What Is Abuela’s Gift? | Encanto Film Theory

Today J dives into the magical world of the Family Madrigal and Disney’s Encanto try and uncover what Abuela’s gift is!

#SuperCarlinBrothers #Encanto
Edited by :: Riley Murtagh

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Intro Music Created by RKVC

Intro Animation Created by J. Cutt Productions

Every time you give us a thumbs up a Narwhal gets its horn! (maybe..)

[BlueCanary]

Howard Ho's analysis of "We Don't Talk about Bruno" describes Abuela Alma as the conductor of the orchestra, who plays no instrument herself, but keeps them all in time. Mirabel is the next conductor. Seems exactly right to me!

[Jlnkht]

I love the symbolism of Mirabel’s door being the front door, celebrating the entire family. But the 15 year old girl has been living in the NURSERY her entire life, which she had to share with her younger cousin UNTIL HE WAS GRANTED A ROOM. Come on Casita, give the girl a private place where the non-magic could happen…!

[MunchyMakesStuff]

So here's a fun thought
The reason that Abuela and everyone else in the family were afraid of Bruno is that he was telling the future. He was trying to push them toward it. But they also didn't want to go out of the cocoon
Her seeing Bruno and embracing him so happily in the end is her literally embracing what the future holds

[mlilejay]

This theory is furthered by the fact that Mirabel initially sets out to save the miracle, and every time she approaches a family member, it's in pursuit of that mission, but she IMMEDIATELY casts it aside once she realised the deep seated anxieties and trauma they all hold... she's just there to hype up her family, and in turn that is how she revives the miracle after repairing those bonds...

[maxe]

In the end, when Mirabel’s parents are singing and her dad says “She takes after you, ” I didn’t think much of it. But the 100, 000th time I watched it (lol) I realized her mother heals people, and that maybe her dad was calling Mirabel a type of healer (taking after her mom) because she healed the family ❤️❤️

[jhardman]

What I didn't fully appreciate until this video with all the closeups of Mirabel's dress is that it looks like all of her decor is embroidered (most likely by her!). Can't you just imagine her staying up late to make sure everything looks exactly the way she wants it because that's how much she loves and honors her family? oh, mi corazón

[BlueCanary]

"[Pedro's] sacrifice was so that the family could be. Abuela honors his sacrifice. Mirabel honors the family"

Ooooh.... okay, that is _very_ well put. And so well illustrated with their actions, their outfits, the symbols on their doors... Excellent stuff, J! 👏

[silviasellerio]

Abuela literally "carries the flame", that's what you see on her door - she's pressured to be perfect too, because of her huge survivor's guilt. Notice how she's so completely identified with her role that her door says "Abuela", not her actual name (which was, according to the producers, Alma, meaning "soul" - so she kind of lost her soul and identity to become just Abuela)

[elastico]

Abuelas gift is the Miracle. She was gifted with the Miracle (Candle) and has a special connection to the candle. I assume that that's it, perhabs Mirabel will be the next candle guardian since she also has a special connection to the candle. Maybe that is why she didn't get a door, her gift is officially still taken and she will get Abuelas room in the future.

[saraha.]

The charm is called a chatelaine and it’s also a symbol of her leadership role because normally the person who has the chatelaine is the one in charge because they have the keys or ways of getting anywhere one needs to go in the house

[-MVP-]

In the song Dos Oruguitas, when the lyrics: "En dos capullos" (which means "inside two cocoons") are sung, thats when Abuela puts on the black shawl for the first time. So it does represent the cocoon. 🤯

[coolnerdlll]

I like to think she never had a gift because that furthers her connection with Mirabel at the end. And it serves as a contrast because Abuela's envy of the others having gifts got in her head whereas it didn't with Mirabel.

[jaedenbell]

I have thought this ever since my second watch of Encanto. Mirabel is the candle as I always say it because when she's happy the candle burns brighter and the magic is stronger (her hugging Isabela after getting over their differences), and when she's having sad or angry emotions the candle faulters (singing waiting on a miracle is the first time the cracks are seen and the magic fully disappears when she is venting to Abuela and finally yells it's dying because of you). Bruno's vision shows her in front of the casita with it breaking and repaired both because it breaks and she's the one that makes them put it back together and because her being the candle is what brings the magic back. When Mirabel says she sees herself in all of me she means herself and her family as a part of her, that's why she can re-spark the magic because of the backing of her family in who she is.

[majaw]

I can see the character designers at Disney watching this video and being like finally the hard work paid off, someone noticed the little clues and meanings on the clothing

[AshleysAdvice]

This was the impression I got when I first watched the film, that Mirabelle and her grandmother are essentially one in the same, when Mirabelle grows up she’ll take the post of the grandmother once the grandmother passes, continuing to keep the magic alive and protect the family, her door is the house door she’s in charge of the house and the magic and her family, I could be wrong but that was my interpretation of what was happening, that Mirabelle’s gift was the magic she is an extension of the magic, but she is an actually have a gift herself, just like the grandmother which I think is really cool!

[suzanneruege]

Upon listening to the soundtrack (yet again), Abuela says in the opening song "each new generation must keep the miracle burning". It is a pretty blatant confirmation of this theory. If you notice, Abuela's whole solo in the opening song has the same melody as the "to navigate a world that turns and never stops turning" section in Dos Oruguitas. Rather brilliant to bring that melodic theme full circle.

[MercuryA]

I thought much the same. Abuella's gift was the miracle itself. Mirabel may not be special, but I imagine she's the next matriarch of the madrigals. I was personally headcanoning that she had a room now, but I do like the idea that the front door is her door. I wonder if Casita will make her move into Abuella's room though.

[JordChord]

I'm sure someone has mentioned this already but I think the movie showed us exactly why Mirabel didn't get a gift. After letting go of the candle but before touching her doorknob, she wipes her hands on her dress. Putting the Encanto in herself. When she falters, the Encanto falters. When she thrives, the Encanto thrives. Just my two cents.

[Tatjana_L.]

Abuela also said "I'm sorry I held on too tight" in "All of You", which I didn't quite understand previously, but now do -- she held on too tight regarding her past with Pedro, and she's sorry she didn't value her present. The movie is simply amazing <3

And your theories too!

[ladyamberskye]

OK I agree with all of this but also....ALL the doors are glimmering inside at the end like they had to be reclaimed. I need a theory about their doors changing. Someone said that the director said Mirabel does get a door at the end we just don't see it. They purposely left the doors simmering like before they touch it for the first time.