The newest offering on Disney’s list of animated movies, Encanto has won Disney fans over with its colorful setting of magical realism that honors its Colombian background. Its remarkable songs are just as iconic as Frozen’s "Let It Go," and its protagonist is charming and empathetic.
However, despite the numerous qualities the movie possesses and its enchanting magical themes, Encanto contains a darker plot thread. The storyline revolves around the Madrigal family and their inner dispute, and at the center of the conflict lies Abuela Alma, the family matriarch. This character first founded the Encanto settlement and always disapproves of the protagonist, her grandaughter Mirabel. Encanto may not have a villain but, to many, Abuela comes awfully close.
10 She Teaches The Children To Always Make The Family Proud
In the very first sequence of the movie, Abuela is shown telling the young Mirabel the story of the Encanto and how it was founded. She reveals that she was granted the gift of the family miracle after the death of her husband Pedro, and that miracle has been protecting them ever since.
Mirabel is now at the age where she can receive her own ability, and Abuela tells her to make her family proud and use her power to strengthen their community. The words seem harmless at the time, but in reality, they already suggest the weight of the family’s expectations. Abuela is projecting her own insecurities and desperation onto the children, who are much too young to carry her burdens.
9 She Promotes An Image Of Perfection They Must All Uphold
As the creator of the Encanto, Abuela Alma is the pillar of the community inside the magical settlement. As a result, she feels the need to promote an image of perfection within her own family. The Madrigals lead by example, and they always have to be the role models for the community.
Mistakes or inadequacies are always frowned upon. Mirabel is, of course, the perfect example. She fails to manifest a gift, and as a result, she's a constant target of Alma’s disapproval, never good enough despite her best efforts. This may be why, at the beginning of the movie, the townsfolk seem unaware that Mirabel has no gift (although they certainly should have known about it).
8 She Perpetuates Family Conflict Instead Of Stopping It
As the oldest member of the family, Alma is supposed to be the wisest. However, she doesn’t always prove it. Tempers can run high in the family, but she doesn’t really seem to try to put a stop to long-running conflicts. The best example is Pepa’s anger at her brother Bruno. Alma’s middle daughter, Pepa, is gifted with the power to influence the weather.
She's encouraged by Abuela to control her emotions as they can cause significant disturbances. But on her wedding day, Pepa loses her hold on her powers following a misunderstanding with her younger brother. Pepa blames Bruno for the incident and Alma never reasons with her, leaving Bruno to shoulder the blame.
7 She Puts Too Much Pressure On Luisa
Mirabel’s older sister, Luisa receives the gift of super-strength. Because of this, she's expected to be the pillar of both her family and her community. Following a conversation with Mirabel, Luisa confesses that she feels herself crumbling under all the pressure. By her own admittance, it's partly because she takes on too many tasks.
But this isn’t a problem that stems from Luisa alone. It's Abuela who always pushes her family members to do better and be stronger, and Luisa—who embodies the very concept of strength—feels like any failure challenges her sense of identity. She must always try as hard as she can and shoulder all the family burdens because, if she doesn’t, her existence lacks meaning.
6 She Fails To Reassure Her Family And Makes Them Doubt Their Self-Worth
In the aftermath of Mirabel’s failed gift ceremony, Abuela’s concern over the family magic leaves marks on everyone. Antonio, the youngest member of the family, is visibly nervous when facing his own ceremony. The only one who seems to have actually provided him with reassurance is Mirabel, as he cannot bring himself to face his own door without her by his side.
Mirabel agrees to help him, but even then, Abuela looks on disapprovingly. Not only does she make her family doubt their self-worth, but she isn’t even appreciative when her family members support each other.
5 She Insults Isabela’s True Nature And Doesn't Recognize Her Reconciliation With Mirabel
After a vision from Bruno, Mirabel is convinced that she has to reconcile with her older sister, Isabela, to protect the family miracle. Their conversation has an unexpected side-effect, as Isabela’s angry response frees her from the burden of her imposed perfection. She reveals that she was only marrying her fiance for her family and finds happiness in creating plants others might consider imperfect.
Abuela witnesses the change in Isabela’s character and is furious. Her demeanor insults Isabela’s true nature, suffocating her epiphany. When Mirabel attempts to protect her sister and explain, Abuela claims that Mirabel is ruining the family because of her jealousy.
4 She Ignores Mirabel’s Warnings Then Blames Her For The Casita’s Destruction
During the celebration that marks Antonio receiving his gift, Mirabel is accidentally left out of a family picture. In the aftermath, she receives a vision of the casita crumbling. She rushes to warn her family, but her Abuela refuses to believe her and tells the onlookers she has simply drunk too much.
When the damage to the house becomes impossible to miss, Abuela blames the cracks in the foundation on Mirabel. Mirabel finally confronts her grandmother about her actions. She points out that she has never been good enough for Abuela, and if the family magic is dying, it’s because of the matriarch. In the aftermath of their argument, the casita crumbles, and the Encanto is broken.
3 She Ostracizes Her Own Son For His Gift
Abuela’s third child, Mirabel's Tio Bruno, is gifted with the power of seeing the future. But his premonitions often contain bad news for the people involved, and he is ostracized as a result. His mother apparently does nothing to stop this and may have actually encouraged it. The pronounced feeling of rejection stands out particularly in the song, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”
For much of the movie, it's speculated that Bruno left the Encanto. However, it's later revealed that he's still inside the casita, living within its walls. He makes this choice after having a vision of Mirabel and fearing the consequences it will have on her life. He isn’t wrong, as is evidenced by Mirabel’s later fate. After the house crumbles, Bruno rushes to confront his mother and explains he was the one who gave Mirabel his vision, yet again trying to protect her. He and his mother reconcile, as by then, Alma has realized her mistakes.
2 She Turns Both Bruno And Mirabel Into Black Sheep
Bruno has a lot in common with Mirabel: they are both the family's black sheep and scapegoats. Individuals in this situation suffer from feelings of loneliness, depression, and inadequacy. Psychologically, this is incredibly damaging.
Mirabel practically risks her life trying to prove that she has worth. Bruno is an even sadder case, and a sequence in the movie suggests that he may suffer from real mental health issues. The two characters' problems stem from Abuela’s influence and her inability to truly value them.
1 She Protects The Family Miracle Instead Of The Individuals
The true core of Abuela’s character lies in her personal grief. When she and Mirabel make amends, she reveals the full extent of her tragic tale. The loss of her husband Pedro scarred her so deeply that her grief created the family miracle, and through it, the Encanto. She was never able to let go of that grief, which is why she so desperately forced her family to fall in line with her expectations.
Abuela protected the family miracle created through Pedro’s death instead of thinking about the individuals she was hurting through her actions. She eventually understands that what she did was wrong, and her secret pain makes her a tragic character in her own right. However, the reconciliation of the family doesn’t magically erase Bruno and Mirabel’s pain. The movie ends with an optimistic message, but some viewers feel like this is forced. One doesn’t necessarily have to forgive toxic family members, even if they regret their mistakes.