It’s not unusual for Disney animated films to include thought-provoking themes. While some movies may prefer to exclude elements that are too sad, others delve into deep emotional conflicts that can bring the viewer to tears. The most recent Disney release, Encanto, falls somewhere in between.
The movie has no real antagonist and instead centers on the internal struggles of the Madrigals – a magical family living in a settlement called the Encanto. The colorful setting and beautiful music immediately draw the eye of any Disney fan, making some of them wish they'd been born into the family. However, while there are plenty of perks to living as a Madrigal, there are also a lot of harsh realities.
10 PERK: The Madrigals Live In The Magically-Protected Encanto
The movie takes place in a magically-protected settlement hidden in the mountains of Colombia. The Encanto is surrounded by tall peaks that keep any potentially hostile force at bay. Although the power fueling the house's magic is never fully explained; nevertheless, it allows the people of the Encanto to thrive – independent and free of anyone who might want to cause them harm. Considering the fact that Colombian history is full of turmoil, the safety it provides is nothing to be laughed at.
9 HARSH REALITY: The Cost Of The Encanto Was Pedro Madrigal’s Life
The basic premise of the movie draws its inspiration from a very real problem – that of Colombian displacement. Countless people have been forced out of their communities by internal armed conflicts, land disputes, and violence they can’t stop. Encanto illustrates this theme through the heart-wrenching origin of the settlement’s magic.
The matriarch of the family, Alma Madrigal, and her husband, Pedro, are chased out of their home when their children are only babies. Pedro is killed while trying to convince their attackers to let them go. Alma’s grief upon witnessing Pedro’s death is the source of the family miracle. The cost of the Encanto is her pain and the life of her husband.
8 PERK: Most Madrigal Family Members Receive A Magical Gift
The miracle that creates the Encanto comes with added benefits. Upon reaching a certain age, the members of the family are granted magical powers. For example, Alma’s daughter Julieta can heal people with a meal, whereas Pepa can affect the weather with her mood. Their children are similarly skilled, each with a magical talent that is unique to them.
Julieta’s oldest daughters, Isabela and Luisa are gifted with the ability to conjure flowers and superstrength respectively. Pepa’s daughter, Dolores has enhanced hearing, while her son, Camilo can shape-shift into anyone. The youngest member of the family (Pepa’s youngest child), Antonio can talk to animals.
7 HARSH REALITY: Those Who Lack Magical Powers Can Feel Excluded
While many members of the family are gifted in magic, others aren’t so lucky. The first example refers to Julieta's and Pepa’s husbands. Felix and Agustin lack magical powers of their own, and Agustin confesses that he sometimes feels that he doesn’t belong because he's different.
However, the problem is exacerbated in Agustin and Julieta’s youngest daughter, Mirabel. For unknown reasons, she doesn’t manifest a gift at all. While she tries to be upbeat about it, she suffers from the subtle disapproval of her grandmother. She feels like she can never be good enough, no matter how hard she tries, and her feelings of insecurity are just one of the problems of being a part of the Madrigal family.
6 PERK: The Unique Skills Of The Madrigals Assist Their Community
Since Alma Madrigal managed to create the Encanto, the family has become the pillar of their community. Using their unique skills, they assist the other townsfolk. They are highly respected, with everyone turning to them for advice and assistance. The help the family offers to its fellows is important, particularly to Alma Madrigal, who doesn’t wish for anyone to suffer losses ever again.
5 HARSH REALITY: Many Members Of The Family Feel Pressured By The High Expectations
While the members of the family are all admired for the contributions they provide to the community, it doesn’t come without a price. Alma Madrigal always tells the youngsters to make the family proud, but that just makes them feel pressured. Luisa struggles under the weight of high expectations and the burdens she feels she has to carry. Her numerous tasks threaten to crush her, and the problem is made worse when she begins to lose her gift.
Meanwhile, Isabela – the golden child of the family – forces herself to embrace the perfect image they have of her. She agrees to marry a man she doesn’t love for their sake, and it's only after an outburst of temper – in a conversation with Mirabel – that she realizes she can be so much more.
4 PERK: The Family Includes Very Tight-Knit Bonds Of Affection
Not every member of the Madrigals sees eye to eye with each other, but some have very tight-knit bonds. Mirabel is very close to her cousin, Antonio, and despite the fact that she doesn’t receive a gift of her own, she cheers for him and is encourages his success.
Mirabel’s parents love her and see her as special even though she's different. The relationship between Mirabel and her mother Julieta is particularly heartwarming. The married couples visibly love each other very much, and there is an underlining feeling of togetherness, which is the strongest point of the Madrigals.
3 HARSH REALITY: Some Members Are Villainized Because Of Their Power
Even in the closest families, there are exceptions to every rule. While Mirabel draws the short end of the stick by not receiving a gift, the first person to be excluded from the family is actually her uncle, Bruno. His magical ability allows him to see the future, but his premonitions tend to be ominous.
As a result, he's ostracized both by his relatives and the community. For much of the movie, most of the family believes he's fled the Encanto. In reality, he decides to retreat within the walls of the family home after having a vision of Mirabel. He believed that his vision would brand Mirabel as an omen of misfortune – and he wasn’t wrong in fearing his family’s reaction.
2 PERK: They Live In A Sentient House That Is Their Close Companion
While the magical powers of the Madrigals are interesting, one of the best parts of living as a Madrigal is actually their house. They live in a sentient home they call the ‘casita’ (Spanish for ‘small house’), and the structure is practically a character in its own right.
It reacts in specific ways to events, answers questions using floor tiles, and even seems to have a personality. For Mirabel, who often feels alone, the casita is a close companion, but it is just as welcoming for the other Madrigals.
1 HARSH REALITY: The Casita And The Encanto Are Destroyed As A Result Of A Dispute
While the magic around the settlement is powerful, the candle that powers it can be snuffed out. The brewing conflict in the family – from Bruno’s exclusion to Abuela’s disapproval of Mirabel – eventually leads to a massive argument between Alma and her granddaughter. In the aftermath, the casita is destroyed and the protection around the Encanto falls. Mirabel is almost crushed under the debris, and it's only a final effort from the casita that saves her.
Eventually, Alma and Mirabel make amends, with Alma understanding her mistakes and Tio Bruno being properly accepted into the family. By the end, the family starts over, rebuilding their home with the help of the townsfolk and regaining their magic. But while the happy ending of the movie is heartwarming, viewers have to wonder whether some of their issues were actually dealt with. The way Bruno was treated will leave a wound that's doubtlessly hard to heal, and he likely wouldn't have rejoined the family had the magic not disappeared. In a regular family without magical powers, people like Bruno or Mirabel would forever be outcasts. Alma's behavior is explained through her grief, and the viewers can certainly empathize with her, but her actions will still leave a heavy mark, and forgiveness doesn't always come so quickly.