Mirabel, the protagonist of Disney’s Encanto wears glasses: Here is why 

The 2021 Disney animation fantasy Encanto doesn’t need an introduction. It has woven the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, in a fascinating way. Every child in the family, dwelling in fantasy town of Colombia named Encanto, is gifted with a unique superpower, except the protagonist Mirabel. The magical realm of Encanto is surreal, to say the least and so is the house that the family lives in. It known as la casita, which means ‘little house’ when translated from Spanish. While most of you are acquainted with the plot of the movie, did you know that Mirabel is the first Disney female protagonist wearing glasses? Are you aware of the fact that the fantasy world of Encanto is inspired by real-life places in Colombia? Read on to know more about such fascinating yet lesser-known fact about this iconic Disney movie.   

Mirabel’s glasses: The backstory 
If you are wondering why Mirabel wears glasses, then you are in for a touching story. Jared Bush, the director of Encanto, was impressed by a nine-year-old girl named Lowri Moore from Nottinghamshire, who wrote a letter to Disney requesting for a female Disney character to wear glasses. The director himself wore glasses as a child and was awed by the braveness of the girl who advocated for the representation of bespectacled people in a Disney movie. So, even though the character was already in the production stage, the filmmakers decided to add glasses to her character. 

Encanto: A celebration of Colombia and its traditions 
Various real-life locations of Colombia inspired the mesmerising landscape of Encanto, starting from Barichara, a colonial town to the Cocora Valley and Caño Cristales, a river in the Serranía de la Macarena, known as the ‘River of five colours.’ Encanto is a celebration of Colombian culture and diversity too, and the filmmakers wanted to showcase the country's rich traditions and customs in the movie. They took great care to research Colombian traditions and consulted with experts in various fields, including music, dance, and food, to ensure the authenticity of the film. You will love the enchanting songs in the movie that feature a mix of traditional Colombian rhythms and contemporary pop sounds.  

The yellow butterflies in Encanto and magic realism 
Magic realism is a literary genre that combines fantastical elements with realistic settings and characters, and Encanto uses this concept to great effect. One of the significant symbols in the movie is the yellow butterfly that follows Mirabel around. Did you know that this butterfly was inspired by the famous novel One Hundred Years of Solitude by Colombian author and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez? The yellow butterfly is a key element in the novel and is often associated with magic realism. 

Encanto is a testament to the power of storytelling and beautiful music that bridges cultures and inspires audiences all around the world.