In Disney’s animated feature Encanto, Mirabel Madrigal is the only person in her family who wasn’t granted with a magical power by their enchanted candle. The magic stems from a miracle that occurred after Alma Madrigal witnessed the murder of her husband Pedro. Mirabel rescues the candle, but it eventually loses its magic. After Isabelle’s marriage falls through, the family discovers the reason for the fading magic is Mirabel.
The ending of Encanto reveals that Mirabel is gifted the power of the Madrigal’s magic as a whole. The secret to keeping the magic alive is essentially Abuela Alma undergoing forced therapy. In traditional Disney fashion, Encanto does come to a happy ending. Alma Madrigal was the reason the family survived and thrived after her husband Antonio was killed by invading soldiers. However, her fear of losing the magic led her to forget why they were blessed with it in the first place.
A new Encanto theory claims that the Madrigals regaining their abilities has a lot to do with a candle. Alma’s Gift IS the Miracle, and when she lost sight of what was important, it died. Some fans have a theory that Mirabel is the next Madrigal. Abuela tells her that the river where they were given the magic, the “Encanto”, died to protect the family and the forest gave them. It’s later revealed that the candle lost its magic as Alma focused on the mystical gift, losing sight of the family and how they were…
📹 Film Theory: Dolores BROKE The Magic! (Disney Encanto)
Theorists, by now we know who the “secret villain” of Encanto is, right? It’s Abuela. Well, what if we are all WRONG?
Why is Dolores the villain in Encanto?
The fan theory posits that Dolores, despite lacking a conventional antagonist in Encanto, may be the film’s clandestine antagonist. This is based on the premise that she desires her family to lose their powers and that her super hearing is not as advantageous as it initially appears.
What is the deeper meaning of Encanto?
“Encanto” is a film that explores the complexities of deservingness, where gifts fall from the sky without explanation, and people need to work hard and be exceptional to continue to deserve them. The film highlights the sadness and shame of being not gifted, as seen in Mirabel’s frustration and her struggle to prove herself. However, the film also highlights the cracks in the Casita’s foundation, and the family’s shared humanity brings them together.
In the end, Abuela realizes that the lack of a gift is a gift in itself, and the gift was meant to protect the ordinary. Critics argue that the film is not a tool to tear down oppressive aspects of immigration policy or offer alternatives, but it provides a powerful punch against making deservingness the foundation of U. S. immigration policy. Many TPS recipients advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that goes beyond the demoralizing limits of the status, and they should not have to be exceptional to receive rights.
What is the dark story behind Encanto?
Encanto is a film that explores the history of displacement and conflict in Columbia, focusing on Alma and Pedro’s story. Alma and Pedro witness her husband’s death and protect her children, creating a magical barrier against evil. The film grows mountains around the small community, with Casita, the Madrigals’ magical and sentient house, at its center.
With three newborns, Alma and Pedro are forced to flee their hometown due to Spanish persecution. The movie does not go into depth about their persecution, but rather compares it to other forms of war that ravage global society. Encanto suggests finding unity between the global family or risking the destruction of the Casita, Earth.
The film also draws parallels to the ongoing Ukrainian invasion and the massive human displacement of refugees in Syria. Encanto’s filmmakers offer hope to displaced people, standing with the unity of their families and giving the audience the power to remember and remember their stories.
What was killing the magic in Encanto?
Mirabel, heartbroken by her failure to keep a miracle safe, runs away. Alma finds her at the river where the Madrigals were given their miracle. It’s revealed that she and Pedro were holding a candle on their wedding day, which was imbued with the miracle by Pedro’s love for his wife and children after he was killed. Alma saw the miracle as her second chance, but her fear of losing it led to forgetting why they were blessed with it in the first place.
The pain and pressure from forcing the family to be perfect caused the magic to die. However, the magic returned after the Casita was rebuilt by the reconnected family and the town’s people working together. The magic returned to them, born from Mirabel’s love for the family, and the Casita acts as the new vessel, emitting a multi-colored glow. Alma’s posters, wallpapers, and clothes are often depicted holding the magical flamed candle.
Why can’t Dolores keep a secret?
In “When The Karma Kicks In”, Dolores Madrigal is portrayed as a person who has a useless gift that keeps her up at night and exposes her to secrets in the town. This gift is a result of her immigrant family’s trauma, where the matriarch wants to control every aspect of their lives. The siblings love each other but face unequal power dynamics, and Dolores Madrigal is the one person who cannot keep her mouth shut.
Dolores’ gift of superhearing is a major issue, as she bluntly tells neighbor kids that Mirabel has no gift and later spills the beans about Bruno’s prophecy, making Mirabel feel “other”. Her actions later in the movie raise questions about whether they are motivated by good intentions or selfish pettiness. Overall, Encanto effectively portrays the challenges faced by immigrant families and the importance of maintaining a closed mind for survival.
Why can’t Casita help in Bruno’s room?
Encanto is a film that explores the theme of family secrets and the bond between the Madrigals. Casita, a member of the family, is tasked with hiding a secret about Bruno, a member of the Madrigals. Bruno has stepped away from the family, and Casita’s magic no longer works in his room. The room serves as a metaphor for the heartbreak Bruno endured trying to protect Mirabel. Casita is bound by the love for one another and relies on the family’s unity to survive. Casita also doesn’t hesitate to challenge the Madrigals, especially Abuela, when they misbehave.
The film’s theme of family secrets is evident throughout, as Casita helps Bruno hide and live a life of relative safety. One theory suggests that Casita knew exactly when it would die and that its magic wouldn’t be strong enough to carry the Madrigals forever. Casita made the choice to conceal Bruno so that Mirabel could find him and restore the family bond before Casita crumbled.
Casita’s ultimate goal is to protect the Madrigals, and even though she is sometimes absent, there is a greater plan in the works. The family dynamic improves when the Madrigals reveal their secrets, and Casita can only be rebuilt when Bruno rejoins the family and is no longer an outcast. Encanto is not only a fun, whimsical film but also grounded in the honest aspect of difficult family dynamics and the desire to live up to expectations.
Why was the house losing its magic in Encanto?
The musical sequence in the film “All of You” highlights the pressure Luisa feels from Abuela and the entire town, as she has to help others with their problems and has no time to deal with her own affairs. Abuela’s generational trauma stems from the loss of her husband, Pedro, and the forced raising of her three children alone. The magic of Casita, or the “miracle”, appears after this tragic event to help her, but it has taken a toll on Luisa psychologically, making her feel like a muscle rather than a human being who sometimes experiences weakness.
The heavy objects in the “Surface Pressure” sequence symbolize the weight of responsibility Abuela feels she must carry in her family. At a point where the pressure in the family becomes too much, Casita, symbolically falling apart and losing its magic, symbolizes the family’s bond. Abuela’s need to control aspects of her family, including Luisa and the gifts, was due to her fear of losing her family once more and leading to it and Casita falling apart.
Abuela accepts that she has a role in pushing the family’s limits, and she apologizes to Mirabel and addresses her mistakes with everyone in the ending song “All of You”. The song begins with the words “Look at this home, we need a new foundation”, referring to the foundation built when Abuela lost Pedro. The trauma caused her to feel the need to take control of her children and grandchildren’s lives to an extent, and her family respected and loved her.
In the final song, the Madrigals and townspeople gather materials and rebuild Casita from scratch without magic, symbolizing a new, more authentic, and healthier sense of community being created. Abuela and her family can heal, start over, and create a foundation based on unity rather than fear, allowing them to stand on the same ground, with or without powers.
Why didn’t Mirabel get a gift?
The theory suggests that Mirabel’s gift in Encanto is her intellect, which she already possessed before the movie began. This gift is the one that could pave the way for the Madrigals to reunite and fix Casita. Mirabel’s gift is the one superpower that could pave the way for the Madrigals to reunite and fix Casita. However, she doesn’t get a gift ceremony like the others, as she already had the brains to take over as the family leader after Abuela Alma.
This is consistent with Encanto’s overarching theme of processing intergenerational trauma, which emphasizes the importance of intelligent and objective observation and analysis in understanding complex family problems. Casita’s traumatic event pushes Maribel to realize and use her gifted brain. This theory fills significant gaps in the film, as Mirabel’s gift is her intelligent determination, which she had all along. The inclusion of a female trio with beauty, brawn, and brains is a common trope in storytelling, but Encanto twists it by not calling Mirabel the brains.
Why was the magic disappearing in Encanto?
Abuela Alma, a family leader, is dedicated to protecting the Encanto, a community that has been governed by strict rules for generations. However, Mirabel discovers that Alma’s rigid expectations are causing the Encanto to disappear. Mirabel’s destiny is to remind the Madrigal family of the original purpose of the Encanto, and together they rebuild their miracle. Encanto addresses real-world issues faced by families, revealing that the antagonist can be a lack of belief in oneself.
The film explores themes of estranged family members and unrealistic expectations, providing children with a foundation to navigate generational trauma. Encanto also advocates for intergenerational understanding in a time of deep divisions between generations. The film’s incredible animation, masterful songwriting, and timeless message make it an ideal family film for today’s world.
Does the magic come back in Encanto?
The theory suggests that the magic of the casita, which flutters to life with a burst of magic upon placing the doorknob, was transferred to Mirabel, who was the person holding the candle when it extinguished. Mirabel, who didn’t already have a gift, absorbed the magic of the candle until she could transfer it back to the doorknob of the new and improved casita. Only after rebuilding her family with her gift of seeing and loving each Madrigal, can she transfer the magic back to the casita.
Encanto doesn’t provide evidence to support this theory, but the film’s staying power and fan theories continue to generate buzz on the internet. To decide for yourself whether Mirabel absorbed the magic of the candle, Encanto is now streaming on Disney+.
What keeps the magic alive in Encanto?
Encanto is a movie that explores the power of love and support, with Mirabel as the true gift. She keeps her family’s gifts alive and helps them flourish despite not having tangible powers. Mirabel’s power is love and support, and her magical power is the cornerstone of her household. She is the personification of the importance of family unit and staying together. When she opens the new door to Casita, the magic returns, even though the candle is no more.
Mirabel, with the uniting love of her family, empowers everyone. The movie points out Mirabel’s power in lines of dialogue, highlighting the connection between the characters’ names and the magical power they possess. The movie highlights the importance of family unity and the power of love in overcoming challenges and overcoming obstacles.
📹 Encanto Theory: Who Killed Mirabel’s Grandfather? (Abuelo Pedro)
Have a magical day, fun people! #encanto #imaginative.
I think the reason why the casita interacts more with Mirabel is because it’s the spirit of Abuelo Pedro and Mirabel is most like him because she too was willing to sacrifice her life for her family and even while the casita was breaking it still protected her. And in the beginning of the song, The Family Madrigal she says good morning Abuelo and respects the him even though it’s a picture
Also about what you said about there being people alive that still remember that; My grandfather was alive at that time and he couldn’t stop crying even after perusal the scene. I’m only 16 so I haven’t been that involved in the conflict, but while perusal the movie my parents told me that that image of Mirabel under casita’s scraps after it’s destroyed, with ash on her hair, is an image that they’ve seen on the newspapers a thousand times, of little girls getting saved by a ‘miracle’ in landslides. I just love how much effort the Disney team put into making this film, it was something truly powerful for us
I’m Colombian and my grandad told me “never ever discuss politics with anyone, even your friends. People will betray even their own family and friends for the sake of a political party”. And he also told be the horrible things that were done to so many people just because of the political party they belong to or supported.
Every single familly in Colombia has stories and tales about displacement and violence, perusal the “Dos oruguitas” scene reminded me so much of my own abuela’s stories, I just started crying thinking of how many people went through this. If you think about it Encanto is a hideout for a displaced familly, as many others that weren’t so lucky to have the miracle. That is what the huge mountains around Encanto are for, protecting the familly and the rest of the town from the violence.
I have a theory that the due to Abuelas wish for a miracle and Abuelos sacrifice they combine together to give the candle the magic so Abuelos very being maybe inside the candle and what helps the Casita to have magic alongside the family bond of the Madrigals cuz I’d like to think that even though he’s gone he’s still around being able to protect his family.
Random theory, Pedro’s spirit lives on as the Casita? Always caring for the members of the family, tending to one anothers needs, only to break as Abuela’s spirit changes and hardens over the years as one’s lovers heart would break seeing them start to change towards the worst instead of the better? Just a theory, I’m sure I can’t be the only one.
in Luisa’s song, there’s a strange sentence that always stood out to me: “I worry that something is gonna hurt us”. I guess this explains it. Not to mention, all the powers of the Madrigals can be used militarily against any potential external violent forces: Luisa is strong, to the point she can manipulate the physical landscapes even, that’s self-explanatory; Antonio, Isabela and Pepa can use nature to fight and prevent enemy advances; Julietta can heal; Bruno can see into the future and help preparations; Dolores can hear enemy plans; and Camillo can infiltrate as a spy and to manipulate and foil enemy plans
I have a theory that Abuelo Pedro was magic himself or that he’d bought the enchanted candle for Abuela and that if anything was to remotely happen to him, then his family would always be protected like he’d put a part of his spirit or his soul into the candle. Pedro sacrificed himself for his family (like Lily in Harry Potter) and that provided the ultimate protection for his family. The minute he died, his magic went into the candle and the candle gave Abuela the Casita and protection for his family My other theory was that he was reincarnated as a butterfly
This might be too intense but as someone that grew up in Colombia, the image of a man on horseback with a machete is something that all generations of Colombian instantly recognize. So much violence (yes, machetes are often used) plagues our country and it was so bold and shocking in the most amazing way to see that in the film. My parents bawled their eyes out. I appreciate Disney’s boldness is including that reference to past and current atrocities that happen on our soil.
I have a theory that front person on horseback may have been related or known Pedro in some way, which is why Pedro went out, he thought that maybe if he talked to this person then maybe he could convince them to stop. I personally think its more poetic if this person was Pedro’s brother because it ties to the whoke family thing. Pedro died because of a crack in his family so the miracle wasn’t just the actual magic of the encanto but the ability for the people within the encanto to have the same hope in each other that Pedro had in his brother, and their ability to fix those cracks before they grow too big.
Can you talk about Bruno? What happened to him made me really upset he never got the apology he deserved also his character felt like a reflection of mirabel they went through similar things I feel like I can relate to mirabel and Bruno on a personal level the emotions mirabel went through and what happened to Bruno felt familiar to me
Omg, now it makes sense why abuelo pedro decided to step back. When u said that “imagine your neighbor can turn against you” I now see that abuelo pedro may have seen the guy chasing them and recognized him as someone he is closed too before, thinking and trusting his “friend” can be talked sense to, he believed the goodness in their chaser and told abuela that he may be able to fix this. Abuela possibly knew the guy too that’s why she agreed that maybe abuelo pedro can still convince the guys not to chase nor kill them. But they were both wrong. The pain she felt after the betrayal also now makes a deeper sense with her anguish. If we look closer she was anticipating, like they all stopped to see if abuelo pedro can still talk to them, she was not running away, but they were wrong..aist it makes me cry harder now. Now i know why abuela alma controls who her family interacts because of the men that betrayed her and abuelo pedro.💔😭
I’m seeing discussions about the time the movie takes place and I wanna give my two cents. Abuela is wearing an item around her waist called a chatelaine (it’s shaped like a butterfly). A metal belt hook with suspending chains to carry small items such as a pocket watch, fan, or small bag. These were worn during the late victorian era (1860s to 1900s). Abuela’s the only person in the village wearing this item. I did a quick google search on Colombia’s history after seeing the movie and did come across the 1000 days war (1899-1992). That got me to guess that the story takes place in the 1950s. On another note, I did see a commenter from another article say that Mirabel’s dad is a cacacho, a fashionably dressed man from Bogotá, the capitol of Colombia. (I don’t know much about men’s historical fashion, I might do some research into Agustín’s clothes) I’ve been itching for some analysis articles after seeing the movie, this is a good article.
It’s so curious to hear about the story of my country in this context. To be honest when I saw the movie, the first thing I thought was the violence we still live, even after El proceso de paz. It’s so sad my people’s story is so written in blood. We could position the Abuelo’s death in any part of our history and still makes sense. He suddenly becomes some friend, father or son we had met and never had a chance. His sacrifice hits so hard because is still our present.
You hit the nail with that interpretation. Even if the writers and directors didn’t intend for it to be the real story of how abuelo Pedro died, the same situation happened and keeps happening, even today, as violence and intolerance ravage our country. This movie hit me hard. I thank Disney for showing and bringing awareness about the magical place that is my home, and the terrible danger that lurks and threatens what would otherwise be a paradise. The Violencia hasn’t stopped. It simply evolved, and now it’s tied to drug dealings as well, which really, really, crushes my heart.😥
We had to skip town when I was a child because of the guerrilla but I was able to return aftter. I never thought I ever would see this type of story showcased like this on a big screen least of all from Disney. If you’re 28+ years old and born and raised in my city (Cucuta) you definetely remember most of the worst of it, there was a collective ‘omphf’ by the adults at the cinnema when that scene played (Kudos to the research team at Disney), the rest of the movie felt extra raw after that
I’m Colombian and I can talk about this from an historical point of view. Colombia’s forced displacement of civilians has been a problem since more than 50 years ago involving several perpetrators: guerrilla, paramilitary and Colombian army. Since Encanto is losely inspired in Garcia Marquez’s book One Hundred Years Of Solitude, it could have been in this case paramilitaries, but I think Encanto just described the overall situation of this human right’s crisis, wheter is from the guerrilla, paramilitary or the state itself. This is a reality in Colombia’s past, present and probably long term future history.
I grew up in Colombia and always heard about “the violencia” as this ghost, invisible thing. Because it was normal people, that suddenlty turned violent, against each other. Fear and violence. It is aninivisble force that we are still living through today. Now, it’s more probably more relevant than ever–The power that media and politics have over ordinary people.
History has never been kind to Latin America being the center stage for the proxy wars waged by the Soviet Union and the United States during the cold war. Democratically elected governments were overthrown, replaced with dictatorial regimes backed by either superpower, elections were rigged, civil wars erupted frequently as the rival political factions raised their weapons to launch a rebellion, revolutions, and violent uprisings. In the worst-case scenario, people were kidnapped and thrown in detention camps or quietly kidnapped to be buried in mass grave sites for speaking out against the regime. That is why you have so many refugees fleeing northward to escape this hellish environment. Though some Latin countries did manage to find stability, this is still an ongoing issue.
You guys realise that the town is literally just magic or its surroundings are. The candle literally makes an entire wall around Abulea after Pedro dies. So maybe its too keep the family in the twon, Bruno did say he couldn’t leave the town even uf he wanted too. Or Abuela is just like Gaea, her gift to manipulate the terrain.
I think that’s a good backstory of Alma’s flashback in the point of reference on this movie and the real history. I’m pretty sorry of the loss of Alma’s Husband, Pedro at the cost of his life and their tradegy happen right before Casa Madrigal was born. 😢💔 In fact based on the tragic history of Colombia was on the civil wars at their numerous times since the Independence on the 19th Century.
