Disney's Encanto made a pivotal change to Mirabel Madrigal, and the story adjustment saves the entire movie. Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) isn't like the rest of her family. While Mirabel's sisters, mother, and extended family get all kinds of magical gifts, Mirabel doesn't. Unfortunately, the lack of powers causes problems with Abuela Alma Madrigal (María Cecilia Botero), who's worried about the family losing its magic and their enchanted house. It's Mirabel's lack of powers that drives her relentlessness to prove herself to her family and discover why their magical house is falling apart.
Encanto (2021) is an enormous success for Disney. After premiering in November, the film hit Disney+ in December and surged in popularity. Since it was more widely available, Encanto's soundtrack shot up to the top of Billboard's albums list, and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" became the number one song on Billboard's Hot 100. The film is such a success that the movie is even heading back to theaters ahead of the 2022 Oscars. Encanto has nominations for Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song.
The film went through several changes before it became a massive hit, and one Mirabel change was key. Disney's Art of Encanto reveals the behind-the-scenes story of Encanto and how the final film came to be. In the book, Encanto director Jared Bush explains that Mirabel was trying to find a magical gift of her own in an earlier version of the story. However, the director said it became clear that Mirabel should've accepted not having a gift and simply wanted to be seen by her family. "This element of her motivation, wanting to be seen, felt much more relatable than a quest to find a magical power," Bush said. The change ultimately shapes Encanto into the story it became.
Mirabel's lack of powers makes Encanto stand out. In the film, Mirabel feels overshadowed by her family's abilities, wanting nothing more than to make the Madrigals proud. It's part of what makes her relatable. She even discovers her magical family members also feel inadequate, showing how universal the mindset can be. Mirabel's relatability ultimately makes her more endearing and creates a wholly unique and timeless Disney protagonist.
While a quest storyline would completely change Encanto, Disney's quest films are still wildly successful. For instance, Mulan (1998) and many other animated features have received live-action remakes, and the third installment of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) is coming in 2023. However, Disney's created quest films over and over again. Encanto was something different. Rather than Mirabel going on a quest, the majority of the action takes place in the enchanted Casita itself, a location that becomes a lovable character along the way. In the end, Mirabel's relationship with her family and Casita drive the story forward, making the final product much more magical than powers could ever be.