Why Didn’t Mirabel Get A Gift? | Disney Encanto Film Theory

[@SuperCarlinBrothers]

What is your favorite song from Encanto?!

[@simranruparelia8176]

definitely Surface Pressure

[@nathanpeach5721]

We dont talk about Bruno Awesome!!!

[@rebeccathomas9045]

My favourite song has to be what else can I do…I resonate with Isa too much some days 😅

[@tessmeggison]

We don’t talk about Bruno is SUCH A VIBE

[@disneyfreak9011]

I do adore We Don’t Talk About Bruno but all of them are just incredible, Lin-Manuel Miranda is 👌👌👌

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

The major collective fan theory is that Mirabel's actual Gift is her inheriting Abuela's status as the matriarch. She's the only one aside from Abuela who can talk to the Casita. Plus, Mirabel is already establishing herself as a community leader with how she interacts with the Encanto's kids and Antonio. She carries the family's legacy in the opening number and she showed herself to be a leader when they had to rebuild the Casita.

[@TheMarshmellowLife]

I had this one. But later on I wondered if she was purposely excluded by Abuela. If Abuela has that control that is. She saw in Bruno's vision that Mirabel would destroy the magic, so she tried to cut her out to prevent the Prophecy. Which never works.

[@BlitzerXYZ]

I prefer the theory that Maribel simply wiped off the magic on her dress before she touched door. Like we don't know others don't talk to Casita. If anything she may simply talk to it more because she can't connect to her family because of her lack of power. The other characters don't need to talk to the house

[@thephony1651]

@@BlitzerXYZ Now here’s the big question: Where’s the dress’s door?

[@Zanin_Lozar]

@@TheMarshmellowLife the vision came after Mirabel's gift ceremony

[@pablo-xxl9309]

This is the only theory that makes sense because this explains why she doesn’t have a power every other just explain what her role is but this one connects her with the one and only family members who has a role but not a power aka grandmama!

[@jessicaclark9703]

I think that Bruno’s vision wasn’t about Mirabel being the one to decide the fate. She both breaks and rebuilds the house, and I think that the vision just couldn’t figure out how to portray that except showing the house repeatedly breaking and repairing itself. Mirabel was simply the catalyst.

[@SpiderSmoothie]

I've been thinking about the house cracking. I would be willing to bet that it started way before Mirabel. I think it started when people, specifically the family, started to dislike and blame Bruno for the bad things that happened in his visions. That was when the real rift in the family began. But I think the cracks were so small and well hidden that it took a while after Bruno went into hiding for him to realize it was happening and start trying to patch it. And don't think the symbolism of him all alone in hiding literally trying to patch the rift in Casito (and by extension, his family) is lost on me. I think if Bruno hadn't been brought back to the family (by Mirabel) and things made right with everyone, even if Mirabel had been accepted and given the doorknob, Casita and the gifts wouldn't have come back.

[@Thalymor]

Yes! I don't think the vision wasn't a shifting, undecided future. BOTH things happened. The house fell and was rebuilt by Mirabel.

[@Theroha]

Exactly. You can see the moment when she realizes that the house had to fall before it could be rebuilt. At the river, she sees the butterfly land on the grass. She saw the same thing in Bruno's vision when he said, "It's out of order." Each event in the vision happened.

[@CeltycSparrow]

I think Bruno's vision represented reincarnation....like a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly. The family was putting TOO MUCH focus on their individual gifts, and I think they forgot the REAL Gift....the love and sacrifice that the grandfather made that created this home for his family. I think they NEEDED to be destroyed to be remade anew so they could be reminded of the TRUE meaning of the Miracle Candle and the Casita...the love that binds them together as a family. Mirabel reminded them of that. That's why her Door is the front door.

[@omegadark891]

I thought that too

[@AshleysAdvice]

I think what they were trying to say in the movie is that the reason Mirabelle didn’t get a gift is because she is essentially the grandmother in the next line of descendants, in this new generation of kids she will take up the mantle of keeping the candle alive and protecting the family which you see throughout the film, this also explains why her and her grandmother have opposite doorways and always sit opposite each other, she is essentially a mirror of the grandmother and there to Take the place of the grandmother after she passes, at least that’s the message I got by the end of the film.

[@PineappleLiar]

Exactly what I was thinking! Abuela doesn’t have any particular gift, either, beyond being the person who ties the entire family together. Both Abuela and Mirabel spend the entire movie with the same goal; trying to save their family. The only difference is in their methods; Abuela wants to keep things idealized and constant, while Mirabel insists on change and actively searching for a solution. Not to mention of all the Madrigals Casita is the most immediately affectionate to Mirabel, in particular. Like, Mirabel doesn’t get a room, because the entire house is hers, in it’s own way (the end of the movie reinforces that, with the doorknob scene). Still hopefully they actually built her her own room in the new house. I get the metaphor, but also practically having her stay in the nursery would be just mean.

[@cydragon2.099]

that's why me and my brother theorized after watching

[@hunterolaughlin]

@@PineappleLiar At least with her staying in the nursery in the old Casita, she could take care of Antonio when he was a baby. Probably explaining why Antonio has such a close bond with Mirabel out of all the Madrigal family members and looks up to her as a big sister even though she’s his cousin.

[@LizzayMartini]

I think the symbolism of Mirabel sitting “opposite” Abuela, may actually represent that while she is the next matriarch, she is going to do things differently. I think the short film before Encanto about breaking generational curses was a nod to Mirabel’s journey!

