Animated Movies Inspired by Latin America to Watch While You Wait “Encanto”

Disney has presented the trailer for "Encanto", its new animated production, inspired by Colombian landscapes and culture. The premiere is scheduled for November this year. This film joins other great productions where the culture and landscapes of Latin America are portrayed through animation, so we bring you this list where you can meet some of them. In this list we only include animated films not produced in Latin America, leaving out those that are produced in the region in addition to the series.

"Up", the exuberance of Venezuela

One of the Pixar classics, "Up" tells the adventure of Carl Fredricksen, an elderly man whose goal is to take his old house to Paradise Falls in South America. Everything is going well until he discovers that he is taking with him little Russell, a boy scout who becomes his companion on the long and dangerous journey. In "Up" we can see the impressive landscapes of Venezuela, specifically the tepui (huge plateaus surrounded by clouds) and the Salto Ángel waterfall that inspired the one in the film.

"Moana", the splendor of Chilean Polynesia

Moana is a princess from the Polynesian island of Motu Nui, her rebellion and curiosity lead her to explore beyond what is allowed on her island. Outside of it, he meets Maui, a demigod with whom, through an adventure, she manages to restore order and repair past mistakes that affected the people of the region. From start to finish we can see in this film the colors of the landscapes and the Rapa Nui culture, one of the most enigmatic in the world.

You can also read: "En el Barrio": A Musical That Celebrates Latin Culture

"The Emperor's New Groove", the colors of Peru

Disney brought to the screens the story of Emperor Kuzco, a capricious ruler who decides to build a new house by displacing Pacha and his family from the place. But Kuzco suffers an assassination attempt that instead of killing him ends up turning him into a flame. With the help of Pacha, Kuzco tries to regain his throne and in the process learn something about the lives of his subjects. The film shows us landscapes and part of the Inca culture, although mixed with modern elements, thanks to which it became a success that continued in a sequel and a series.

"The Adventures of Tadeo Jones", Peru in the style of Indiana Jones

Of Spanish production, in this film, we see the story of Tadeo Jones, an archeology fan who suddenly finds himself immersed in a story worthy of Indiana Jones that includes treasure hunters, mummies, Machu Picchu, llamas, gold, the jungle, and the lines of Nazca in Peru. Highlights the quality of the animation and the detail of the same that portrays important scenes in the geography and culture of the country.

"Pachamama", the love of culture

This film is produced by the Ernest et Célestine studio, Folivari, whose animation quality is known. In Pachamama, we have the story of two children who seek to recover a treasure of their culture that was stolen by men who were greedy for gold. For children and residents, the treasure is important for what it represents and not for its value in gold, so this story allows us to see the indigenous thought of Peru compared to that of the conquerors.

"Rio", Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Nature and culture from Rio are what we find in Rio's biology, from Blue Sky Studios. In the first part, it shows us the story of Blu, a rare blue macaw who becomes the last hope of his species, so he must fight against bird traffickers. In the second part, Blu is faced with the dilemma of remaining a domestic bird or delving into the life of wild birds. Carnival, soccer, favelas, samba, and the landscapes of Rio de Janeiro are present in both films.

"Coco" and "El Libro de la Vida", Mexicans facing death

Along with Peru, Mexico is one of the Latin American countries most portrayed in films. In "Coco" and "El Libro de la Vida" they show us the Mexican culture related to the Day of the Dead. In the first one, little Miguel accidentally enters the world of the dead and must find his way out of it; while in the second, there is a love triangle that is immersed in a bet between two gods who will do what is necessary to win it.

"The Road to El Dorado", the clash of two worlds

Miguel and Tulio are two Spaniards who escape from the fleet of Hernán Cortés, when they arrive in America they pretend to be gods before the natives to get the gold from the mythical city of El Dorado before Cortés finds it. The film is a mixture of elements from different cultures, on the one hand, the Mayans and on the other the mythical city of El Dorado that would actually be located in present-day Colombia and not in Mexico.