As is appropriate for a movie with a title that roughly translates as ‘miracle,’ Disney’s Encanto is a tale of magic and second chances. The movie depicts the Madrigal family as they struggle with the imminent loss of their magical gifts.
The protagonist, Mirabel, attempts to find the cause of this problem. While in some Disney releases, one would have expected an external threat to be the issue, it is the intergenerational trauma of the Madrigals that sabotages their way of life. Because of this, the most important element in the movie is not the magic at all, but rather, the relationships between the characters.
10 Alma’s Hold On Her Family Makes Their Miracle Collapse
The matriarch of the family, Abuela Alma is the reason why the Encanto is founded—and why it collapses. Experiencing heavy trauma upon witnessing her husband Pedro die, Alma becomes obsessively protective of her new home and of the family miracle created through Pedro’s sacrifice. Because of this, she ends up putting a lot of pressure on her children and grandchildren.
The younger members of the family are told from a young age that they need to make the family proud. As a result, they feel inadequate, insecure, and lost if they are unable to stand up to Alma’s often unreasonable expectations. It’s a toxic relationship, but its depiction is very interesting and tackles a theme that doesn’t often show in animated films. It’s a shame that the dispute is set aside a little too easily to be believable.
9 Bruno’s Love For His Family Is More Powerful Than Their Resentment
Tio Bruno is introduced in the movie through the catchy song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” He seems to be a mysterious ominous figure whose powers cast a shadow over the lives of everyone around him. In reality, he is a tragic character ostracized for his gift. He has the ability to see into the future, but his visions often display negative outcomes, leading the people of the Encanto to view his mere existence as an ill omen. Upon receiving a vision of Mirabel, Bruno chooses to self-exile into the walls of the casita, not wanting Mirabel to become an outcast too.
But Bruno’s love for his family endures despite their tendency to ignore his very existence. He continues to crave their proximity so much so that he takes his meals right next to the kitchen. The wall separating Bruno from his family is indicative of the state of their relationship and of the fact that, even before leaving, he was an outsider. It’s a heartbreaking but realistic dynamic of something that happens a lot in regular families.
8 Isabela Finds Freedom By Overcoming The Sibling Rivalry With Mirabel
Sibling rivalry is the most natural thing in a family, and it’s all the more pronounced when one child is treated significantly better than another. Mirabel is born without magical gifts of her own, leading Abuela Alma to disapprove of her.
Meanwhile, her eldest sister Isabela is the golden child of the family; her grace and beauty make everyone praise her. To save the family magic, Mirabel approaches her sister, only to learn Isabela feels just as trapped by her image as Mirabel is by her lack of gift. Their conversation makes Isabela have an epiphany and understand her true potential.
7 The Casita Interacts With Some Select Family Members
One of the most interesting elements in Encanto is the sentient home of the Madrigals, commonly known as the casita. A character in its own right, the casita can communicate with the family, although it shows a clear preference for Mirabel and Abuela.
The creators were able to use elements like boards and floor tiles to practically design the casita’s own form of language. It’s quite remarkable and it has made some viewers theorize that the sentient home actually holds the soul of Abuelo Pedro. Either way, it’s beautiful to see and the loss of the casita’s magic feels like the death of a family member.
6 Felix Anchors His Tempestuous Wife Pepa
Abuela’s daughter Pepa has one of the most powerful – and potentially dangerous – magical gifts in the movie. She is able to control the weather with her emotions, which isn’t always a good thing as her fierce temperament has been known to even cause hurricanes.
Fortunately, Pepa isn’t alone. Her husband Felix is always by her side and his exuberant personality anchors her. Felix’s party spirit and joyfulness never fail to cheer Pepa up and calm her down even when she is anxious. It’s a lovely, well-balanced relationship, particularly since it is obvious Pepa appreciates her husband too.
5 Luisa’s Strength Extends Over Her Relationship With Her Sister
Unlike her older sister Isabela, Luisa doesn’t have any problems getting along with Mirabel. Her relationship with Mirabel lacks any kind of hostility. This is particularly remarkable considering Luisa’s own role in the family. Her super-strength places her in the unenviable position of being the rock of the family and she admits to often feeling like she is crushed by the pressure of everything she is supposed to do.
If Isabela may have felt jealous of Mirabel for never having to fulfill such standards, Luisa doesn’t display any kind of grudge toward her sister, Bruno, or anyone else for that matter. Having Luisa’s support means a lot to Mirabel, and she is among the few people who actually assist her on her quest to discover what is wrong with the family magic.
4 Antonio Relies On Mirabel To Always Be There For Him
The youngest member of the family, Antonio is about to receive his own magical gift when the movie begins. As the last ceremony—Mirabel’s—was a failure, he feels an even higher level of insecurity and pressure. Even so, a part of him wishes to not receive a gift at all so that he can stay with Mirabel in the nursery. Considering how much Abuela focuses on each individual magical power, that’s rather extraordinary.
It also speaks volumes of the level of their bond. Perhaps it isn’t surprising that Antonio ends up reaching out to Mirabel for emotional support during his ceremony. Despite the visible disapproval of the other family members—particularly Abuela—Mirabel agrees and joins her young cousin. It is a difficult experience for her but she never resents Antonio for receiving a gift when she did not.
3 Julieta And Agustin Offer Mirabel Unconditional Support
While many characters in Encanto look down on Mirabel for not having a magical gift, her parents are fortunately not included. Julieta and Agustin love Mirabel very much. Julieta never fails to point out that Mirabel is truly special in her own way. Meanwhile, Agustin empathizes with Mirabel.
Having married into the family, Agustin doesn’t have a gift either and occasionally feels like an outsider. That doesn’t make him any less protective of his daughter, and when he finds out about Bruno’s vision, he is hasty to tell Mirabel to hide it, no matter what.
2 Pedro And Alma Have A Beautiful If Tragic Love
Abuela Alma may not be the most likable character in the movie and her influence undoubtedly leaves scars on the younger members of the family. But her own tragic tale carries just as much weight. The finale of Encanto displays Alma and Pedro’s relationship in a little more detail.
The flashback is played with the beautiful “Dos Oruguitas” in the background, sung by the talented Sebastián Yatra. It’s heartbreaking to watch the young couple find happiness together, then lose their home. Pedro’s final sacrifice and Alma’s palpable grief at his loss cement their relationship as one of the best ones depicted in the movie, even if Pedro is no longer among the living.
1 Bruno And Mirabel Work Together To Save The Family Magic
Years after Bruno’s disappearance, Mirabel finds him and, together, they work to rescue the family magic. The two characters bond very quickly over their shared experiences and their desire to protect the family. While they are originally unsuccessful, Bruno’s wish to keep Mirabel safe remains just as strong. He even confronts Alma over it, something he never had the courage to do in the past.
It is perhaps this relationship—the bond between the two “black sheep” of the family—that truly guides the Madrigals on the path to healing. While both Bruno and Mirabel will undoubtedly still have scars because of their mistreatment, they’ll always find refuge in one another.
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