Venusberg (1963)

Make way for more Latine representation! Disney has released a beautiful new poster and toe-tapping musical trailer for their 60th animated film, Encanto, with music from Lin-Manuel Miranda. Encanto follows the Madrigals, a family living in a magical house in the mountains of Colombia where each child receives an “Encanto”, or a gift that gives them magical powers. The trailer shows Madrigal children who have super strength, shapeshifting abilities, plant-growing powers, and an affinity for animals. But one child has no gift -- 15-year old Mirabel struggles to find a place in her family as the only one who’s “not special.” However, when she discovers that something is threatening the magic of the Encanto, she decides she may be the only one who can save it.

Mirabel is clearly known as the black sheep of her family. At one point, someone hands her a basket of trinkets and even says, “I gave you the special since you’re the only Madrigal kid with no gift. I call it the ‘Not Special Special,’ since, uh, you have no gift!” Yet Mirabel later says, “Gift or no gift, I’m just as special as the rest of my family.”

In a statement following the trailer’s release, Stephanie Beatriz, who voices Mirabel, said "Mirabel is a really funny, loving character who also deeply yearns for something more. She's also not afraid to stand up for what she knows is right — something I love and relate to very much. I'm Colombian on my father's side, and playing this role fills me with immense pride."

I can’t help but be excited to see that most of the Encanto cast descends from Colombia, a decision affirming that all Latines are not interchangeable, as popular media frequently depicts us. The cast includes: