Encanto co-director and writer Jared Bush has revealed why Mirabel’s mother, Julieta, doesn’t simply heal her daughter’s vision. Encanto boasts a star-studded voice cast, including the likes of John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, and Stephanie Beatriz, to bring Disney’s latest animated picture to fruition. The new Colombian-based fairy tale has already been a large success, especially due to captivating songs like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which currently holds the top spot on Billboard’s Top 100.
The plot of Encanto revolves around the members of the Madrigal family, who each possess a unique power given to them by an enchanted candle. Sadly, Mirabel does not receive a gift like her sisters and other family members. The Madrigals uses their powers to help the townspeople, and Julieta is no exception, having the ability to heal almost any ailment with her cooking. In Encanto, she is shown healing bee stings, cuts, and even a broken arm. However, Julieta's healing abilities left many viewers questioning why she didn’t fix her daughter’s eyesight.
Mirabel is not only the sole heir without any powers, she also has the distinction of being the only direct family member that wears glasses. Why didn’t Julieta didn't simply correct her vision to help her fit in was a mystery that many fans have since raised. Bush recently revealed why Mirabel has glasses, citing the true story of a young Disney fan who wrote a letter to the studio requesting the creation of a glasses-wearing hero. According to Bush, Julieta saw no reason to "fix" Mirabel's eyesight, since it is "just who [she is] and she wouldn't want to change it." See Bush’s post and the original fan story below.
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A similar discussion came about when Harry Potter had his glasses magically mended in The Sorcerer’s Stone. According to Lowri, the 12-year-old Disney fan in the clip above, glasses can be directly tied to an individual’s personality or image. Wearing them is something that distinguishes a person in a unique way that others may be able to identify with, and is not necessarily a condition that needs to be "fixed." Bush is clearly supportive of this idea, and confirms that Julieta never corrected Mirabel’s vision because it was just another trait that made her beloved daughter unique.
Mirabel has already been billed as the first Disney heroine to wear glasses, but Bush’s explanation as to why she continues to sport the eyewear makes her even more admirable. Just like those that may be able to related to the pressure Mirabel's sister Luisa feels, many audience members see their own reflection in Mirabel and her struggle to find her own place in the world. The revelation of this small character detail from Bush is just another example of how hard the creative team behind Encanto has worked to bring these fictional characters to life in a way that can represent and inspire a new generation of Disney viewers.
Source: Jared Bush