Encanto is definitely one of the most successful animated films of recent times, with a theme that is far from what Disney usually deals with in its productions. In this 2021 movie, we follow the story of the Madrigals, a family that lives in Encanto. Each member of this family was given a magical gift, with the purpose of helping the people living in the village. Mirabel was the only person not granted a gift, but inadvertently becomes the person who must undertake a mission to save her Casita and, consequently, the magic of Encanto. This film strikes a chord with children, with its fun characters and catchy, chart-topping songs, and thrills many adults, as it tackles the tough issue of family dynamics and the assigned and immutable roles that each family member must fulfill. This production pleased both critics and audiences worldwide, and triggered something that few Disney animated films managed to do: to get fans to conspire, as outlined by Screen Rant's list of fan theories.
At the latest Oscar ceremony, Encanto won in the Best Animated Feature category, an award that brought some controversy due to the presenters' discrediting of the animated genre. Encanto also made it to the music charts with some of its songs, particularly "with We Don't Talk About Bruno," a song that broke a few records. Its soundtrack was such a hit that it will soon be incorporated to Disney+ in its Sing Along version. A very interesting thing about the songs is how well they describe the characters, their gifts, and their greatest fears, which mostly relate to the burden of their gifts. The vulnerability shown by the family members made them more relatable and drew the audience's adoration, as they fantasized about having some of their gifts. However, not all the gifts of this family are really blessings. That is why in this article, we will review and rank all of them from worst to best.
8 Pepa's Weather-Controlling Mood
Pepa's gift is probably one of the most valuable of the entire Madrigal family. Weather control is an ability that could be useful on countless occasions: to help different towns and cities by making it rain in times of severe droughts or wildfires, and even for everyday situations, such as keeping the weather from raining during a special event or a vacation to the beach. Nevertheless, Pepa's gift is ranked at the bottom of this list for one simple reason: she cannot control the weather at will; rather, it depends entirely on her emotions, something that is known to be hard to manage. Throughout Encanto, she struggles with her emotions, repressing her sadness and concerns in order to fulfill her assigned role and provide the town with the weather everyone is waiting for. Because of this, Pepa's gift may become, at times, a bit of a curse.
7 Camilo's Shape-Shifting
Camilo is Pepa and Felix's son, and his gift allows him to shape-shift into any other person. Throughout the film, Camilo amuses himself by impersonating his sister Dolores or Mariano, Isabela's attractive boyfriend, and his role is mainly to entertain both the community and his family. While there are many situations in which this young character's gift would be extremely useful, the reality is that, compared to the rest of the Madrigal family's gifts, Camilo's is not really that useful, based on what the audience could see in the film. It is possible that in the future this character will be further explored in an Encanto sequel, which, according to Lin-Manuel Miranda, via Collider, is "a matter of 'when' and not 'if.'"
6 Bruno’s Visions
There is a lot to say about Bruno. This man is one of Alma's triplets, brother to Julieta and Pepa. Bruno's gift consisted of his visions which manifest the future. Yet, the vast majority of these visions could not be altered, and frankly frightened and annoyed those around him (both family and villagers alike). This is another one of the gifts that on many occasions proved to be a curse for the bearer: everyone wanted to know their future, but when it fell short of their expectations, it was Bruno's fault. Eventually, his predictions became a problem for the Madrigal family, especially for grandmother Alma, so Bruno decided to leave the Encanto.
5 Isabela's Flower Creation
Isabela herself was the perfect Madrigal, so when she was old enough to receive her gift, she was given one as flawless as herself: the ability to create beautiful flowers, in all colors and sizes. The main problem with this gift was the great pressure she suffered from having to be and behave perfectly all the time, and at a certain point, it limited her powers. But one day, in the middle of a fight with her sister Mirabel, Isabela was so furious that her powers got out of control and created something imperfect: a cactus. That was when the young woman truly unleashed her full potential, while understanding that it was not her responsibility to be perfect all the time.
4 Dolores' Super Hearing
Dolores is Pepa's oldest daughter, and her gift is super hearing. This young woman can hear absolutely everything that happens in the Encanto, from the smallest gossip to discussions happening miles away. In fact, at the end of the movie, when Bruno decided to return to the family, Dolores revealed that she had been listening to him all through the years. And therein lies the negative aspect of such a gift: knowing everything about everyone must be extremely exhausting, while at the same time forcing you to dwell with certain secrets. In Dolores' case, she found it very difficult to keep a secret once she discovered it, and simultaneously, focusing on her gift and on others prevented her from listening to herself and discovering what she really wanted. Nevertheless, this gift can be extraordinarily useful in a myriad of situations, if it is properly managed.
3 Luisa's Super Strength
Luisa is Mirabel and Isabella's sister, and her gift is super strength. She is able to move many animals at once, heavy stones, and even shift the foundations of houses with a single push. This gift could be extremely useful for any person; the applications are endless. It can be helpful for everyday things, such as opening a canned jar that seems to be completely sealed, as well as more important things, like moving appliances, cars, and even helping in emergency situations. The downside of this gift, however, is that while Luisa never got physically tired, she did get mentally exhausted from taking on the weight of everyone around her and feeling the pressure of having to carry everyone's problems, causing her to feel like she was not strong enough to fulfill her role.
2 Antonio's Ability To Talk To Animals
The gifts in the Madrigal family are not randomly assigned, and Antonio's is no exception. This little boy is Pepa's son and brother to Camilo and Dolores. During the movie, he reached the age to receive his gift, and was granted the ability to communicate with animals. The young boy was a bit lonely prior to his gift, so the magic of Encanto made sure that he never has to feel that way again, and can always be in the company of an animal. This gift is an ability that probably the vast majority of people wished for, especially as children — who wouldn't want to understand their pet? Above and beyond that, it is also an extremely useful ability to ensure the well-being of all species on the planet and to work alongside them.
1 Julieta's Healing Meals
Julieta's gift places her at the top of this list for its usefulness both personally and in the community. Julieta is the mother of Mirabel, Luisa, and Isabela, and she is married to Agustin. The gift she was given is the ability to cure any type of physical illness or health problem with her exquisite homemade food. Regardless of the seriousness of the condition in question, Julieta can cure it fromt the very first bite, which makes her gift an invaluable skill that could help many, many people around the world. In addition to that, it is necessary to talk about how useful this gift would be for whomever possesses it when a terrible headache occurs, or when someone suffers a cut while cooking, among thousands of other everyday situations.