I kind of see the events that created the magic as being a little like the situation in Harry Potter in that Harry’s mother’s sacrifice due to pure love cast a spell that protected Harry from Voldemort. Pedro’s sacrifice due to pure love created the magic that protected the Madrigals from the bad guys chasing them. The magic was almost undone by the undercurrent of unhappiness that the magical family members were experiencing but rekindled because of Mirabel’s love of her family.
It’s a very interesting interpretation. One more thing that I think it’s important mentioning is that the events that lead to the miracle happening are almost the same as the beginning of One Hundred Years of Solitude, which is the best known representative of magic realism, and Colombia’s best known book. There are many references to the book in the movie, even if the movie cannot be called magic realism, by the proper literary definitions.
I´m Colombian and I want to thank you for investigating Colombian history and for explaining that theory that is very close to the reality of what my country has been through. What Encanto is showing in a social problem that even today continues to happen because of to the internal armed conflict. Thanks to this, forced displacement is something that hundreds of thousands of people continue to experience now days. It is incredible that Disney has shown this harsh reality in such a respectful way.
Woah I would’ve never thought of such a theory,good job Also even though everyone already is doing this theory but I think Pedro’s spirit is either three things 1.A Butterfly,I also think the other butterflies represent those who lives were lost as well 2.The Candle 3.The Casita For the 3rd one If it was possible then his spirit might’ve started to cause the cracks everywhere after the argument of Abuela and Mirabel along with the treatment Bruno got from the family,and that he was another one like Dolores who knew he never left the family
As a colombian the movie “Encanto” touch me and really hit me. I really cried a lot in that scene, i didn’t live the violence in first hand but my grandfather had to left his little town and just start again because of his political believes, before met my grandmother. We were really bless, we did’t suffer that much but i have friend that really lost everything, her family lost everything not so long ago because of violence, war and corruption. The war and the violence is so close for colombian people of any time. PD: Sorry for my english
Abuela’s husband was murdered during the Colombian civil war between liberals and conservatives. During the Colombian civil war the liberals would go and destroy the villages exactly in the same way as it was seen in Encanto. Many families were displaced from their home towns by the civil war, many were murdered, and this civil war was what gave origin to the Colombian guerrilla. I am from Panama which was affected by the war of a 1000 days at the time that it was part of Colombianos, and my great grandmother who was originally from Barranquilla lived through that so I felt very identified with this movie, and I am sure any Colombian felt identified with it as well.
this is a common story among Colombian families, my grandparents had to hide in the mountains waiting for these people to leave their houses, they eventually had to move out to the capital because the life out there was unbearable. This was from a different conflict but the same situation remains even today. If it wasn’t the government encouraging violence, it was the drug cartels or armed groups making people leave their homes, a horrible situation.
Okay, but there’s something still bothering me. Pedro turned to face the four angry horseman and somehow saved the entire group of people? Just one person? Since the magic doesn’t seem to have any protective powers and may not have even shown right away anyway… this would imply Pedro was even more important. He was also at the front of the group he led at one point. What role did he have in the village before he left? Leader? Something political? Why did they only care about killing him and not just cutting him down and finishing everyone else off?
3/4 of my grandparents were victims to the displacement caused by La Violencia Bipartidista, it’s a truly interesting period and historical environment to study that leads to a rabbit hole of the cycle of violence in our country, it wasn’t really one-sided, both sides commited atrocities and the main towns of the Colombian landscape became utterly onesided, some would be blue (conservatives, mockingly called ‘godos’) others red (liberals), the buses out of the towns were followed by the attackers in an attempt to find the fleeing opossers, and let’s just say that they weren’t mercyfull even to the families. Most of the (survivng) fleeing families would seek shelter in a town that aligned itself to their oplitical ideology or directly going to the main cities, specially the capital Bogotá. I was so moved when I realized the movie incorporated such an honest and heartbreaking aspect of the country’s history into the story, the movie overall is a magnificent portrayal of Colombia and including surviviours of this conflict being able to thrive and move on really helped improve on a great movie.
I get goosebumps when I see the scene of Pedro’s death. I’m a Madrigal from Colombia, both of my grandmother’s left in the 60’s for the US with their babies too. I don’t know too much of the history being 1st born American, but maybe I will be soon. That being said, this,also reminds me of the violence Colombia faced in to 80s and 90s due to the drug trade. Many families were displaced and fleed their homes.
Thank you for this!! Because the threat wasn’t really specified I was more confused at them running away than anything else. But what confused me most was Pedro sacrificing himself thinking that he could reason with them. He didn’t have a weapon and held his hands up meaning he meant no harm. But if it was soldiers or police coming after them then they would have immediately killed him and his sacrifice would have been for nothing because it didn’t buy Alma and the kids and the community much or really any time. And even if they were going to capture him rather than kill him that would only take one person and the others could still go after Alma and his kids. But it makes more sense that he thought he could stall or reason with them since they were his neighbors. People he knew personally would be more likely to pause at his pleas. Obviously that didn’t happen as he was killed but there was more of a potential that his pleas would do something than I had initially thought. So his actions make a lot more sense with this context.
Ok, because I’m from Colombia I’m going to explain what happened, in Colombia before drugs and the guerrillas we had stupid and useless leaders who were too used to using violence to take power, after the ‘independence’ of Spain There was a civil war, they were liberals and conservatives, they tried to be the ideology that would manage the country but not done with ideas or debates, it was done by attacking and killing people in small towns where the other faction settled, the people were so stupid like that that only because they were conservatives or liberals were they able to kill each other, much like what happened between capitalists and communists
I think your theory is good.. however I think who killed abuelo Pedro is the violence in Colombia.. period.. No matter when in the history of Colombia. Normally the violence in Colombia caused ” desplazamientos” displacement of families.. they were forced to move out of their homes… this was more predominant in the 80s and 90s… burning whole villages was also their M.O. I think it is a reminder to all of us Colombians… how much families have suffered for the greed or hunger of power of a few bad men. I called them a few.. because the good ones are way more.. but we have lived in denial and afraid for way too long.
