Warning: This article contains spoilers from Encanto.
Like many other Disney films, Disney’s latest animated feature, Encanto, takes place during an intentionally vague time period, leaving the exact timeline unclear. Encanto tells the story of a Colombian family, the Madrigals, which was blessed with a miracle after the death of their patriarch, Pedro Madrigal. This miracle enchanted a candle, creating a magical house, Casita, for the Madrigals and giving each child in the family a special power – except Mirabel. When the candle begins losing its magic, though, Mirabel must find the source of the miracle to save both her home and her family.
While Encanto’s timeframe is unclear, it draws greatly upon the cultural influences of its location, Colombia. For example, Encanto’s setting features Colombian plants and animals, such as Wax Palm trees and toucans, capybaras, and tapirs. Characters also wear outfits inspired by traditional clothing and eat Colombian foods like arepas. Most prominently, Encanto blends Colombian musical styles, including Vallenato and Champeta, into its songs.
In contrast to Encanto’s distinct location, Encanto’s creators purposely made the movie’s time period vague. Broadly, they set Encanto in early 20th-century Colombia. However, it is possible to narrow down this timeframe to the 1950s based upon both historical and technological clues in Encanto. As with many Disney (and Pixar) movies, there are enough historically and culturally accurate details to piece together when the movie is set.
First, Encanto opens with Abuela Alma telling the story of how she and Pedro had to escape violence in their village, caused by a Colombian Civil War. Unfortunately, Pedro was still killed by soldiers, which led to Alma receiving a miracle through her enchanted candle. Based on the lack of modern technology in later flashbacks to Alma and Pedro’s village and the soldiers’ use of horses and swords, Encanto was most likely referencing the Thousand Days’ War, which occurred from 1899 to 1902. By the time the main plot of the story begins, Abuela Alma has had the candle for approximately 50 years, meaning that Encanto occurs around the 1950s.
This timeframe is reinforced by the technology in Encanto. For example, when the Madrigals take a family photograph in Antonio’s new room, the camera is a vintage, folding style from the 1950s. In addition, Encanto's Bruno has older technology in his hidden room within the walls of Casita, including a gramophone that his rats play on. Bruno also reenacts game shows and telenovelas with his rats, which were both growing in popularity during the 1950s. Finally, the characters’ fashion choices also suggest that Encanto takes place during the 1950s. Since women did not start regularly wearing pants until the 1960s and 70s, all of the female characters still wear dresses and skirts. While the precise date for Encanto is unclear, historical events, technological advancements, and specific fashion trends limit its timeframe to the 1950s.