Encanto (location)

**Encanto** is the eponymous main setting of Disney's feature film, *Encanto*. It is a town hidden in the mountains of Colombia.

However it is later shown to no longer be defended and hidden by the mountains as they are cracked open when the Casita gets destroyed by the pandemonium and disagreements in the Madrigal family.

## History

The town was established when Alma Madrigal and her fellow refugees found it while running from unknown terrorists and bandits; the area later became enchanted by a miracle from Alma's wedding candle that emerged when Alma's husband Pedro was brutally killed by them. The enchantment on the area caused gargantuan mountains to form; surrounding the town and effectively blocking out any danger or invading forces as well as giving Alma's children, and by extent their children, magical powers that they use to defend themselves, defend the town, and help out in their community.

## Society

### Economy

The town is self-sufficient as there are no trades from the outside, due to the mountains closing off the area. The townspeople emulated the economics of their old town as well.

Pepa seems to be using her gift to help tons of crops grow in the Encanto during The Family Madrigal, which is likely how the town has survived so long while being self-sufficient.

### Culture

As seen in the film, the area takes after folk culture of Colombia, and many other Latina countries as well. The town appears to be a religious area, as they have a church and frequently call the magical candle a "miracle". The area also has a school, supporting the learning of children. The area has no specific leader, although Alma Madrigal and her family are considered almost like royalty because of their magical powers and responsibilities.

## Places

* Casa Madrigal: the home of the Madrigals, elevated on a hill overlooking the rest of the town.
* Church: a Catholic church that Luisa is called upon to relocate.
* Madrigal Family Mural: an unknown building in town has a mural of the Madrigals drawn on it.
* School: while the school is never seen in the film, it is hinted that there is a school in the Encanto.
* Town Square: the center of the town, seen to have shops and many of the core buildings in it.
* Town: the many houses belonging to non-Madrigal families in the Encanto.
* Pass: formed when a mountain cutting the Encanto off from the outside world is split in two as the miracle dies. This pass leads down to the river where Pedro died.
* River: The river is where Pedro Madrigal lost his life to soldiers, allowing his sacrifice to bless his living family with magic. Years later, after Casa Madrigal is destroyed, Mirabel goes to the river after running away. Mirabel's grandmother, Alma Madrigal finds her, explains the circumstances of Pedro's death, and reconciles with Mirabel.

## Trivia

* An "Encanto" is a place in nature filled with enchantment in one of the many kinds of cultural ideas of Latin America which alludes to the existence of magic in ordinary things.
* According to a map on a second story wall of Casita, the Encanto was founded in the year 1900, placing the triplets' birth in that year as well. This means that the date of the Encanto's founding is October 17, 1900; precisely one year after the start of the Thousand Days' War.
* This also means that the events of the movie are set in the year 1951, as they take place starting on Antonio's fifth birthday (May 21), and the triplets have already turned 50.

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/thejaredbush/status/1479860603850162176
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/thejaredbush/status/1479860805101182976
3. ↑ The Art of Encanto
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/thejaredbush/status/1504961910579490817