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.
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.
It is speculated that Abuela and Mirabel's hidden gift is that they have the ability to keep the family's magic going, mirroring each other in this way. By sharing the same concealed magical gift, Mirabel possibly reminds Abuela too much of herself.
The most reasonable explanation for Abuela having her own door (which, is worth noting, glows like any other even though she doesn't have powers) is that the candle and Casita gave it to her because she's the Candle Keeper and “Miracle Guardian”, as was as the leader of the Madrigal family.
Indeed, the reason why Mirabel doesn't get a gift in Encanto is that she already had the brains to take over as the family leader after Abuela Alma. Therefore, the miracle didn't need to give her an additional gift — Mirabel's gift in Encanto is her intellect, which she already possessed before the movie even began.
Film Theory: Yes, Mirabel DOES Have A Gift! (Encanto)
Did Mirabel get a power?
Though Mirabel doesn't get powers, the rest of her family has an assortment of gifts. Mirabel's sister Luisa (Jessica Darrow) has super strength, and her cousin Camilo (Rhenzy Feliz) can shapeshift into other people. Even Mirabel's mysterious Uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo) can predict the future.
Like Mirabel, Abuela lacks a tangible magical ability like super hearing or seeing the future, but rather acts as the glue that holds the rest of the family together. Abuela's magic lies in how she creates an environment for the other Madrigals to flourish and use their gifts for good.
While the release date for Encanto 2 is uncertain, if officially announced, fans can expect a release date of at least 2025 due to production demands. The cast is likely to feature returning voice actors from the first film, including Stephanie Beatriz and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Dolores was gifted with the power of enhanced hearing, which means she can hear everything, even the slightest noise such as an eye twitching. According to Mirabel's song, she can hear a pin drop and a chorus from a mile away.
Though Bush seemed to put the theory that Mirabel sabotaged her gift to rest, the movie may have also debunked it long ago. According to Bush, Mirabel's hand-wiping scene was just a "character specific mannerism." And the movie apparently supports that.
Agustín is Mirabel's dad, the bumbling but well-meaning husband of Julieta (Angie Cepeda) who married into the Mardigal family and, therefore, has no magical gift. Due to being accident-prone, he often needs to be healed quickly, which works well with his wife, whose gift is to heal people with her cooking.
At the end of the film, Abuela Alma even says she asked Pedro for help, and he sent Mirabel to share the burden. Since Mirabel is becoming the family leader, it makes sense that she wouldn't have a gift. After all, Abuela Alma doesn't have a gift either, which doesn't stop her from guiding the family.
Encanto, a movie about the magical Madrigals, doesn't truly have a bad guy, but one theory speculates that Dolores was the villain all along. 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.
To prevent Mirabel from being shunned in the same way he was, Bruno left the family. However, he loved them too much to truly go away, so he stayed hidden in the walls of the house for 10 years, unbeknownst to anyone (except Dolores, who could hear him the whole time and knew he never left).
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.
Mirabel's gift was never meant to manifest, which is why she didn't explicitly receive a gift at the end of Encanto. Rather, Mirabel herself is the gift, and it's thanks to her that the Madrigal family is whole again.
"Mirabel and [Abuela] are the only two people to be able to communicate with the Casita in the movie. This could show some sort of special relationship with the Casita and in turn, the magic in the house," they add.
Mirabel is the new Keeper of the Miracle. She's the new Abuela -- the new head of the family, and the village. In the whole movie, only two characters directly address the Casita: Abuela and Mirabel. It obeys them both.
Among them is the exact reason why the miraculous candle regained its power following Mirabel and Isabela's embrace. The moment happens not long after Mirabel consults Bruno, who reveals a vision of her hugging Isabela in order to strengthen the candle's dying flame.
When Encanto ends, the candle no longer exists, but Mirabel is able to unlock the magic once again by leading the rebuilding of the casita. This practically confirms the idea that she is the new keeper of the miracle. Finally, the butterfly motif present throughout the film connects Mirabel, Abuela and the candle.
Within Encanto then, Dolores' “squeak” means that she is talking about something potentially upsetting or heard information she was not supposed to know. However, Dolores' squeak also has a deeper historical meaning. According to one explanation (via Twitter), gestures have great historical significance in Colombia.
This mainly applies to Mirabel and Abuela, but both Dolores and Bruno have dreams and ideas that go unheard (such as Dolores' love for Mariano, and Bruno's prophecies). The fact that Dolores could hear Bruno all along, then, serves as a significant thematic tie-in.
