Without a doubt, the film Charm It has become one of our favorite Disney animated musicals for the energetic, vibrant and colorful way in which they managed to unfold the magical story through the inspiring message of the importance of acceptance within the family and union with their community. .
However, like any film project, some ideas end up being scrapped by the filmmakers, but that doesn’t mean they’re not as great as the end result. These scenes, appearances of the characters and lyrics of some of the songs were discarded by the production team, but if you liked the movie as much as we did, you will be surprised with everything that we did not see in Charm.
1. The gifts were to be different
In an early draft of Charm, the gifts of some of the Madrigal brothers were a little different. Pepa was going to be indestructible, Dolores was going to heal with food, and Julieta was going to control the weather. So, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed the soundtrack of the film, he wrote an early draft of a song that reflected these gifts.
2. Pepa’s design was different at first
In fact, when Pepa’s gift was going to be indestructibility, her character design was completely different. She was to be a daredevil and was described as a “wild and free spirit”.
3. Agustín and Félix were also going to have powers
The team originally considered giving Agustín and Félix powers when they married the sisters of the Madrigal family, but ultimately decided to keep the powers only for their children. Instead, they made the decision to link gifts to “family roles and expectations.”
4. There were many options for Bruno’s name
Before Bruno was called that, several other names were being considered, including Arlo, Andre, Anko, Marco, Emo, and even Oscar. In the end, director Jared Bush asked Lin-Manuel Miranda which name he liked best and he chose “Bruno” because it fit perfectly with a little song he was working on.
5. Bruno’s appearance was changed quite a few times
Bruno’s appearance changed a lot during the development process. One idea the animators had was for Bruno to use a rug he found in Casita instead of his trademark hooded roan.
6. Bruno’s transformation changed at the end
Our first idea of what Camilo might look like transforming into Bruno was created by superstar Animator Valentin Amador! #Bruno #7FOOTFRAME #Charm @Lin_Manuel @RhenzyHappy pic.twitter.com/Var8huE9mq
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) January 30, 2022
In the first designs of Camilo’s iconic lyrics in There is no mention of Brunoit was going to be more apparent that he was transforming into a huge seven foot tall version of Bruno, but the animation was changed for the final version of the film.
7. Isabela’s gift was modified a bit
An early idea for the character of Isabela involved her magical gift, including the ability to bring plants to life. There was a whole idea that she too would have cute little potato creatures running around.
8. Luisa’s room
Although each Madrigal gets their own special room once they receive their gift, we never see Luisa’s in the film. However, early concept art revealed that the animators tinkered with the designs. A design by animator Camille Andre featured Luisa’s room with a bunch of giant rocks that she literally had to hold up using her feet.
9. A very funny after-credits scene
We considered an after credit joke to end the movie, but ultimately felt going out on the emotion and joy of the family coming back together was the way to go… but the hilarious @darrinbutters animated it!! So here you go! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR WATCHING WITH US!! #CHARM pic.twitter.com/XUMn6IfgeF
— Jared Bush (@thejaredbush) January 30, 2022
The creators of Charm they toyed with the idea of having a little joke after the credits, but thought it would be better if the last scene of the film was with the Madrigals all together for the family photo. The scene was to feature Casita throwing water on Chispi, Antonio’s capybara friend, after he tries to urinate in the house.
10. Casita would be on a mountain
An early Casita design by artist Scott Watanabe included that the house was being built into a mountain and each time a family member received their gift, a room could be seen being added to the house. This idea was more like a big tree house.
11. Alma’s backstory was going to be revealed in the opening song
In one of the first drafts of Charmthe backstory of Alma, the grandmother, was to be revealed in the song The madrigal family, also known as the opening number. So Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a lyric for Mirabel that described her grandmother building a house and having three children. In fact, Stephanie Beatriz, who plays the lead in the English version, learned the song with these lyrics before it was scrapped.
12. There were going to be twins in the Madrigal family
When the creators of Charm were devising characters to include in the Madrigal family, the idea of having the twins Amelia and Sofía came up. Her powers were going to be contrary, with the crowd falling in love with Amelia and fearing Sofia every time they were used.
13. They came to consider a Madrigal with the gift of repairing machines
There was a character named Zoe, who could basically fix any machine with her powers. Machines, like a broken clock or a broken toaster, would come to life, listen to Zoe, and know how to repair themselves.
14. A Fortune Telling Madrigal Brother
There was a broad idea that there was a Madrigal brother who was very good at playing billiards and who had been a fortune teller.
15. Isabela was going to be in love
Originally, Isabela was secretly in love with Bobo Márquez, a boy who lived in the city. There was even a scene where Mirabel chased Isabela through the woods and found them reunited, with Bobo disguised as a bear.
16. Mirabel sang in What else can I do?
One of the versions of the theme What else can I do? included Mirabel singing. In fact, it was one of Stephanie Beatriz’s favorite lyrics from the song.
Hey, that’s my sister! Watch her push beyond the new.
17. A stanza of Luisa’s song was modified
In the scene in which Luisa sings when she is carrying the donkeys, called surface pressure, the first verse was originally going to end with the lyrics “I’m taken for granted, ah”. Instead, Lin-Manuel Miranda ended the first verse with “I break what is required, but”.
18. The theme chorus surface pressure would take a rhyme
In one of the drafts of surface pressureLin-Manuel Miranda played with the rhyme at the beginning of the chorus:
Pressure like a snap, snap, snap until you get it right, oh. Pressure like a touch, touch, touch in the dead of night.
19. Antonio’s gift with animals would be a little different
One of the ideas for Antony’s power included him actually speaking through the animals, rather than being able to understand and speak for them. Also, he was going to pay them with snacks that he kept in a fanny pack that he was wearing.
20. A secret entrance in Antonio’s room that connected to Bruno’s
In a deleted scene, Mirabel was going to have to enter Bruno’s room through a secret entrance in Antonio’s room. The scene featured Antonio and Mirabel traveling down a river and then Mirabel entering Bruno’s room through a crack in Casita.
21. The final scene of the movie was longer and included more lyrics.
At the end of the movie, when the town comes to the aid of the Madrigals and helps them rebuild their house, it’s one of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s favorite moments (and it always brings him to tears). In fact, the scene was originally longer and included more lyrics.
22. There was a moment with Mirabel and her parents at the end of the movie
Originally, there was an extended moment with Mirabel and her parents, Julieta and Agustín, during Only you at the end of the movie.
23. A verse of the theme of the final scene was different
The original verse of Only you de Abuela presented her saying to Julieta:
I was very afraid of losing what we had done. I focused on the darkness instead of letting in the light. I lost your father too soon. I could not. I can’t stand losing you too.
24. The final scene had to be shortened
Only you it was going to be a seven-minute number. However, the movie was already getting long and the animators were simply running out of time to finish animating. So Lin-Manuel Miranda had to cut the musical number down to about four minutes.
25. A deleted scene
There was going to be a scene where Abuela gave each member of the Madrigal family a task to do in town, but Mirabel had to stay in Casita with Agustín and Félix because she doesn’t have a gift.
26. Abuela’s verse in the opening number was different
Before writing two caterpillars and put the melody of the song on The madrigal family, Alma’s verse in the opening number was different and included a back and forth with Mirabel. The original lyrics were cut and changed once it was written two caterpillars.
27. A nice discovery for Alma when she goes looking for Mirabel
And finally, there was an idea that Mirabel would actually run back to the city Alma and Pedro fled from, which would have forced Alma to turn back when she went looking for Mirabel. Part of this story involved Alma finding a mural in the city that said, “To love at all is to love completely.”