Film Theory: Yes, Mirabel DOES Have A Gift! (Encanto)

The question on everyone's mind after finishing Encanto seems to be one thing. Does Mirabel ACTUALLY have a Gift? You see, she seemed to be the only one able to save the family and hold them together. There is a lot of speculation that hidden somewhere in there is a secret power. Today we are going to figure out what that may be and what it means for the Madrigal family.

#Encanto #Disney #Mirabel #Bruno #EncantoSongs #WeDontTalkAboutBruno #EncantoTheory #DisneyTheory #Theory #FilmTheory #Matpat #Trailer

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Credits:
Writers: Matthew Patrick and Bob Chipman
Editors: Danial "BanditRants" Keristoufi, Jerika (NekoOnigiri), and Dan "Cybert" Seibert
Assistant Editor: Caitie Turner (viridianrosette)
Sound Editor: Yosi Berman

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

As someone who's never even seen Encanto, watching this made me realize that there's a lot more to these animated movies than meets the eye.

[RaysOfPivot]

Also touching the door knobs is what gives each person their room.

At the end mirabel touches the front door handle. So it's her house. Symbolically the new leader.

Phenomenal movie

[maplesunflower]

Adding onto this: we learn in the movie that Casita can't be controlled inside of the magical rooms. Mirabel is connected to Casita, but if she had a magic room she wouldn't have spent as much time with Casita.

[niagargoyle]

While it doesn’t show for all of the family, one thing I noticed is that Mirabel’s symbols on her clothes show appreciation for the beauty of her family’s gifts rather than a strict representation of what they are. Dolores’ clothes may have sound waves (noise), but Mirabel wears music. Julieta’s clothes are about herbs and healing, but Mirabel honors her with a warm meal.

[alesworld]

Fun fact: Dolores had it harder that ANYONE because she’d hear things she didn’t want to and even the producers know that because “Dolores” means “lots of pain” in Spanish so Dolores had the most pain out of everyone

[Lunrbatzz]

I’ve always thought this!! Especially considering how her door disappeared. It almost seems like it fades INTO Casita. Like it becomes one with it, symbolizing that her gift has something to do with her connection to the house and therefore, the magic. This is only proven more when, at the end of the movie, she puts the doorknob in, and indirectly gets a door. Her “room” is the house, because her gift is directly connected to Casita. Not to mention the details on the front door (which would have details about said door owner’s gift) now have all of the family members on it, in fairness, it could be interpreted as just who lives in the house, but I think it could be to do with the fact that Mirabel’s gift is the guardian for the miracle itself.

[jorgecastillo]

There was a video by Howard Ho that talks about how in the song “we don’t talk about Bruno” really captures the musical genius behind the song but also how Mirabel is like a musical director. Imagine an orchestra. Every single member has a musical gift that everyone sees and hears but it’s the director has arguably the most important role in the orchestra. While no one sees or hears them, their job is crucial to keep everyone in order just as abuela and mirabel are doing

[YnsomniacTypho]

Just to clarify, the song "Dos oruguitas" actually talks about Abuela and Pedro as the song states "Dos oruguitas enamoradas" which translates to "two caterpillars in love with each other". As a native spanish speaker I understood what this song was about the very first time I listened to it, since in the movie it plays along abuela's memories of Pedro.

[lex.iii]

Mirabel also symbolizes the new style of leading the future generations. Abuela symbolizes the old leadership, controlling, protective but very organized and responsible. This is also reflected on her role and image to the town. Mirabel, as the new leader of the house and the town, will change it. She’s more fun, better at accepting new ideas and possibilities, likes to spend time with the kids, but might not be reliable because she cares about what people feel more than their responsibilities. I think the movie also tried to show us the leadership style differences from the older generations to the newer ones.

[mocatastic]

As a Spanish speaker, I can confirm that the word “casito” doesn’t exist when referring to a house. Casa is a feminine word, so the nickname “casita” is the only option you have to show that the house is either small and cute, or just to show love and affection towards it. So if the house really was the reincarnation of Pedro, the house would still be called “casita”. Just wanted to point that out.

[danishstina]

Also:
Did anyone notice how the gifts reflected Alma's needs? I think casita chose the gifts for the family member based on what Alma needs at the time.
Her children got the gifts of weather manipulation, clairvoyance and healing, because at the time Alma had lost her husband and her home. So casita gave Pepa weather powers to help grow food for the community, Julietta got healing so that Alma would never lose someone again, and Bruno got the power of foresight to warn them of any dangers.
In the next generation most gifts seems to be flashier than their mothers. Dolores helps Alma get information about the village just like she does in the movie. Camillo and Louisa's gifts are to remind the village how powerful and helpful they are. While Isabella perfect candidate for the Madrigals to gain more influence in the village just like mentioned in the movie.
When Mirabel received her 'gift' as the next keeper, that was because that was the only thing missing at the time to sure the legacy of the Madrigals. When Mirabel didn't receive any powers, Alma was so desperate that all she needed was a gift for Antonio. Literally any gift would do, so casita gave him something within his interest, animals.

