In firmly establishing a connection between Abuela's love and the candle's magic, the director reveals that the miracle's later waning is not a reflection of the pain the Madrigals experience as a result of trying to live up to an impossibly perfect family image, but rather an indication that Abuela's love is now ...
Throughout the movie, the Madrigals have to learn to value each other for themselves, rather than solely for their gifts. Due to this, Luisa's powers begin weakening in response to the extent of others' expectations of her as well as because of her own doubt about her worth within the family.
Casita was destroyed after an argument between Abuela and Mirabel, in which Abuela blamed Mirabel for all the family's misfortunes because she doesn't have a gift, and along with Casita's destruction, the candle was extinguished, leaving the Madrigals powerless.
The film makes it clear that the children touch the candle, then touch the doorknob and receive their gift. When Mirabel went through this ceremony, she touched the candle, but when she grabbed the knob, the door disappeared. This would suggest that for some reason the magic didn't work for her.
Even though Mirabel was able to do so as the two sisters hugging in front of the candle made it burn brighter while the cracks begin to disappear (and fulfilling Bruno's vision), the heated argument between Mirabel and Alma caused the candle to become in danger again.
Mirabel does not possess magical gifts like the other Madrigals, rather she is the embodiment of the candle. In other words, Mirabel has the power of the miracle in the candle.
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. She doesn't need external magic to make a difference.
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.
Though Encanto doesn't have a traditional villain, one theory states Dolores could be the film's secret antagonist. According to the fan theory (via Reddit), Dolores wants her family to lose their powers. After all, the gift of super hearing isn't necessarily as helpful as increased strength or instant plant life.
Not giving Mirabel a gift was Casita's way to “punish” Abuela, forcing her to reflect on what she had done to her family. At the same time, as Casita also loved the family, it didn't leave Mirabel entirely powerless, and it gave her its own magic, allowing her to communicate with Casita.
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.
Lastly, there's Mirabel's door. We're led to believe that it dissolved when Mirabel was a little girl because she was denied a gift. Every other person in her family got to open their door, receive their gift, and get a gigantic magical room that's the stuff of dreams.
Abuela treasures the ceremony in which the future generations get their gift, and when Mirabel doesn't receive one, she becomes cold towards her, despite not overtly having a gift herself. She is also harsh on other members of the Madrigal family, but Mirabel becomes distinctively left out.
Dolores' active role in undermining her family makes her the true villain of Encanto. Thus, the ending of the film is bittersweet. We see Dolores' plans fail and the family's gifts restored, but her actions do ultimately reward her with Mariano, meaning that her vile deeds do not go unrewarded.
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.
Viewers have shared a theory claiming there's a reason behind this particular shapeshift. Dolores may have known about Bruno and taken him food, so she constantly got second helpings for her uncle. If that's the case, it makes sense that Camilo turned into his sister to get more food.
Producer Peter Del Vecho said that in an early draft, Elsa was written as an evil villain, while Anna was an innocent heroine. The final act made Hans the true villain and involved him triggering a huge avalanche that puts Arendelle in danger, resulting in Anna seeking Elsa's help.
One fan proposed that the etching of her looks sad, and that it might be because she doesn't like her gift. However, during a Q&A, Bush states it was intended as a look of contentment and peace, the result of no longer having to be on high-alert in the new, Maribel-led household.
After a young Mirabel did not get a gift on the night of her gift ceremony, Abuela worried about the family's magic and asked Bruno to see what the future showed. He had a vision with two possible outcomes: Mirabel in front of Casa Madrigal, one with the house intact and the other with the house breaking.
After all, Mirabel was the only member of the family who could see the cracks in Casita because the damage was revealed to her in ways that none of the others could see, even with their more obvious magical gifts. It appeared that, Abuela Alma and Bruno were also aware of the threat to the Madrigal's miracle.
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.
The Encanto theory about Mirabel also recalls how the pair have similar looks, which is evident when the film focuses on Pedro's portrait when the Casita cracks. There's enough evidence to make a case for Mirabel being the reincarnation of Pedro.
Isabela is introduced in Encanto as an effortlessly perfect character. In Mirabel's words, she's never even had a bad hair day before. It's not until the two sisters finally have a heart-to-heart talk that Isabela finally reveals her big secret: that her perfection is painstakingly practiced.
