Encanto has come to be regarded as one of the best Disney movies in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. It has all of the key ingredients for a movie of this sort, with dazzling animation, infectiously listenable songs, and characters that it is easy to cheer for.
Though Mirabel is the center of the story, there are also quite a few other characters that manage to make an impression, and all of them have at least one quote that they utter during the course of the movie that essentially sums up their entire personality.
Mirabel:
“Gift Or No Gift, I Am Just As Special As The Rest Of My Family.”
Mirabel is sure to be seen as one of the best Disney heroines, as she is someone who isn’t willing to simply sit by and let things happen to her. As this quote makes clear, she recognizes that there is something unique to her, something that she brings to her family that no one else does.
It’s precisely this spirit, this unwillingness to ever admit defeat, that allows her to overcome all of the trials and struggles that she faces throughout the course of the movie.
Isabela:
“I’m Tired Of Perfect. I Want Real.”
At first, Isabel looks like the typical Disney princess, and in many other Disney movies she would be the center of the action (there are many great Disney princess movies, after all). However, this quote shows that she is not nearly as content as she would like others to believe.
In fact, she has come to see her perfection as something of a prison, something that keeps her from experiencing the world as it really is. It’s a beautiful testament to her fundamental strength as a character.
Abuela:
“We Must Protect Our Home. We Must Protect Our Family.”
Though she is not always one of the most likable characters in the movie, Abuela nevertheless remains fundamentally loyal to her family. In fact, for her there is nothing more important than ensuring that her family, and their beloved and magical house, is kept safe from everything.
Unfortunately, this fundamental aspect of her nature, made so obvious in this quote, also happens to be one of her shortcomings, as it leads her to be sometimes cruel to those that she should love.
Bruno:
"You Can't Hurry The Future."
Bruno is undoubtedly one of the smartest characters in the movie, in part because he has the gift of being able to see the future. However, he shows time and again, including with this quote, that he understands that this gift is something of a mixed blessing.
In fact, he realizes, even if Mirabel doesn’t, that the future is something that cannot be rushed, that it will unfold according to its own designs, regardless of what individuals try to do.
Julieta:
“You’re Just As Special As Anyone Else In This Family.”
There are many great parental figures in the history of Disney. There’s no question, though, that Julieta is a great mother, in large part because she is always willing to give her love and support to her family.
This includes Mirabel, who always struggles with her self-confidence because of the fact that she doesn’t seem to have a gift like the rest of the family. As this quote demonstrates, however, Julieta is never going to let that stand in the way of her love of her daughter.
Antonio:
“I Wish You Could Have A Door.”
As one of the youngest members of the family, Antonio has yet to show all of the personality traits as some of his elders. Still, what he shows can neatly be summed up with this quote, in which tells Mirabel that he wishes that she, too, had a door so that she could have the all-important magic gift.
It’s a testament to just how much he loves her and how her happiness is as important to him as his own.
Dolores:
“The Only One Worried About The Magic Is You, And The Rats Talking In The Walls. Oh, And Luisa, I Heard Her Eye Was Twitching All Night.”
Given that each member of the Madrigal family has their own gift, it’s unsurprising that one of them would have exceptional hearing. In this case, that’s Dolores.
However, as she shows with this quote, that is something of a mixed blessing, since she is able to hear every little thing going on in the walls, including the rats. This quote shows that, for her, sometimes having such power can be a burden.
Luisa:
“Why Would Anything Be Wrong? I’m Totally Fine. The Magic’s Fine. Luisa’s Fine. I’m Totally Not Nervous.”
Luisa is one of the most powerful people in the movie, and her physical strength is a marvel to behold. However, it’s also something that causes her a great deal of heartache, since she feels like she has to hold up all of the other members of her family.
This quote shows just how much stress it has put on her. Her sense of obligation to her family is so strong, and so overwhelming at times, that it can be difficult for her to ever admit to her own vulnerability.
Félix:
“What a Joyous Day, But Anyway...”
Like others that have married into the family, Felix doesn’t have a power of his own. Nevertheless, he does a very skillful job at keeping his wife from getting upset and causing some sort of meteorological incident.
This can be clearly seen in this quote, which occurs during the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” number (one of the best in the show), and it indicates his desire to look on the bright side of life rather than the negative.
Agustín:
“I’m Just Saying, I Get It.”
Like his wife, Augustin takes his position as a father very seriously. In fact, he goes out of his way to show to Mirabel that, like her, he has had to shoulder the experience of not having the sort of gifts as the rest of the family.
While it clearly has a very limited effect–she doesn’t seem especially comforted–it nevertheless demonstrates his affection for his daughter and his desire to help her feel better about herself.