Colombia has more than 3,600 butterfly species (the most in the world), so the average viewer may not realize that the yellow butterflies that swarm through Disney's enchanting animated movie Encanto were inspired by author Gabriel García Márquez's frequent use of yellow butterflies as a symbol of love, hope, and peace ...
Butterflies are associated with transformation and hope, and in some cultures, they are a symbol of rebirth and resurrection, which all apply to the Madrigals' story, as they saw their family and house crumble and had to rebuild not only their house but also their relationship.
Butterfly designs are featured within the casita, including on the walls of the kitchen, the main hall, and the nursery, possibly to allude to how the home serves as the Madrigals' protective cocoon. But I think they also function to foreshadow how the family undergoes transformation with each other and their home.
Butterflies represent change, rebirth, and also good fortune. Everyone in the film changed in some way, and for the better. The butterflies in Encanto are also a nod to the book One Hundred Years of Solitude by García Márquez, which Encanto shares many similarities with, notably the yellow butterflies.
As masters of metamorphosis, butterflies are significant symbols of transformation, freedom, and rebirth. These winged creatures have long been viewed as otherworldly messengers and heralds of good fortune and joy.
Sebastián Yatra - Two Oruguitas (From "Encanto"/Lyric Video)
What do butterflies symbolize in Japan?
In Japanese culture, butterflies carry a number of meanings but are most closely associated with the symbolism of metamorphosis and transformation. They are closely linked with recently departed spirits and consequently are represented in a number of traditional family crests.
The Christian religion sees the butterfly as a symbol of resurrection. Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope, and life.
She's got butterflies because she doesn't know what her gift is going to be yet.” Castro's explanation of the symbolic representation behind Mirabel's butterflies is incredibly spiritual in nature - as it stands for the metamorphosis, the renewal, the hesitant wind behind a butterfly taking its first flight.
The movie, as colorful and humorous as it is, covers intergenerational trauma, a prominent issue today. Intergenerational trauma is passed down by generations when a traumatic event affects multiple family members, or a culture, according to the American Psychological Association.
The candle represent's the couple's love for each other, so the object makes sense as a vessel for the miracle. The magic also creates a butterfly image on the candle, which is an image that represents Pedro. The pair were both looking at a butterfly and holding candles when they first noticed each other.
Beyond the ideas presented in the theory, Encanto associates Pedro with butterfly symbolism throughout the film. A butterfly appears when Alma first meets him, there are butterflies in his portrait in the house, and there are butterflies on the Madrigals' magical candle.
While there are theories about Mirabel's hidden gift, the movie emphasizes that her intelligence and problem-solving abilities are her true gift. She doesn't need external magic to make a difference. The focus of Encanto is on self-acceptance and finding one's true purpose.
Disney's Encanto, which tells the story of the magical Madrigals, doesn't have a bad guy, but one theory speculates that Dolores was the secret villain all along. Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) is the only Madrigal family member in Encanto who doesn't get a magical gift.
The characters and gifts of Encanto were built upon family archetypes; Isabela represents that of the golden child. According to Bush, the archetypes made the gifts feel more reasonable, being prescribed by emotions and personality.
Isabela likely envied Mirabel for living without the burden of family expectations, and Mirabel envied Isabela for being the supposedly perfect Madrigal that everyone loved. Each could've helped each other with their problems, but neither took the time to see what they were going through.
The ending reveals Mirabel's true gift: the miracle itself. She keeps her family's gifts alive and helps them flourish despite not having tangible powers. When she helps Isabela accept herself, the cracks in Casita heal and her sister discovers new abilities.
In addition to the violent scenes and scary visual images mentioned above, Encanto has some scenes that could scare or disturb children aged 5-8 years. For example, Mirabel is nearly killed when her uncle's room collapses around her, trapping her in a dark cave filled with flowing sand and falling debris.
Mirabel was convinced that Bruno's vision predicted her destiny would either destroy her family's miracle or save it. In reality, it did both. After witnessing Bruno's vision, Mirabel was wrongfully convinced that her destiny involved either destroying her family's miracle or saving it for the duration of Encanto.
Encanto is a great way to begin talking to your children about mental health. Hiers, a mother herself, said she wants her kids to understand that while mental health can sometimes be invisible, it's extremely important to understand.
Thus, Abuela treats Mirabel harshly because she treats herself harshly. She puts an undue amount of pressure on herself to keep the family going in times of crisis by performing the role of a strong figurehead, trying to overcompensate with a sense of power and control because she had none over her husband's death.
According to the theory, Mirabel sabotaged her own gift accidentally during her ceremony. After touching a magical candle, Mirabel wipes her hands on her clothes, and fans speculated that this was the reason the young Madrigal didn't get powers. One of the Encanto directors recently debunked the Mirabel theory.
In many cultures, these delicate insects represent transformation, freedom, and new life. Think about it—they start as tiny caterpillars, cocoon themselves, and emerge as stunning butterflies. They're a symbol of life's cycles, hope, and the soul's rebirth. People also often connect butterflies with mental health.
But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning.
In spirituality, butterflies often represent change, transformation, hope, and your inner self. A loved one, angel, or spirit guide may be trying to send you a message of hope or peace if a butterfly lands on you. Butterflies could gravitate to you if you have a kind, compassionate, and/or imaginative spirit.
