Disney has a long history of films that combine iconic songs with gorgeously animated sequences to create some truly great musical numbers and the newest film, Encanto, lives up to that legacy. With original music from Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical numbers capture the individual personalities of the characters as well as the dynamic of the family in an energetic and visually stunning fashion.
The film contains a nice balance of big numbers that include the entire family such as "All of You" and The Family Madrigal" as well as numbers that allow the audience to see the inner emotions of individual characters such as Luisa in "Surface Pressure" and Isabela in "What Else Can I Do?"
7 "All Of You"
The closing number to the film features the family working together to rebuild their home. While they do not have their powers, they are able to use teamwork and the help of the entire town to build the house.
The song is not one of Lin-Manuel Miranda's best songs, but it is heartwarming to see the townsfolk rally around the Madrigal family. Seeing the family welcome Bruno back and watching Mirabel connect with her sisters is a sweet and satisfying end to the movie but the number is not as inventive or interesting as the others in the film.
6 "We Don't Talk About Bruno"
When Mirabel realizes that her mysterious Bruno's prophecies are somehow connected to Casita's cracks, she tries to find out more about him, only to be told by different people that they do not talk about him because he always caused bad things to happen.
The number features a funky beat with a catchy chorus and some fun visuals as the audience sees the prophecies come to fruition as the people describe them, including rain on Pepa's wedding day, a pet fish dying, a man getting fat, and a man going bald.
5 "Waiting On A Miracle"
In a number that is similar to Jasmine's song from the live-action Aladdin, time freezes during Antonio's gift ceremony as Mirabel sings about the disappointment and frustration she feels over not having powers.
While the other numbers illustrate the internal feelings of the supporting characters, this is the only one that lets the audience see inside Mirabel's mind. The number is a classic "I Want" song that makes the protagonist's desire tangible as she imagines what it would be like to finally get a gift.
4 "What Else Can I Do?"
In an attempt to fulfill Bruno's vision, Mirabel tries to get Isabela to hug her by going to her room and talking to her. When Isabela admits her true feelings she inadvertently causes a cactus to sprout, leading her to sing about what it would be like if she stopped trying to be so perfect and learned to be more spontaneous.
The musical number makes great use of Isabela's powers, filling the scene with vibrant and colorful flowers. The upbeat and inspiring song is paired with some of the best visuals in the entire movie, creating a truly memorable scene that ranks with other iconic Disney musical setpieces like Ariel's "Part of Your World," one of the best songs in The Little Mermaid.
3 "The Family Madrigal"
In the opening number of the movie, Mirabel explains the magic of Casita to the children of the nearby town. She also introduces each of the members of her family and reveals their powers such as Luisa's superhuman strength and Pepa's ability to control the weather.
It is a fun number that gets a lot of the exposition out of the way and introduces all of the main characters while also setting Mirabel up as a Disney underdog that the audience will be rooting for. The fast-paced scene is an enjoyable and informative way to start the movie and get the audience oriented with this colorful world.
2 "Surface Pressure"
As Mirabel begins to investigate what is happening to Casita, one of the first people she talks to is Luisa, who is showing signs of stress. Luisa ends up singing about how she is starting to crack under all the pressure of being the strong one of the family and wonders if people would still value her without her strength.
The lyrics of the song are deep and relatable, establishing Luisa as a Disney supporting character who deserved more screen time. The number does the song justice by visualizing all the different metaphors that Luisa sings about, showing her fighting Cerberus, trying to stop the Titanic from hitting the iceberg, and literally shouldering the weight of the world like Atlas.
1 "Dos Oruguitas"
After the collapse of their family home, Mirabel runs away. When Abuela finds her by the river where Abuelo was killed, she admits that she forgot that her family is the real gift. The song then plays as Abuelo and Abuela's relationship unfolds onscreen.
The scene is easily the most emotional and impactful moment in the film. The moving song perfectly underscores the love and sadness of the relationship as the audience sees Abuelo and Abuela meet, get married, start a family, and ultimately say goodbye to one another. It is a beautifully animated scene that captures the highs and lows of life and the inevitability of change in one scene.
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