The Lin-Manuel Miranda Animation Takeover: DISNEY EDITION! - Renegade Animation #43
Tonight, on a CLASSIC episode of Renegade Animation, it's the return of Lin Manuel-Miranda in the FOURTH FILM he's been a part of this year -- and it's the SECOND animated film he tackled, as Disney has released their latest animated film: Encanto! How do Captain Kaye and the Animation Guru feel about the film?
How’s it going, fellow Renegades? It’s THE DIRECTOR back again to bring you guys the latest from the mics, as our animation amigos gathered to once again discuss my arch-nemesis in Hollywood: LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA! Yes, between In the Heights, Vivo, and Tick Tick Boom!, it appears as if he’s poised to make his stamp in the world of film as a towering figure in musicals, and this is his SECOND animated film not only this year, but also his second film with DISNEY.
I may have my own reservations with the man, but I can’t deny that he’s talented (which is why I may come to blows with his works… either that, or how obsessed everyone was in my senior year of high school with Hamilton that it completely turned me off).
But what did the doodling duo think of his latest tango with the House of Mouse? I’ll go ahead and kick it over to the Captain HIMSELF!
ENCANTO (2021)
“The expectations I had for this film were all over the place. This is the fourth project that Lin-Manuel Miranda has been attached to released this year, and each one has been unique in its own way. Musically, I'm not even sure if this was my favorite, but he's such a gifted lyricist that he can rise to any occasion. That there'd even be any imperfections with the film, such as the valid critique about the lack of Colombian representation behind the camera, makes its strengths shine brighter. As boring as it is to praise a Disney film for its animation, that doesn't make said praise any less true. If I had to pinpoint the film's greatest strength, it's the family dynamic. Coming from a fairly large family myself, there are certain universal traits that are easy to recognize. The voice cast is practically perfect, everyone from Stephanie Beatriz in the lead as Mirabel Madrigal, to Dianne Guerrero and Jessica Darrow as her older sisters Isabella and Louisa, to María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma Madrigal, were all excellent. Much like one of the rooms in the Casita, the best way to describe the stakes would be ‘bigger on the inside.’ With most of the action taking place within the house while barely extending beyond the valley, this might be Disney's smallest scale adventure. I can't even designate any one character to be the ‘antagonist,’ since the conflict is internal, which makes the resolution far more impactful. At the core of Encanto is a family drama, different enough from Disney's previous films to stand out, but familiar enough that it feels right at home. Its themes about the importance of family make it a perfect holiday release.” - Captain Kaye
Well, that’ll do it for this episode! Special thanks to Cameron for editing this episode. Get a nice cup of cocoa, and ready the stockings to be stuffed with a brand new podcasting coming at you real soon.
