Encanto is a film that has made many fans laugh and cry since its release on Disney+ in November 2021. The film embodies everything needed for a successful animated picture these days and has only multiplied with the amazing musical numbers showcased in the film.
The film has had some amazing and sad moments that pulled at viewers’ heartstrings, however, this only makes the film that much better. Encanto is not only a comedy but also discusses real issues in many families that make the film relatable to many fans and viewers.
Desperate Need For Perfection
Perfection is the absence of flaws and without fault, and the matriarch of the Madrigal family, Abuela is constantly making sure that the family exemplifies perfection. When the Madrigal house begins to show signs of losing its magic and falling apart, Abuela dismisses that anything is wrong.
Her need to showcase to the town that everything is okay, and she has things under control is her way of keeping the facade of perfection intact. This desperate need for things to go her way leads Abuela to say some terrible things to Mirabel. No one’s perfect, however, Abuela is determined to risk losing her grandkids to make sure that perfection is all that the Madrigal family is.
Unnecessary Pressure On Kids
Every person of the Madrigal bloodline has special gifts, aside from Maribel, that give way to unfathomable pressure being placed on them to be great and “help the family”. This pressure has led to some sad scenes taking place in Encanto that left fans’ hearts aching for the Madrigal kids. From Luisa’s super strength that has her carrying the weight of the family in her daily chores, Isabella and her penchant for making things beautiful and being perfect 24/7, and Mirabel who was tasked to staying out of the way of her family and being pushed aside, the Madrigal kids have so much pressure on them to be great and be of service to the family and town.
The blame lies not only with Abuela, but also the kid’s parents who are privy to the pressure as well, however, they do nothing to change things. The kids are asked to present a perfect image, and this comes at the detriment of their mental health. Because of these pressures, Luisa suffers from anxiety of letting the family down, Isabella suffers anxiety of not being perfect, and Mirabel constantly faces the backlash of not being good enough to be a part of the family.
Shunning Of The Family’s Black Sheep
Throughout familial history and movies, there has been this notion of “the black sheep” of the family. These individuals were/are portrayed as the screw-ups and unreliable of the family. In Encanto, the “black sheep” of the family is Bruno Madrigal. In the eyes of the family, Bruno only brought about dark days and bad news with his visions.
His visions were regarded as bad for the family and in no way good for the progressing of the family and town. For Bruno, being a burden to his family is not something he could handle, so he removed himself from the family, going into hiding in a secret part of the Madrigal house.
Generational Trauma Being Passed Down
Abuela is the matriarch in the Madrigal family tree and the woman of the house. She has been through so much in her life, and because of her tragic past, her trauma has seeped its way into the Madrigal family. Abuela’s trauma of losing her husband and having to flee her home has been a driving force in her controlling nature when it comes to the family’s magic. There have been some popular opinions, and some unpopular opinions formed about Abuela that take into account all the actions she’s taken in the animated film.
Abuela’s top priority of keeping the family magic intact and the family home running smoothly became her number one priority and more important than understanding her family and the things that truly matter. With all of her control and push for perfection, Abuela never gave herself a chance to grieve all that she lost, her trauma becoming the reason the Madrigal family would lose everything. In essence, she was the reason for the family’s decaying structure from the inside and outside. Her constant dismissal of Mirabel and using her family’s gifts as a currency of sorts, Abuela fueled the breakdown of her family without even realizing it.
Mistreatment Of Mirabel Because Of Her Differences
The only member of her family to not receive a special door and magic, Mirabel was treated as a nuisance by her family, especially her Abuela. In Abuela’s mind, Mirabel brought nothing but chaos and destruction to the family, and she made this known every time something went wrong. However, Mirabel always made it her mission to assist and be of help to the family in any way she could.
Her resilience to be there for her family, even through the mistreatment, makes Mirabel one of the most likable characters in the film. Although she receives the treatment she does from Abuela and with no assistance from her other family members, this doesn’t diminish Mirabel’s love for her family.
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