It's not exactly a hidden message, but the film is about relationships within families, and the relationship between individual members of a family and their preconceptions about the family as a whole.
But surprisingly less attention has been given to what seems to be the key message of the movie: people do not need to be special to deserve love, security, and ultimately, rights. Through song, “Encanto” quietly teaches a powerful lesson about the flaws of U.S. immigration policy.
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.
What does encanto mean in Spanish? First, the noun encanto in Spanish means “charm.” A small town with beautiful historical buildings might be full of charm and could be described as an encanto. This means the unique town and people in Disney's Encanto are an encanto.
While investigating the damages to the Madrigal's home and magic, Mirabel comes across a very well-kept secret: it turns out that Bruno never went away, he simply moved into the crawlspace behind the walls. He's been living for years with just the rats to keep him company.
ENCANTO's Shocking ALTERNATE ENDINGS You Never Got To See!
What mental illness does Bruno Encanto have?
The character appears to symbolize the stigma around mental health issues: While he is never labeled with a specific diagnosis in the film, some viewers have suggested that he has OCD or another type of neurodivergent brain function.
Mirabel's lack of a magical gift in Encanto doesn't define her worth or importance. She becomes the gift herself by bringing her family together and restoring Casita's magic. While there are theories about Mirabel's hidden gift, the movie emphasizes that her intelligence and problem-solving abilities are her true gift.
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.
In short, Agustín actually meant to say the Spanish curse word “mierda,” which translates to “s—t” in English. But he refrained from doing so and instead said “Wednesday.” According to #Encanto Twitter, this is a common practice in the Colombian community as a way to avoid profanity around children.
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.
Does Mirabel get a gift by the end of Encanto, however? 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.
The yellow butterflies in Bruno's vision and when Abuela and Mirabel embrace at the end of Encanto also have their own meaning, as these are seen as a symbol of happiness and imagination, serving as a good omen for the Madrigals.
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.
As for Mirabel not getting a door during her ceremony, it;s widely acknowledged that Mirabel's “power” is as the guardian of the family's magic itself and Mirabel being Abuela's successor, so instead of getting her own room and door, Casita's front door became Mirabel's.
Though Dolores seems to hear Bruno living behind the house's walls, there's a reason she doesn't speak up about it. Dolores's super hearing lets her in on all the secrets in the town, and she even admits in "We Don't Talk About Bruno" that she believes she hears Bruno in the walls of the magical Casita.
Mirabel did not get door because she is supposed to be next Abuela (matriarch and miracle's keeper). Because they would actually have same "gift" and there can be just one Abuela the door disappeared and Mirabel is supposed to replaced Abuela one day.
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.
But in “Encanto,” Latin culture is accurately represented. The film illustrates Colombia as a culturally rich country, with depictions of traditional gastronomical plates and distinct similar architectural styles. “Encanto” challenges the idea that South American countries are dangerous and violent.
The most prominent Spanish words were encanto (charm or enchantment) and casita (house), which the Madrigals called their home. Fittingly, Encanto used many familial terms, such as familia (family), tía (aunt), and Abuela (grandmother).
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.
Julieta can heal people with her cooking; when a hurt or sick person eats food cooked by her, they are healed instantly. She was able to heal Mirabel's wounded hand with an arepa con queso.
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.
Because Bruno has stepped away from the family, the light on his door is dim, indicating that Casita's magic doesn't work in there anymore. Just like any other room, though, it was once enchanted and Bruno's room may serve as a metaphor for the heartbreak he endured trying to protect Mirabel.
According to the filmmakers, patching up the cracks in Casita wasn't enough to fix the deep rifts in the family. Instead, the family and the house had to completely break down to start a new foundation and build stronger familial bonds.
