Main Voice Cast and Their Characters
The 2021 Disney animated film Encanto features a predominantly Colombian voice cast. The lead role of Mirabel Madrigal is voiced by American actress Stephanie Beatriz. The matriarch, Abuela Alma Madrigal, is voiced by María Cecilia Botero, while the magical gift-bearing children are voiced by a mix of Colombian and Latin American actors, including Diane Guerrero as Isabela and Adassa as Dolores. The film's soundtrack is performed primarily by the on-screen characters, with the ensemble cast recording the songs together to maintain a cohesive family dynamic.
The casting process focused on finding performers who could authentically represent the Colombian setting. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer, worked closely with the directors to ensure the vocal performances matched the musical style. The cast recorded the songs in sessions that blended traditional Colombian musical elements with contemporary pop and Broadway styles. This approach helped the film's music resonate with global audiences while maintaining cultural specificity.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Songwriters
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the original songs for Encanto, marking his third collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios after Moana and Frozen II. The film's score was composed by Germaine Franco, who became the first Latina to solely compose the score for a Disney animated feature. Miranda and Franco worked together to blend traditional Colombian genres like vallenato and cumbia with orchestral arrangements, creating a distinct musical identity for the Madrigal family.
The song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" became a global phenomenon, topping charts in multiple countries and becoming Disney's biggest animated song hit since "Let It Go." The track features a rap verse performed by American actor and rapper Rhenzy Feliz, who voices the character Camilo. The song's structure, which includes multiple character perspectives, was designed to advance the plot while showcasing the ensemble cast's vocal range. The soundtrack album was released by Walt Disney Records and is available on major streaming platforms, including Apple Music.
Streaming and Commercial Performance
The Encanto soundtrack reached number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, making it the first Disney animated film soundtrack to top the chart since Frozen II. The album has been certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, reflecting strong physical and digital sales. On streaming services, the soundtrack consistently ranks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, driven by the sustained popularity of "We Don't Talk About Bruno" and "Surface Pressure."
Fans can stream the full soundtrack on platforms such as Spotify and YouTube Music, where the songs have accumulated billions of streams. The film's music has also been performed in multiple languages for international releases, with localized versions of the soundtrack available on streaming services. The commercial success of the soundtrack has led to live concert performances and a Disney on Ice touring production, extending the film's musical legacy beyond the screen.