Madrigal family members have patterns that signify their gifts.
Abuela's design refers to the mountains, Julieta's dress features a mortar and pestle and Pepa's outfit includes sun symbols. Isabela, Luisa and Dolores' dresses all feature symbols of their powers too, with flowers, weights and sound waves featuring on the designs. The clothing of Camilo features chameleons while Antonio's is embroidered with animals. Even Bruno's Ruana has hourglass symbols on it.
While Mirabel doesn't technically have a gift like her family members, her connection to them is shown in her own outfit.
The Madrigal family candle is embroidered on Mirabel's skirt, signalling a key connection between Abuela, the family and all their gifts. Small embroidered images of flowers (Isabela), a chameleon (Camilo), a hand lifting a weight (Luisa) and a sun, a rainbow and a cloud (Pepa) and a tiger and a toucan (Antonio) are all visible on Mirabel's outfit too.
The details were also shared on Instagram by Encanto's Lead Costume designer Neysa Bove.
The small details on Agustín's outfit include a flower for Isabela, and then two mismatched socks with one pattern representing Luisa and the other representing Mirabel.
Also… please note the amazing character design and costume / Agustín incorporated his three daughters into his outfit - flower for Isabela, one sock with Luisa’s symbols, one sock in the style of Mirabel’s embroidery. 🤯#prouddad #encanto @DisneyAnimation https://t.co/cnfqcO4yu9
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) December 8, 2021
Each of the plates all include the family's personal gift symbols, as well as the candle on Abuela's plate. Mirabel, Agustín and Felix all have the same plate design, because they have no powers.
LOOK AT THE MADRIGALS PLATES ☹️💕 pic.twitter.com/fQjGDmP58t
— kez (@CAMlLlN) January 9, 2022
The fading not only represents Bruno's (metaphorical) distance from the Madrigal family, it also hints that no one really bothered to retouch his image on the tree either. They literally just didn't repaint him, while each of the other members of the family are in bright and bold colours.
You've definitely already seen this one. During Dolores' iconic verse in the movie's best song, a shadowy figure is seen scurrying on the balcony in the casita and bopping its head along to the song. Fans are debating whether it's Bruno himself or simply just Camilo shapeshifting. Director Jared Bush has yet to confirm who it is because he liked "the debate too much to answer!"
Did you manage to spot him at first?
The small detail can be seen just after Antonio's gift is revealed.
You probably wouldn't have noticed this tiny, tiny detail either unless you were paying very close attention.
#encanto #dolores clapping with her fingers pic.twitter.com/Yz3mqbFIRV
— encanto gifs 🕯 (@encantogifs) January 2, 2022
Responding to a fan on Twitter, director Jared Bush confirmed that "Abuela’s room is very emotionally specific though we only see it for a short time." In reply to another fan who pointed out that the rooms were the same, he said, "someone is paying attention."
The floor pattern, the bed and the window placement are all the same.
Earlier in the film, we can see the couple sitting near each other, but they're at completely opposite ends of the table after he discovers Mirabel's secret. Director Jared Bush addressed the details spotted by a fan: "Agustín hiding that big secret and he knows if he was sitting next to Julieta she’d get it out of him in one second."
Ha! Agustín hiding that big secret and he knows if he was sitting next to Julieta she’d get it out of him in one second.
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) January 8, 2022
The Madrigal's gifts aren't actually random, they're born from their own personal personalities, traits and passions. There's a few small toucan and tiger details are scattered around before we find out Antonio's official gift, including the details on Mirabel's dress, Antonio's dinner plate and on the gift box that Mirabel gives him before his ceremony.
There's several obvious Disney references in the film, including Bruno's 'Let It Go' lyric, but it's the subtle reference to the plant growing in the boot that you might have missed.
Fans of In The Heights will have no doubt recognised a moment in Encanto's 'Welcome To The Family Madrigal' that's pretty similar to a moment in 'It Won't Be Long Now'. As people around Mirabel are singing her name repeatedly, Abuela shouts 'Mirabel' and everything stops. A very similar moment happens with Vanessa in 'It Won't Be Long Now'. We love a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical reference!
Oh, and if you hadn't already realised... Olga Merediz, who played Abuela Claudia is In The Heights in both the stage and film versions, also provides the singing voice for Abuela Alma in Encanto.