Why Encanto Makes West Side Story's Ariana DeBose Cry

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West Side Story star Ariana DeBose explains why Encanto makes her cry. The latest film from Walt Disney Animation Studios rebounded from a disappointing initial run in theaters to become one of their biggest hits with audiences since Frozen, sending each song from the Lin-Manuel Miranda-penned soundtrack into the US Billboard Hot 100. Encanto is currently nominated for three Academy Awards, including for Best Animated Feature.

Set in an enchanted region of Colombia, the Disney movie follows Mirabel Madrigal, the only member of her family not to have received a magical gift from her Abuela's miracle. When she notices that their magic seems to be under threat, Mirabel takes it upon herself to discover why, causing her to search for her missing, clairvoyant uncle, Bruno. While it received praise from critics upon release, Encanto fans love the movie with intensity, identifying everything from the earworm songs to the intense themes and cultural fidelity as reasons for their adoration.

Related: One Subtle Encanto Detail Tricked You Into Loving The Madrigals More

Now, those fans can count Best Supporting Actress-frontrunner DeBose among their ranks. In a Variety interview asking Oscar nominees when they last cried at a movie, the West Side Story star notes that she is someone who is easily moved when watching films, before naming Encanto as a recent example. She then goes on to explain why the Disney animated movie affected her, highlighting both its diversity and its exploration of generational trauma. Check out her full quote below:

I mean, I'm a weeper [laughs]. I cried watching Encanto, that wasn't that long ago. The reality about, like, an animated film about generational trauma, dynamics between families. What I love so