Beautifuly done. Thank you for being so respectful and doing your research on this. As soon as I saw that opening scene I was like “yes! so glad this is being adressed” My own great grandfather had a farm where he lived with his wife and his kids but due to violence they were displaced. My own grandmother remembers this and her sisters too. In one way or another all Colombian families have been affected by this. Thank you again! <3
Thank you for taking the time and reading about Colombian history, I was a little scared to see this article. I have seen most of your articles which I love but this is something very personal, being Colombian myself and my grandparents having passed by that part of Colombia’s history…thank you for providing accurate information and I must say you could be correct on the theory of who killed Abuelo Pedro, when I went to see the movie with my family we all thought the same as your theory that this had happened during those times… Colombia is still passing through something similar but it is not as violent as back in the day. Again thank you!!
You did such a great job and effort understanding the history and backstory of Colombia. I’d say nearly nailed it! I’d add that the people who killed Abuelo Pedro we’re actually in fact one of the organized military group that in real life displaced thousands of families in Colombia, specifically in the county side of Colombia
I’m so happy with the turn this article took because when I read the title I thought: “Really? It’s not clear?” Fun tip: Magical Realism is the style of writing used by Gabriel García Marqués, if you want more read “100 years of Solitude” Also, look at how different the story is told in the beginning and and how it’s told at the end. Portrays the innocent way the characters remember how the Encanto was built and how devastating the truth actually was. I mean check it out! The first time they run through the story it’s sad but you don’t see thing like the Machete of the riders and abuela’s reaction to Pedro’s death is sad but is way heart wrenching the second time. I love this movie!
If you have watched Encanto, you know that in Bruno’s vision there is a butterfly. When Abuela and Mirabel are at the river, that same butterfly is there. There are small details throughout the film that have butterflies in them. Mirabel’s dress has a butterfly, the tile in their kitchen has butterflies on them. On the candle that hold the magic there is a design of a butterfly on it. There are also butterflies behind Abuelo Pedro in his portrait, and that leads to my theory of how Abuelo Pedro reincarnated into a butterfly.
My guess was that the time period was the 1800s but in 1810s a Venezuelan man named bolivar made many different revolts in Venezuela, and made the nation of Gran Colombia after revolt in new Granada/Colombia in modern day, but before in one of his revolts, a group called the legion of hell arose and helped the Spanish and did some of the stuff that happened to them in encanto, but that’s just a wild guess
FINALLY AN ENGLISH SPEAKER THAT SOMEHOW UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE STORY IS!!! I’ve seen so many gringos saying it’s Spanish people and gosh- it was armed groups outside of the law, as you say, from towns. Civilians in armed groups formed guerrillas which have affected the country for years, and they used to drag people out of their homes and dox them to keep the land. My country kinda has a turbulent history, but just wanted to make the point that it was the guerrillas because I feel so upset that people just feel they have the right to speak with property on some they don’t know. Thank you dude, maybe this will make some people understand better
Honestly I think the conflict they went through was the first one in 1900s because main story takes place 50 years later and art book said Pedro died in 1900 well it was in one of your previous Encanto articles wherr show page from art book was Pedro birth and death year was 1875-1900 meaning he 25 when he died
Isaac, it has been a long while since I have come to your website and interacted with it. The last article being the deep dive you did on Mama Odie from Princess and the Frog. I was impressed then, and even more impressed now with the level of depth information back history and care that you research and present for your articles. You’re doing such a damn good job, Isaac! Very proud of your growth. =)
Something else I noticed was the change in Alma, she would smile more and seemed somewhat passive until witnessing the death of Pedro. Something inside clearly broke (that animation is just pure, raw pain) and since then she had to be the strong/perfect one. It makes sense that she would want her family to be as strong or perfect, so they never have to experience what she went through; she was scared that someone she loves could hurt as much as she did. Bruno may have also been a reminder that pain is immenant and the future can’t be controlled. What she didn’t realise is she was hurting her family by putting these immense expectations on them. So many great characters, what a movie!
I really respect that Encanto showed our good and bad sides. I mean yes we have a gorgeous country filled with colors and magic but we also have a huge history of violence and war. Los desplazados are real people who have to leave their homes and just kind of hope they find something else somewhere else that still happens today so for Disney to show that is just really great in my opinion. And thank you Isaac for doing your research.
I have so greatly enjoyed all of your Encanto articles. It’s just so great to see someone take the time to discuss cultural matters, esp. Latin American ones. There is little representation in the main stream and even less time devoted to having actual discussions about it to understand the differences in the various culturas. This movie is absolutely amazing and such a beautiful representation of my culture. Thank you for devoting so many articles to this film and its characters. They are so miraculous and I just love them all. I found your website through these articles and quickly subscribed. I look forward to more wonderful content. Maybe more people will discover Encanto because of your wonderful explanations. Muchas Gracias 😊 🦋✨
If I would create a leader for these corrupt people that Mirabel’s Grandfather would have to be a pure evil undead sorcerer inspired by 20th century fox’s pure evil animated villains like Blackwolf from Wizards, Lord Nekron from Fire & Ice, Hexxus from Ferngully: the last Rainforest, Rasputin from Anastasia, Drej Queen Susquehana and Preed from Titan A.E., Zeebad from the magic roundabout, and the Black Wolf from the Flight before Christmas,
Major props for digging into Colombia’s history. As a Colombian perusal the film was insanely emotional, because to this day we still live in violence, and people are still being displaced against their will. I agree with the historical placement you suggest, but I also feel like the movie was intended to be somewhat timeless, cause people didn’t actually dress like that lol, not even at the turn of the 19th century. Which is fine I mean it looks beautiful and the animators really did their homework and dug into many folklores (there are A LOT of different Colombian cultures depicted in the movie). And also it’s Disney and is filled with magic and whatnot. So that fact just makes, ironically, even more real, cause it’s a tragedy very close to every Colombian’s heart and it’s still, unfortunately, very much alive.
i think this would make sense, because when abuela towards the end of the movie (i think just before “Dos Oroguitas” starts playing) sais the line “I thought I could be a different woman” i think that’s what one would think in a period of political instability when finding some kind of freedom, happiness, in her case Pedro
This is a side thought. But, theoretically, doesn’t that mean Encanto could be present day?Or around the early 2000s In most rural towns, they don’t keep up with all fashion trends. So it wouldn’t be a stretch that their clothes would reflect more of early 1900s rather than the mid. Adding that Encanto was basically cut off from the rest of the world for 50 years, their clothing would reflect a whole century earlier than the actual year.
If they make it into a series like Rapunzel than they could explain better the story and it’s details not only that but it would be intresting if the antoganist of the series was the family of the man responsible for the death of the abuelo and ended cursed because of it being the of the Madrigals blessing.
