The Encanto Madrigal family may harbor incredible gifts, but a reveal from director Jared Bush proves their powers do have a weakness. While it could be easy to brush off any possible shortcoming with a little bit of Disney magic, Bush builds on the Madrigals and how audiences relate to them by giving each of them their own faults and weaknesses. The Madrigals may be magical, but they are not perfect — despite their miracle, they are just like any other family.
Since the release of Encanto, the director has eagerly revealed information regarding the characters and universe he has built. Bush has hosted several sessions on his social media, answering fans' most burning questions. In a Q&A session on Bush's Twitter, the director responded with a resounding "Oh yes" when asked if the Madrigal family faces physical side effects from their gifts. While the answer was brief, it raises many questions surrounding the limitations of the family's gifts. While these limitations make the Madrigals more relatable, they could also serve as a hurdle in possible Encanto sequels.
The Madrigals' Powers In Encanto Can Cause Physical Pain
The powers of the Madrigal family are beautifully unique, but even they have a downside. Bush has previously confirmed that Bruno's ability to see the future has caused him physical turmoil, and in some versions of the movie, he would even pass out after using his abilities. While it could be easy to assume this is due to the brutal nature of Bruno's gift, the same is true for the entire Madrigal family. On top of the exhaustion caused by the extended use of their abilities, some gifts could come with consequences reflecting their nature — for example, soreness caused by Camilo's frequent shifting or migraines caused by Dolores' strong hearing.
How The Madrigals' Power Weakness Could Impact Encanto 2
This weakness in the Madrigals' powers makes a perfect twist for Encanto 2. Now that the family has secured the miracle and begun to explore their gifts on their own terms, it would only be natural to see those abilities reach their natural limit. Whether these weaknesses serve as a major plot point or just a minor hurdle in their journey, it is important for the sequel to touch on them in some capacity. To ignore these limitations in future Encanto films would be missing a major opportunity to further develop the nuances of each character and their relationship with their gifts.
When it comes to the Madrigal family, their faults are just as important in building their character as their miracles are. To find the peak of the Madrigal family's powers, they must first overcome their limitations. With the Encanto secured once again, exploring the parameters of their powers — and their shortcomings — is the natural next step. If there are any Encanto sequels in Jared Bush's future, the physical fallout of their abilities is a very real hurdle the Madrigal family might have to navigate.