[insanelaughterchick]

Another detail I noticed was that Mirabel affected the gifts of her sisters: Luisa started losing her gift faster than everyone else did because Mirabel thought she was carrying too much after "Surface Pressure". But then during "What Else Can I Do?", when Mirabel is actively encouraging Isabela and hyping her up, Isabela's power grows so much that it extends all the way into town from Casita's rooftops. I really liked that detail!

[LuckyLife]

“tHe GiFt wAs ThE fRiENdS wE mAdE aLoNg THE wAy!” his voice he had when saying that made me laugh 😂

[dovydasdaunoravicius]

Mirabel is to enherit the house. The ending is pretty clear when she puts the knob on the door the door reacts to her. She didn't get a door in the house because the door to the house is hers.

[deskhyena]

5:34 Hey Matpat. Little correction, "Casita" is the small version of the word "Casa" which means house, and is a femenine word so the family didnt name it "Casita" because its a femine house, but because the word is femine and "Casito" isnt an actual word, but still thanks :3

Edit: Sorry, I forgot the word for small case existed, my bad

[crunch]

Hey Matpat, real quick, “Casito” or “El casa” doesn’t exist. That’s why they call the house “Casita”, because “casa” (which means home or house or whatever) is a feminine noun

[Coolkid]

I always had the idea that mirabel’s gift some how controles the others gifts and the house, basically she controlled the magic. My argument for this is that most of the significant things in the movie happen after something effects mirabel herself. First the house started to crack after they took a picture without mirabel in it, which could be mirabel starting to feel like she’s disconnected from her family. Secondly the gifts started going haywire after mirabel does something: Luisa told mirabel that she’s over worked and needs a break so mirabel may have thought that without a gift Luisa would be happier and that’s when Luisa’s gift starts to fade, after mirabel talked to her: another is when mirabel realized that Isabella wasn’t perfect during the fight and in realizing this Isabella makes a cactus (something that’s not perfect): and not to forget that the only time Bruno is known to have made a good Prophecy is when mirabel told him to (I know Isabella’s is good but she may have thought that she would be perfect forever because of abuela even if that’s not what Bruno meant). Finally I think that the house knew when the candle would fade and decided to transfer the magic into mirabel because of the doors; all of the doors show the ages of the people right as the house was gonna fall and the candle will burn out, the triplets in middle age, Luisa, dolores, and Isabella as young adults, Camilo as a teen, and we’ll I think you get my point.

So yes I do believe mirabel’s gift is quite literally being the miracle itself but I also think she has the power to control it ( even if it’s subconsciously).

[jerseyjackrabbit]

each one of their powers actually comes from what they held in their heart as a child. its said that Antonio had a soft spot and fascination with animals. abuela had a devotion for family. its seems the magic just amplify what they hold dear. since mirabel held her family so dear as we saw in the beginning her gift was for her family. she didnt need a door, the entire home is her room. we see each person get her room but in the end we see mirabels door at the end. her door is the front door of the house. we were so caught up what each room within a home made be but we forget the best one, the front door which protects the family and welcomes them. to be honest it be funny her power is the power of heart songs where she hears people thoughts like a musical like zoey extraordinary playlist and she didnt notice.

[irishpolyglot]

Love the theory, as always!
But one minor correction; casita is feminine because casa is feminine. "Casito" would be something completely different (little case), from "caso". In Spanish, you refer to the gender of the object, rather than implied human gender. For instance, "mi amor" or "el amor de mi vida" is masculine, but can be used just as easily to refer to a female. It would never be *la amor de mi vida, so it similarly would never be *el casita, even if the theory of the casita being the soul of the abuelo were true.

[JamieSmith]

I personally don't think that everyone's doors showed them as their "older self". That part of the movie was just showing a passing of time because you see abuela's kids grow in that sequence as well. I think the doors grow with the person. They're magical doors...it would make sense that the doors change with the appearance/age of the characters.
EDIT: actually the art book said the door grows with the character so my "theory" was confirmed but I realized there was a scene that showed everyone took a picture with their door when they first received their gift as a child and the door was their adult self which doesn't align with what the art book says.