In defense of Abuela…. Rewatch it at look at it from her point of view. She don’t know what others are going thru and push for the best even though it to much pressure on her grandchildren. She strives for the best for the community. She put them FIRST over the family but is that wrong for a Ruler to care about the people of the community first. Imagine being the matriarch of a family AND community. She treated maribel bad but she was trying to keep the magic/gift that her husband sacrificed (which she believed was the purpose and reason for the magic) alive. She would do anything to to keep the magic/hope/purpose/sacrifice alive for the fam and community. She wants/will fight anyone to keep Pedro name/sacrifice alive to keep the Gifts/candle. Miabel didn’t get a gift and she thought that would be the downfall of the happy community/life they built from trama. She thought the candle was his incarceration/omen for peace over the community. They were forced to leave their homes and was given a safe haven to grow the community for 3 generations. ———-Columbia history shows this was the thousand day war. Where ppl/families/millions were killed and forced from their homes all in the name of power and control. Imagine what she Witness—— She didn’t want to loose it the magic she was gifted after ALL THE LOSS she experienced. She pushed/strived to make a better/stronger generation for her ppl. Yes she went about the wrong way, but you don’t know your wrong UNTIL YOU GET CALLED OUT. Mirabel called her out and she revalued her actions and changed.
The Colombian civil war that started in 1948 after what we call “El Bogotazo” happened, not “The Violencia” ((vee-oh-lencia) which is just violence not an specific name for the war. Also it didn’t last only ten years, it is still going, and so is the massive displacement of hundreds of families in Colombia. Also it wasn’t about liberals or conservators it was about power, even now it is all about power and money. Actually the Caño Cristales or the river of the 7 colors (the one in the movie) is in one of the states where more people were displaced and where they some battles took placed. And it was obvious that Pedro’s lastname was madrigal, the law were the kids can have the mom’s lastname first in Colombia it passed only a few years ago, so that is why they were Madrigal.
I had an idea this morning, and maybe it is something someone already thought of. I don’t want it to take away from the magical realism or very important historical context. What if Pedro came from a family that all had “gifts”. What if Pedro had a gift? What if that’s why Abuela doesn’t have one? She’s the spouse of the gifted one not gifted herself. What if that’s how he was able to stop the soldiers? What if part of the raid was to find him and use his gift to do dark things or against people? What if he convinced them to kill him and end the gifts with him? What if he told them that he was needed to pass the gifts on to the triplets when they came of age and that’s how they were spared? What if the power of the family lived in him and with his sacrifice became the miracle in the candle? What if that’s why Abuela is so nervous about the whole thing? It’s not her families power and she doesn’t understand it really she just knows to pass it on when the kids reach a certain age.
That’s a very bitter part of our history that is still happening nowadays thanks to people/organizations we shouldn’t mention in public, it WAS NOT peasants attacking each other. There’s a famous show on Netflix that is directly linked to the consequences our people had to live, which are very subtly depicted in this movie. Thank you Disney.
One thing I’ve been wondering about is the candle that granted the Madrigals their gifts after Pablo sacrificed himself. Where did the candle come from? Are there other candles out there? Does it come from the gods? Are other people able to get gifts from the candle? Hopefully, the sequel can answer these questions.
Just a theory: I don’t want to get to far into it but in my culture when a family member is about to pass, or feels the need we light candles. If they pass we open the doors of our home so they can take what they need and be able to go. We let the candle go out or burn out if they pass, if they come out of it we may quench the candle. Abuela’s candle never went out. This would mean the soul is still active and it would be why they protected the candle so strongly. The flame guides the soul and why abuela prays with the candle. Some of the strongest magic comes from our deepest emotions. So we light a candle and pray. The sparks coming from the candle could be abuela’s own prayer manifesting a tie to her husband. Then the candle turns into a magic candle. It seems when the candle is disturbed abuela is most upset and does everything she can to keep the candle going much like a living person. If the candle guides the person home, her husband could have become part of the home. I feel like her husband’s soul or part of it may be in the candle.
Thank you for sharing these insights and for your research and thanks everyone for your comments. I have really learnt and I am learning a lot. Loved the movie Encanto even though it felt a bit rushed in some areas and it seems a great deal of the story was embedded in the songs which were very fast. Seen it twice and would see it more times. I am a stickler for world cultures and Disney has done quite a bit in opening people to Cultures through their productions.
My theory is that Alma (abuela) got the gift of protecting her children and the rest of the people at the expense of her killing the people who were chasing them and Pedro himself. During the song “Dos Oruguitas” you can actually see the magic spreading out if her before the candle becomes magic and the chasers and Pedro are no longer there. That’s part of her burden and her wish for her family to thrive and help the community in an effort to make his and her sacrifice worth it.
The violence period was so long tragic and sistematic that most town s have a brother sister town in wich one became extremely liberal ant the other extremely conservative. As a political party guerrilla controlled each town. Then there is the new conflict of las FARC disidentes and the remainder of guerrillas. But our government just got confirmation of 28 civilians murdered by police on this years protest by the UN. THAT SCENE MAKE ME CRY NOT CUZ THEM, CUZ IT IS HAPPENING TIME AND TIME AGAIN. IT ISN’T FICTION.
Thank you so much for explaining so eloquently the armed conflict in Colombia that still exists nowadays. Just like Abuela, my mom’s first love and amazing husband (my father) was murdered and my mom had to leave everything to save both of us. I was 31 days old. There are so so many Abuelas in Colombia that is so heartbreaking. And just like Encanto, my dad left us a gift, the gift of life. I’m lucky to have a wonderful stepfather, which I consider my father. But not all us are that lucky
You make a good analysis of the situations my country has gone through. Practically the whole of the 20th century was full of violence: First incited by politics and hatred, partisans of each party clashed, and robbed and murdered their neighbours located in neighbouring villages because they were of different parties. Later, this violence led to the peasants’ struggle for land and benefits, which ended in guerrilla warfare. Then, those who had money to defend themselves against the guerrillas, created private armies to defend themselves, and the paramilitaries appeared. And in the last quarter of a century, all this violence was fed by drug trafficking, becoming even more violent, and affecting the whole country. That’s why the film touches us so strongly; I don’t think there is a family in Colombia that hasn’t lost someone in some violent event. When you look at Encanto, looking the type of architecture and the age of grandmother Alma’s children, it refers to the mid-20th century, as they are all around 50 years old, and the episode of grandfather Pedro’s death could have occurred in the mid-20th century, at the beginning of the century, which places the film between 1950 and 1960 approximately.
