How Disney's Animated Hair Became So Realistic, From 'Tangled' To 'Encanto' | Movies Insider

The complex helical curl shape seen on Mirabel in "Encanto" is something you haven't seen in an animated Disney movie until now. The blockbuster musical was Disney's first animated movie to feature every category of hair texture, from 1A to 4C. Getting there took a decade of building the animation, simulation, shading, and grooming tools to represent the full range of hair types, colors, and styles.

We spoke with four members of the "Encanto" team to find out how they did it: Character Look Development Supervisor Michelle Lee Robinson, Consultant for Afro Colombian Representation Edna Liliana Valencia Murillo, Associate Technical Supervisor Nadim Sinno, and Character Look Artist Jose "Weecho" Velasquez.

They help trace the evolution of Disney's 3D-animated hair over the past ten years, from Rapunzel's 70-foot long mane in "Tangled" and Elsa and Anna's braids in "Frozen" to the curly-wavy hair in "Moana" and diversity of textures in "Encanto."

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How Disney's Animated Hair Became So Realistic, From 'Tangled' To 'Encanto' | Movies Insider

[Awesomemay]

the patience of animators is so admirable

[MichellaneousMe]

I’m surprised when they talked about Tangled they didn’t mention mother Gothels curly hair as well. She was technically the first one to rock her curls in 3D.

[carolan]

I confess, what I noticed right away when I watched Encanto was: all the different skin tones, hair types & body forms, and it made me so so happy to see this! With Encanto people see what a lot of Latin families look like- often a mix of so many beautiful cultures & peoples. Can have the same parents but the kids come out all really really varied. From blonde to black hair, straight locks to tight curls, short to tall in height, very light to very dark skin & every size too- all in one family. The same with the town's people in Encanto, a Latin community or city can be just as varied too! It was accurate.

[carelessdreamer]

When I was watching Encanto, I found myself paying a lot of attention to the fabric and hair physics going on. It’s mesmerizing to watch the dancing, how the skirts and hair moves and bounces during it all.

[lolabaker]

I actually took a lot of notice with the curly hair in encanto. I really appreciated it because I have probably around 3a if not 2c (think mirabel) and I haven’t really seen hair like that in an animated movie, like the hair was one of the first things I noticed because it looked so similar to mine with the bounce and the shine and the insane frizz. I appreciate it.

[starcherry]

I liked how Moana’s curl wasn’t perfect lush curls
They were frizzed. Very accurate for someone living on a humid island who always wants to swim! 🤣
Also she doesn’t seem like the type to spend much time on her hair anyway

[Rikamiza]

Its just insane how realistic Encanto itself looks.
The hair on Luisas Neck or the movements of the plants, trees and other people in the Background.
Or the different textures in total. You cant even see, that these textures are copied and placed next to the same.
I never found any Texture, that is similar to another.
And most people dont even look that close.

Honestly, i prefer this way over reality.

[ptclrof]

OMG! I didn't expect to see *Bolt* here!! Needs more representation honestly! One of the first ever 3d animated movie I watched as a kid and I still love the story and animation till today.

[emilyblack]

It’s incredible how well Disney was able to balance the engineering side and artistic side of hair animation. Engineers probably weren’t huge fans of having to integrate artistic controls into physics based simulations, and the artists probably had some beefs with the limits to their control. I hope they continue developing this technology on both sides, and I’m excited to see what will come next! I’m guessing box braids would be fairly easy with the technology we already have, but a leading lady with a magical Disney style afro is next on my wish list.

[qytj]

Its amazing how technology and animation has come so far and the fact that more hair types can be represented in more detail - but to be honest I do miss the hand drawn movies very much so and personally prefer them and the classic style which I grew up with - where the details may of been less but in my view the characters somehow looked more realistic (without the 3D big eyes and same-face style) and have started watching their on the side tv shows that present that style. I wish we could still see more of it in a movie now n then but hey I did love encanto

[deavve]

As a curly haired person it makes me really happy! I started noticing that curly hair is not present in games and animations just some time ago and I figured that it's probably because it's hard to animate curls. I'm almost never able to customize my character in games to look like me, because of the lack of curly hair and as dumb and insignificant as it may seem, it really bummed me. My curls are important to me. When I was a kid I was often bullied because of them, but I've grown to love and fully accept them as a part of me so I wish I was able to fully express it when creating a character in game and see curly haired people in animations that I love to watch!

[lilac]

the entire movie I was obsessed with the hair especially how bouncy mirabels curls are! they moved so naturally it was amazing

[darialispacheco]

I know this is about Disney, but there was NO MENTION OF PIXAR’S BRAVE/MERIDA! Technically the FIRST 3D PRINCESS TO HAVE CURLY HAIR

Thanks to HER is that more characters nowadays have more hair textures and lemme say that, even though is Pixar’s character, it is called Disney Pixar so…they should given at least some credit

[lukky]

It feels great to know that animators at Disney love their job and care so much about the final product. They're really passionate about all of this and it shows

[strangerinadarkalley]

When I think of hair animation I remember Merida. Her hair was incredible. I’ve made a few simple 2d animations, but I can’t even imagine working with so many individual strands, making then float and move around throught the whole thing

[abeanwithintentions]

not only did encanto show a lot of diversity with hair types, but it also showed a lot of diversity with facial structure. disney has had a repeated problem with making all their female characters facial structures look the same, especially their 3d ones. but no female character in encanto looks the same. although moana and ralph breaks the internet both led to the evolution of disneys female characters though, like with moana, pocahontas, jasmine, and mulan. disney has come a long way.

[StudioHannah]

Does Pixar not count here? They do belong to Disney. Brave was the first 3D Disney curly hair as far as I can tell. Definitely leveled up with Encanto, though. Man, the hair looks great in Encanto.

[ishi]

As a senior 3D Grooming Arist for VFX seeing this video really makes me really proud and happy; all of it is very well researched and documented. Big thanks

[icerosefeathers]

No one mentioned Merida, her hair has many different textures and types of curls, I love how that looked in the end, and I was very happy that Disney represented Scottish hair ( not Irish) ( I’m Scottish)

[mimicry]

been invested in this series along with the hair animation in merida from brave. hair physics in animation is one of the most challenging but rewarding aspects in the field! as a curly haired person, it is really amazing for me to see my own hair texture in encanto <3