Disney has always loved to bring magical stories to life. From Cinderella’s fairy godmother to Elsa and her magical ability to control the elements, Disney characters often challenge the laws of nature with their unique abilities. In Encanto, Disney goes a step forward, introducing the Madrigals, a family whose whole lifestyle rotates around their magical gifts.
Living in the Colombian magical settlement called the Encanto, the Madrigals all receive a special superpower once they reach the age of five. The protagonist, Mirabel, is an unfortunate exception, and throughout the movie, she struggles to prove her worth and save the family magic at the same time. Her family members are all part of the bigger puzzle of her story, though their character and actions don’t always make them likable.
11 Dolores’s Actions Can Have Devastating Side-Effects
Mirabel’s sister Dolores is a somewhat unusual presence. Her super-hearing skill allows her to detect even the slightest sound, which makes her privy to all her family’s secrets. Unfortunately, that isn’t always a good thing, as she isn’t that discerning or discreet with the information she reveals.
When she overhears Mirabel and her father Agustin talking about their uncle Bruno’s vision, she chooses to reveal it at the worst possible moment, during the visit of the Guzman family. It’s just one of the elements why viewers theorize she may have been the secret villain of the story all along.
10 Abuela’s Grief Is Responsible For The Decay Of The Encanto
The matriarch of the family, Alma Madrigal is the original creator of the Encanto. It is her grief at the loss of her husband Pedro that birthed the protection around the settlement, as well as the family magic. But that grief is also what sabotages these gifts. Abuela’s trauma makes her so overprotective of the Encanto she puts an incredible amount of pressure on the younger generation.
She fails to protect her son Bruno from being ostracized for his unusual gift of seeing into the future and disapproves of Mirabel due to her not having powers at all. She values the gifts above the people, and it is her behavior that leads to the decay of the Encanto.
9 Pepa’s Inability To Understand Her Brother Detracts From Her Character
Mirabel's aunt Pepa is gifted with the power to control the weather with her emotions. That isn’t always a good thing as she can have quite a temper. Her dispute with her brother Bruno is evidence of that. She blames Bruno for her own powers running amok on her wedding day, triggering a hurricane.
Much of her behavior is influenced by her mother’s perfectionism, and she gets visibly anxious when something goes wrong. Even so, it’s unreasonable for her to demonize her brother for an event that was completely out of his control.
8 Isabela Is Nowhere Near As Selfish As She Seems
The golden child of the family, Isabela is Mirabel’s eldest sister, seen as perfect by everyone. As a result, a sibling rivalry forms between the two. Mirabel resents Isabela for having a perfect life, but as it turns out, for Isabela, that perfection is a burden.
She feels trapped by her own image and possibly resents Mirabel for being the only one who doesn’t have to meet unreasonable standards. Her lack of empathy for her sister may make her somewhat unlikeable. But she’s willing to marry a man she doesn’t love for her family, so she’s nowhere near as selfish as she seems.
7 Felix Always Supports His Temperamental Wife
Pepa’s husband, Felix is as cheerful as she is temperamental. He supports his wife in everything, providing a much-needed anchor for her turbulent emotions. Despite this, he seems disapproving when Abuela attempts to control Pepa and constantly enforce perfection.
As he marries into the family, he doesn’t have powers of his own, but he doesn’t seem troubled by it. Maybe his magical gift is being the life of the party and always having a smile for everyone.
6 Camilo’s Mischief-Making Provides Enjoyable Light-Hearted Moments
Pepa and Felix’s son, Camilo is a true trickster. His shape-shifting skill allows him to pull pranks on his family, but he is never cruel in his mischief. His unpredictable humor provides plenty of enjoyable light-hearted moments.
But he can also be serious when he has to be, and he is supportive of his mother when she struggles with her anxiety. His character is also more complex than he seems, as his gift actually makes him struggle with identity issues.
5 Julieta And Agustin Support Their Daughter In The Face Of Adversity
It’s not unusual for children who are different to be spurned by their parents. While Mirabel experiences something similar from her grandmother, the same thing cannot be said about her mother Julieta and her father Agustin.
Gifted with the power to heal through the food she makes, Julieta considers her daughter as special as everyone in the family, if not more so. Agustin understands Mirabel’s position, as he has occasionally felt like an outsider in the family too. Despite being occasionally clumsy, he does his utmost to protect his daughter and shield her from Abuela’s emotional abuse. Agustin and Julieta truly love Mirabel and it shows.
4 Antonio’s Loyalty To Mirabel Is Particularly Admirable
The youngest member of the family, Antonio has an admirable bond with Mirabel. At the beginning of the movie, it is his turn to receive his gift. Despite feeling the pressure of fulfilling the family’s expectations, Antonio confesses that a part of him would prefer to not have a gift at all so that he can remain by Mirabel’s side.
During his ceremony, he is so nervous he asks for Mirabel’s presence, and she gives it despite the visible disapproval of her grandmother. Antonio is later among those who support Mirabel in her quest to save the family magic.
3 Luisa’s Strength And Reliability Make Her The Pillar Of The Family
Mirabel’s middle sister, Luisa is the pillar that supports the community in the Encanto. Her super-strength can only be matched by her reliability, and she is determined to fulfill her tasks no matter what. Unfortunately, she has so many things on her plate that she feels herself crumbling under the pressure.
While she displays a dose of silent resentment and hidden anger for everything she has to do, she never seems to blame Mirabel like Isabela does. On the contrary, she is happy to guide Mirabel in the right direction. While it may be in part because of her own fears, she displays genuine trust and affection for her sister. Her overall character ranks her as one of the most likable people in the movie.
2 Mirabel’s Determination And Courage Save The Family Magic
The protagonist of the movie, Mirabel struggles with deep feelings of insecurity due to not having any powers of her own. She tries to put up a brave face and pretend it doesn’t bother her, but after her family accidentally excludes her from a photo, she takes a huge emotional blow. Even so, she perseveres, determined to prove her worth. She tracks down her missing uncle Bruno and fixes her relationship with her sister Isabela.
When her grandmother sees her and Isabela together, the two have a terrible argument, and Mirabel’s outburst is incredibly relatable and a long time coming. But when the fight leads to the destruction of the sentient home of the Madrigals, the casita, Mirabel risks her life to attempt to save the family magic. In the end, the candle is still extinguished, but she and her grandmother make amends. It is through Mirabel that the Madrigals eventually regain their powers and their home.
1 Bruno’s Devotion To His Family And Tragic Background Easily Win Fans Over
The focus of the infamous song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Tio Bruna is perceived as an ill omen due to his gift. He tends to see negative events, leading both his family and the townsfolk to ostracize him. When one of his visions includes Mirabel, he chooses to withdraw within the walls of the casita, rather than risk exposing her to the same treatment.
He clearly misses his family very much, but it is only when Mirabel asks for his help that he risks returning. He even confronts his mother to defend Mirabel, willing to risk her disapproval but not to leave Mirabel in the same situation. If there’s one thing about Encanto that is unsatisfying, it’s that the Madrigals never properly apologize to the likable Bruno for their mistreatment.