My guess was that the time period was the 1800s but in 1810s a Venezuelan man named bolivar made many different revolts in Venezuela, and made the nation of Gran Colombia after revolt in new Granada/Colombia in modern day, but before in one of his revolts, a group called the legion of hell arose and helped the Spanish and did some of the stuff that happened to them in encanto, but that’s just a wild guess, and yours is probably right
like some of the other comments, I also found that mirabel and Pedro were in a way connected and that in a way he lived on in the candle/miracle because of his sacrifice, and wonder if the reason the candle went out was because mirabel was willing to sacrifice herself for the family like him, and as he protected her one last time, the candle was able to go out and he was able to peacefully pass on as mirabel was now able to take this form of place as protector in the family and ensuring the family was truly happy
I don’t want to ruin how.. fun this place/channel is,Like it’s legitimately a place I can forget reality for a couple minutes and enjoy my time But I feel like this needs to be said,As tragic as this story is This type of violence and bloodshed happens Way more than anyone likes to admit or think,Entire countries and cultures being murdered with cold blood just because they wanted a life they knew had a future and a meaning I would know,because I’m a part of that and I’m seeing it with my own two eyes
Magical realizm is especially important to Colombia because of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of the authors most associated with the genre and a Nobel Prize winner for literature. This is why the writers at Disney said they chose the country as its setting. In fact the start of the movie appears to be inspired by the his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cein Años de Soledad). Very much worth the read.
I liked the movie, but I also would have liked if there was a Villain in the movie, like Disney introducing New Disney Villains like Turbo from Wreck It Ralph, and Ernesto De La Cruz from Coco, and I hope that they make a sequel to Encanto, where there IS a Villain, like… Like a Corrupted Developer, who finds out that The Madrigal House/Casita IS Magic and he WANTS it, and when they refuse to sell it, he is determined to get it at ALL costs, and he hires some of the people with different political views, or maybe gangsters/mafia, or JUST Bad People in general, and they do the whole burning down houses and stuff like that, and tries to terrorize The Madrigals INTO Leaving, and/or Selling their home, but instead they fight, and Luisa beats up people, Isabella attacks people WITH Vines, Cactuses, and Poison Plants, Camilo gets on the inside, Dolores hears the Bad Guys’ plans, and EVERYONE plays a part in fighting and defending their home. I would like THAT Stuff to happen IF or MAYBE WHEN They Make an Encanto sequel.
I’m sorry but you’re timeline is off. Disney considered the 1950’s time but decided to go earlier to give the folksy vibe you mentioned. The people’s are in armor and horses using weapons all that seem to hint at Spanish origin. I think the much more obvious and simple explanation is that they were running from some of the last of the Spanish conquistadors.
I studied Spanish a few years back (a refresher, really, from a few decades ago) to help with my job at that time. Lost the job and lost some of the Spanish I learned, as well, but the stories and histories and anecdotes our Profesor Javier gave us in class have stayed with me. He was Colombian, and I have often wondered since seeing the movie, what he thinks of it (I’d love to write and ask him…maybe I will). One chapter we studied was exclusively about the history and culture of Colombia, and its terribly bloody past. “It’s still not safe to go there,” Prof. Javier told us. “I can go back, because I’m from there and I know where it’s safe to go. But all of you? No. Not a good idea.” Your article is an unnerving insight into what our own country could turn into, if we let one side of the political spectrum push the scales too far. There’s already an “Us versus Them” mentality here in the U.S. that is not good for anyone, and certainly not good for progress. If we want a miracle, we have to create one ourselves.
I think the movie is set in the early 1900s we can tell that by the flash lamp camera used at the end. That camera was invented in 1899, and was not in use 50 years later. so the combat we are seeing is from the Columbian Civil war 1860. Which means we might be able to guess an approximate location, we could be seeing a village near Bogota, when sacked they fled into the Andes.
Abuela being the one to last see Pedro before his death and the aftermath with the candle and casita, she probably thought that his sacrifice was the whole reason they got a miracle. It’s probably why she pushed her family to their limits and beyond because she wanted to feel like she was deserving of her husband’s sacrifice and that it wasn’t for nothing.
Another way to look at this is that the Encanto is, more or less, separate from the outside world. Sure, Agustin and Felix were able to get into the Encanto with their families, but it’s probably a rarity, as Agustin had said to Mirabel that at first, the Encanto villagers didn’t take kindly to him and Felix at first before they were accepting.
Nice article bro, and U know that something that nobody talk about in those months is abaout the fact that casita has 2 Palm wax trees i the front yard, as a very lovely telenovel called “La casa de las dos palmas” wich one told the ficticial but acirate historical story of a paisa family goes to colonize the new land. and let me tell u that is marvelous
Video suggestions: Why are Bruno’s visions overwhelmingly negative? Also, do you think that the Madrigal’s individual rooms magically changed after the village rebuilt the home? And if they did, did they go back to how they were before (a perfect expression of their gifts) or did they change to fit the new needs of their occupants? Like was Isabela’s room more chaotic in some way? Was Luisa’s room more relaxation focused?
They should make a sequel where everyone’s gifts swapped. Here’s how I think the it should start. The family is all getting along and Bruno is back. They do what they normally do. But they make a wish on a star to know what it’s like to have someone else’s gift. While Maribel wonders what it would be like to one of her family members gifts. And one of them wonders what it is like to be Maribel. Which would be Antonio. After they make the wish they candle glows brightly swapping their powers. The next day they try to use their gifts but they don’t work. Maribel can suddenly understand animals. And Antonio doesn’t have a gift. And so on. They find out that they wish came true. But there was a catch. If they don’t undo their wishes in time they would have the powers they have right now forever permanently.
it makes sense to me that the story looks like it takes place at the turn of the century while being the 1950s. the encanto is a remote self sustained village in the mountains. of course some things are going to remain the same for a long period of time since they are, for the most part, cut off from everyone else. but that’s my favorite part of it.
