Encantois the latest animated hit fromDisney, which has already become the subject of vast acclaim. The animated film and its soundtrack have already managed to shatter records previously set byFrozen, adding to its impressive accolades. Despite premiering in November 2021,Encantomanaged to become the highest-grossing animated film of the year, beating out fellowDisneyfilm,Raya and the Last Dragon. Its charming story of family, self-confidence and forgiveness carry the narrative. However, these light-hearted themes are also joined by darker themes of trauma, ostracization, and the often bitter reality of immigration.
Encantofollows the Madrigal family who have all received a magical gift, which they use to help their small Columbian community. Their family home is just as magical, assisting the Madrigals with their own powerswhile containing the forbidden secretsfor others. Of the massive family that resides in the Madrigal home,Encantofocuses mainly on Mirabel and the audience learns of the family through her eyes and the interactions she shares with them. Mirabel is a notable standout within the Madrigal family, as she is the only member of her family that did not receive a magical gift.
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Without a gift, Mirabel is the notable outcast of the Madrigal family. Some members of her family openly treat her differently becauseshe does not have a gift, while others attempt to make her feel overly loved in spite of it. As if to further prove her imperfection in the eyes of her family, Mirabel is also the only member of her family (except for her father who married into the magical family) that wears glasses. This small addition to her character is purposeful, serving as a physical reminder of the magic she lacks in comparison to the rest of the Madrigals. As important as it is tonote that Mirabel has glasses, the color of her glasses is even more significant.
Mirabel is not the first member of the Madrigal family to be treated differently, as her Uncle Bruno vanished many years prior to the events ofEncanto. Unlike Mirabel, Bruno was treated differently because of the gift he had, not his lack of one. Bruno has the ability to see into the future and many people took issue with the visions he would have about their futures. He had no control over what he saw but as the messenger, received the blame when they were unhappy (a classic shoot the messenger situation). This is highlighted perfectly inthe record-shattering song, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,“which recently hit the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Bruno’s sister, Pepa, her husband Félix, and their children Dolores and Camilo sing about Bruno and why the family never discusses him. A few of the townspeople join in, singing of the unfortunate visions he had of their futures that came to pass.
In the song, Camilo, who can shapeshift, transforms into Bruno. Through Camilo’s performance as his uncle, Bruno is seen in a green poncho with faint hourglasses printed on the fabric. All the members of the Madrigal family wear outfits that reference their gifts. For Bruno, this is in the color of the poncho as well as the time emblems on it. When Bruno is in the process of seeing a vision, his eyes shinea vibrant shade of greenand the images of his visions are a matching shade. The poncho reflects these gifts while also making it clear that green is the focal color of Bruno’s character.
Bruno isn’t the only character who wears green, as it is also the color of Mirabel’s glasses. Her spectacles are a lime shade of green, which gives her a subtle tie to her uncle. Both Bruno and Mirabelare outcasts within the familyMadrigal in their own ways. For Mirabel, it is because she doesn’t have a gift. For Bruno, it is because of the gift that he has. Their qualities force their family members and various townspeople to look at them differently, and it becomes difficult for both of them to bear throughout their lives.
The color green works to unite both Mirabel and Bruno as outcasts of the family. It has both positive and negative connotations that could influence the way the characters are perceived. Typically, green is a color associatedwith growth and even healing, which is what Mirabel and Bruno bring to the family Madrigal by the end. They have ushered in a new era for the family where many members who once relied on their gifts now realize that they are much more than that. Isabela is no longer restricted by her family’s idealized perfection and Luisa has learned that she is more than her strength. Abuela reflects on her choices over the last few years and realizes that she may have been too harsh to some members of the family in her effort to protect what they have. The Madrigals have grown closer because of Mirabel and Bruno.
Green may also be associated with a more negative concept, such as envy. Bruno and Mirabel’s ownuse of the color greencould suggest that they are envious of their family members who are appreciated and adored more than they are. For Mirabel, it could be jealousy because she does not have a gift. For Bruno, it might be how others view his gift in comparison to others in his family. The envy could also be a reflection of the way their family members view them. Given Isabela’s disdain for having to be perfect all the time, she could resent that Mirabel doesn’t have to worry about keeping up an image in the way that she does. Similarly, Luisa feelsconfined within her gift of strengthand could loathe the freedom Mirabel has.
Mirabel’s glasses not only make her stand out amongst her family but are used to tie her to her uncle, who was also ostracized from the Madrigals. Both Mirabel and Bruno prove their worth by the end and help the family realize that while they possess a miracle, that is not all that they are.
