It’s not unusual for Disney movies to have heart-wrenching scenes. While some releases celebrate joy with less heavy scenes, animated characters from films like Up or Inside Out have managed to bring tears to viewers’ eyes. The newest Disney animated movie, Encanto, is no different. While it is overall an optimistic tale of family, it displays classical themes of emotional conflict within a setting of remarkable magical realism.

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Encanto focuses on the Madrigals, a family living in a magically-protected settlement. The miracle that keeps them safe, gives them magical powers. The party spirit of the Colombian-inspired release is often set aside for deeply emotional moments that make the instability of the magical family more than a little clear.

9 Mirabel Praises Her Family But Doesn’t Have A Gift Of Her Own

encanto mirabel

Like in the case of many Disney movies, the plot of Encanto kicks off with a song. In The Family Madrigal, Mirabel introduces her family, focusing on their magical abilities. The song helps the viewer grow accustomed to the cast, but it has an underlining element that is, upon deeper analysis, incredibly sad.

Mirabel spends the song praising her family, but she excludes herself. She seeks to avoid revealing the fact that she lacks a gift. The truth naturally comes out later. Mirabel tries to be cheerful and tell herself she is just as special as her family, but realizes she is only fooling herself.

8 Mirabel Remembers Not Receiving Her Own Gift As A Child

young mirabel

Encanto sees the youngest member of the family, Antonio, participate in a ceremony where he is supposed to receive his gift. He is very nervous, particularly since Mirabel's ceremony was a failure. Antonio and Maribel are very close, and she does her best to encourage him.

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As he stands in front of the crowd, Antonio asks Mirabel to join him, unable to face the pressure on his own. Maribel complies, only to face her grandmother’s disapproval. As she goes up the stairs, she remembers her own ceremony - and when her gift vanished in front of her eyes. Antonio receives his magic, but Maribel’s sadness echoes in the hearts of viewers.

7 Mirabel Is Excluded From The Family Picture

the madrigals

As the Madrigals celebrate the newest gift added to the family, Mirabel’s feelings of inadequacy increase. The problem culminates when the family rushes in to take a photo, only to accidentally exclude her. It’s a soul-crushing moment for Mirabel.

The following song, Waiting On A Miracle, expresses her desperation to be good enough, and her constant attempts to pretend she is fine. In the aftermath, Maribel flees the party, only to see the Casita of the Madrigals crumbling.

6 Luisa Admits To Feeling Pressured By The Family’s Expectations

luisa in Encanto

When her family refuses to believe Mirabel’s vision, she begins to investigate on her own. She turns to her sister, Luisa. Gifted with superstrength, Luisa is revealed to have been struggling under the weight of the family’s expectations.

She is supposed to be the unfaltering support of the community. Whenever Luisa steps outside, people begin to ask her for help. Her frustration with her circumstances and feelings of insecurity come out in a heart-breaking display. She seems to feel better, but the disappearance of the family magic later causes her to lose her power, making her previous feelings even more pronounced.

5 Bruno Is Revealed To Be Hiding In The Walls

Bruno and Mirabel stand together and stare

Tio Bruno is ostracized for his power of seeing the future. People believe he is causing their misfortune as he constantly predicts negative events. The family believes Bruno has left the Encanto, but Mirabel discovers he is hidden in the walls.

In a vision about Mirabel, he decides to leave, so as not to draw the family’s disapproval. Hidden in the walls, he seems to spend his time mending the cracks in Casita. Bruno’s fate is heart-breaking, as Encanto points to themes of his mental health issues. The story of Bruno is told in the song We Don't Talk About Bruno, which may be one of the best Disney songs since Let It Go.

4 Isabela’s Supposed Perfection Is A Mask For An Unhappy Girl

isabela madrigal

Through Bruno, Mirabel realizes she must make amends with her sister, Isabela. It’s not an easy task, as the sibling rivalry between the two is very pronounced. Isabela has always been perceived as perfect for her grace and beautiful gift, the ability to make flowers grow.

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As the two confront each other, Isabela reveals things aren’t quite so straightforward. Her supposed perfection is a burden and her imminent marriage is something she agreed to for the sake of the family. She feels trapped and unhappy, and it is only the outburst of temper she has during the conversation with Mirabel that finally frees her.

3 Abuela And Mirabel Blame Each Other For The Loss Of The Magic

abuela and mirabel

Seeing Isabela and Mirabel together, Abuela Alma is furious. She confronts Mirabel, accusing her of causing the family’s misfortunes. She feels Mirabel is jeopardizing the family due to her own feelings of inadequacy and jealousy. Angry and hurt, Mirabel lashes out at her grandmother.

She confronts Abuela with the truth, it is her disapproval and rejection that is endangering the family. As the argument escalates, the magical Casita of the Madrigals starts to crumble, symbolizing the destruction of the family.

2 The Casita Of The Madrigals Is Destroyed

casita destroyed encanto

With the Casita coming down, the candle that represents the family miracle is also being extinguished. As the rest of the Madrigals flee, Mirabel tries to rescue the candle. She succeeds in grabbing it, but is only rescued from being crushed under the debris by the sentient house itself. Despite Mirabel's efforts, the candle goes out and the Casita becomes inanimate. In the aftermath, the protection around the Encanto breaks.

1 Alma’s Flashback Makes Viewers Empathize With The Family Matriarch

alma and pedro madrigal smile

After the Casita’s destruction, Mirabel flees the scene and is found at the river where Pedro was killed. Encanto shows a flashback from Alma, diving into her feelings of loss. The grief she experiences over the death of her husband is so intense it creates the family miracle. It’s a truly heartbreaking scene and viewers can’t help but empathize with the family matriarch.

Abuela makes many mistakes, particularly with Bruno. But she is also burdened by a pain she never truly surpassed. She admits her faults, reunites with Bruno. Together, they return to the Encanto. The family rebuilds their Casita, this time together and with the help of the townsfolk.

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