I think Pedro’s sacrifice was a hope (in the form of a candle represented) for the family to live on. Abuela had to be strong for her children and the community. The children’s powers were basically their talents/quirks. They used their talents to help the community. They became so popular that they thought now they had to look perfect (note how we scrutinize celebs/famous ppl). In doing so, they tried to act perfect disregarding their own needs. At this point, instead of love for the family, Abuela had to retain the reputation they had gained. So they had to “look” perfect. But this was hurting the people in the family where they cudnt be their true selves. Hence the cracking of the house. Mirabel helps them be themselves and makes abuela realise how her actions have led to the destruction of the family=literal house destroyed too. She created a new foundation. Oh yes, and SHE is the new candle(the new ray of light/hope so THAT was her gift. Sorry I’m not very good at explaining what I really want to say. But I hope you get what I am trying to say.
Though I’m not Columbian, my grandmother has had her fair share of experiences due to forced migration. She migrated from Pakistan to India during the partition in 1947. The situation is quite similar to Columbia, normal people started killing each other because of religious differences, trains full of dead people would be hauled daily. It was horrible. What she must’ve gone through must’ve been hard. Its why I love Encanto even more! It’s a story that i understand to an extent.
Theory:i think theres a second part to the movie because when Abuela was telling the truth of what happened to her wife/Mirabel’s grandfather when the terrain were built and the mountains rised the people who took Mirabel’s grandfather got thrown out of the place where they now live meaning they felt the power of the miracle meaning they might be talking about it and have big intrest in the place now that the mountains broke when the candle went out they (the raiders) either will camp and prepare for an attack or attack asap and raid the Madrigal’s peace
3:36 Yeah, no offense, but I don’t really trust anyone to give me a history lesson since people tend to label things that fit their beliefs and narrative. It’s best to do your own research. I don’t care for labels like liberal or conservative because it doesn’t really tell me why the civil war happened or why each side did what they did. It just slaps a label on them to get you to choose a side, anyone can do that to sway you to their side. But the fact is…. people sinned and harmed each other for reasons we may never truly understand because history can be falsified and can be written based on the writer’s thoughts and feelings towards it. People harmed each other rather than loved one another… and it’s heartbreaking.
i disliked Abuela until they showed the whole story. her husband got brutally murdered in front of her and her kids all because of a disagreement. her life flashed before her eyes, she thought she completely lost the life she was dreaming of, then she was saved by the miracle. no wonder why she cared so much about the candle forgetting about her children, she was traumatised and broken
Oh boy, let me tell you about the genocide in Rwanda and who was doing the killings. In Jean Hatzfeld’s trilogy, he went to a little town in Rwanda, Nyamata, where the 50,000 Tutsi population in April 1994 was reduced to 5,000 in June 1994, thanks to their Hutu neighbours, colleagues, even spouses. Humanity can be evil. One survivor told that the people who showed up to his door to kill him where the guys from the football team he had a beer with every Sunday after the game. Another one was hunted by the parents of the children he was teaching to.
Hi Isaac… good analysis… but… I may disagree a bit. As a colombian and a former medical humanitarian worker on the field, being exposed to countless stories told to us by firsthand, I guess Disney mixed the times a little bit so the spectators could take a closer look to the long history of “conflicto armado” we experienced for more than 50 years when guerrillas groups appeared on the scene. Later on paramilitaries came to do its part. The civil population was always the target of both groups, fighting to control the routes of drug’s cartels or drug’s fields. Communities were demonized as pro guerrillas or pro army or even pro paramilitaries and this caused thousands of killings, extortions, kidnappings and most important… forced displacement. The people putting the town on fire are probably one of those groups ( the army was no innocent in many cases as well). People often left their towns with just the clothes they were wearing that day. Not even able to bring important identification documents like the cedula or their birth certificates ( which made their lives harder when they displaced to big cities). So yes, your explanation has a good point 👍 but the forced displacement is closer in history. Anyway… I loved Encanto, my daughter and I cry our eyes out with Oruguita’s song… and I can’t avoid to remember all the tragedy that I was aware of by being a colombian and working in the humanitarian field. It changed me forever. And made me love my country with compassion and empathy.
Disney making movies about cultures around the world was the best thing to happen within the last decade. I hope they explore the potato famine and the toll it had on people trying to move to a better location with fertile land. Or maybe the current problems of Mexicos drug cartel and the multiple civil wars that ended with the same people in power. I’m a mixed mut and would appreciate it.
Anyone else notice that Juileta, Pepa, and Brunos powers are tied to the past present and future respectively. Bruno is future, obviously. Pepa effects the present with her weather control. And Julieta can change the past, with her healing magic. Also interesting to note is that Julieta is oldest, Pepa middle, and Bruno youngest from what I’ve seen online.
Dangit! I don’t even know why I listened to this one. I knew it would be ravager/marauder type people. I wish I could unsee that it was MOST likely someone they knew. So many spot on observations in the comments just nails in the coffin. Im so sad now. Abuelita needed to be useful and keep the peace at all costs because she had seen firsthand the collapse of her village and needed that harmony. Im not reading anymore or listening to any more explanation on this movie and will be content to cry about “simple” family issues and not the absolutely horrifying back story.
Imagine young families fleeing violence in the home countries they loved but have to flee. Then imagine them being looked down upon in other in new areas they are trying to establish roots while trying to come to terms with the horror they dealt with. Having to leave everything they knew behind along with their friends and loved ones who are now gone. Imagine the people in the Middle East who had to flee. Imagine the Columbian people who fled, like in this movie where the grandfather was killed. This is still happening all around the world as you read this. Good people losing their lives or being looked down upon just for trying to give their children some peace. Obviously this is a very rudimentary comment to get people thinking. But for real? It’s the fucking truth ❤️🩹
Yes, I am 100% agree with your description The timing of the scene of the movie matches with The Violence (La Violencia ) period. From my point of view, Relismo Mágico is an explanation that people gave for many hard things that happened to them. And finally, the bad guys- in the Dos Oruguitas- song scene- were peasants from one or/and another political party. This is a lesson that shows how far people can go for political differences.
Encanto takes place in the 1950s, but they’ve been cut off from the rest of the world for 50 years, so it doesn’t have to look like the historic 1950s Colombia. New fashions and cultural ideas never reached them. Of, course that doesn’t explain where they got color photography from. I can imagine one of the refugees might know how to make photographic plates, but they would almost certainly be black & white. They might figure out color themselves, but not in the five years between arriving there and the triplets’ door ceremonies. Bruno’s knowledge of TV could be explained by his visions.
I think I know why Mirabel did not get her powers in The last song all of you abuela admits that when it was mirabels turn to get a gift she stopped believing of the miracle thinking it won’t work anymore but when Antonio did it she tried extra hard believing about it because when mirabel did not get a gift everybody was disappointed like if u aggree