[@FiddleKat]

Ditto

[@BlankPicketSign]

There was one other VERY Important scene, and that was her under the bed with her kid cousin, reassuring him, feeling what he feels, taking that time to understand and sooth his anxiety. She's the perfect person to take up the challenge because she could empathize with everyone! She never had to be "Special" to save the family, she just had to be herself, and be kind!

[@SzaraWilk]

Her being not gifted make her ironically special.

[@agent_ocelot9390]

Personal theory of mine: Bruno and Mirabel were misinterpreting the vision. The future wasn't undecided; Mirabel was at the center of the house breaking and being fixed, which is precisely what happens in the movie. It's clear that the visions weren't completely easy to understand, seeing as how Bruno told Dolores that the man of her dreams would be betrothed to another, but not that the betrothal wouldn't work out and Dolores would eventually get him. The vision also didn't reveal that it was truly Alma losing her way that destroyed the house, only that Mirabel would be some part of that process.

[@somuchtocook9159]

And I think that it’s clear that his gift was in a sense not complete and was focused on the big events

[@joannamyers1268]

Bruno was robbed of the acceptance and love it needed to truly understand his gift. He came to be afraid of it, and himself, because everyone else was

[@somuchtocook9159]

@@joannamyers1268 it could explain the negative view of his own predictions

[@Miss_Myth]

Completely agree, that's exactly how I saw it! In the movie they were trying to figure out WHICH version was true, when in reality she had to go *through* one to *get to* the other... which is such a life lesson, AND ties into the main theme - sometimes you have to be willing to face, go through, or even live with, something broken or imperfect to get to a truly fulfilled/happy life.

[@baddiebiscuit1109]

i personally think that bruno’s visions are easily open to interpretation like bruno said that isabela would have the life she always wanted and you would think that would be getting married and having kids but she just wanted to be herself. i also think that sometimes bc they were shown the vision it comes true. like the only reason that mirabel and isabela ended up hugging is bc mirabel was actively trying to make the vision come true and caused isabela to tell mirabel how she was feeling

[@jish55]

My theory is that she did get a gift, and that it's the magic of the house itself (not the power of the candle). We see this in hints and throughout the film, like when the cracks start forming is literally the moment we see Mirabel feeling like an outcast, where it shows the house reacting specifically to her emotion of feeling like she's being removed from the family. The cracks vanish when she feels like she's helping members, but when she fights Abuela, that leads to the eventual destruction of the house, not because Abuela was angry, but because Mirabel felt like no matter what she tries, she'll never live up to her grandmother's expectations and as such never be a true member of the family, which is when the house fully gives way. The house regains its power the moment Mirabel feels fully accepted at the end of the film.

[@sailealienna4189]

This is where i am. And the house comes back to life with her doorknob. She does have a door, the front door.

[@MaverickMyth]

That also explains why she doesn't get a door: because the whole house is her room.

[@andreasmeelie1889]

I noticed that too! I'm so glad that I caught onto that! :)

[@kleioslibrary5451]

Mirabel is also the only one who talks to Casita like a person, treats it like another member of the household. Everyone else just takes Casita for granted (like how my husband takes our automatic litter box cleaner for granted until it breaks). You even get the sense that Abuela stopped talking to Casita after it "failed" to give Mirabel a gift; she stopped seeing it as a family member and started seeing it as a tool to keep her family safe. A tool that failed. The breakfast scene is kind of a good example of this; she doesn't ask Casita to move Mirabel closer to her but "demands" she be moved closer in a similar way a person of authority might get an unwelcome guest at their dinner table to move by saying "I think you will enjoy the view from that window better." and then their body guards move that person away.

[@KingRichardDeLeonheart]

I think it’s because she wiped her hands on her dress before touching the door

[@Dusxio]

A second counter point: What was special about Mirabel is she was giving the gift of being able to see past the magic. Because she so openly 'didn't get a gift', she grew up in a space where she was outside the established gift and service centric family culture. She was able to see the problems in the family and the magic and also had a better connection with the house itself, that more or less provided the magic, being able to see it not so much as 'This special thing that sets us aside', but almost as a person. When you look at the scene where the house was collapsing, Mirabel was worried not just about the House, but about Casita.

[@feitocomfruta]

Here’s my theory: Dolores is the other one in the family who is looking out for them. She heard Bruno the whole time and knew he needed help living behind the walls until he was ready. She heard Luisa’s eye twitching and knew Luisa needed help and guided Mirabel towards her. She had a crush on Mariano, so ruining the engagement because she heard Mirabel got the prophecy could be seen as selfish. HOWEVER, I think she heard Isabella alone in her room crying about not wanting to marry so when Mirabel and Augustin were talking about the prophecy, she put together a plan to save Isabella from buckling under the pressure and also bring to light the things they needed to discuss.

[@dbseamz]

I never saw it as selfish...in fact I never thought it was anything but Dolores simply bursting to tell the secret until you wrote this. But it makes perfect sense--if anyone besides Isabela herself was going to know Isa wasn't happy about the engagement, it would be Dolores. Her own crush on Mariano was just extra motivation to help her cousin out.

[@feitocomfruta]

@@dbseamz exactly.

[@marsmaya]

Wait... who's augustin?

[@powerpuff_avenger]

@@marsmaya Julieta's husband, and Isabela, Luisa and Mirabel's father.

[@feitocomfruta]

@@marsmaya Mirabel’s dad

[@gingersnaps5491]

I think the "gifts" that the family members get are based on their personalities. Bruno was highly perceptive so he was given the ability to look into the future. Antonio likes animals (which Mirabel specifically mentions before his ceremony), so he gets the gift to speak to animals. Isabel was described as being perfect from the day she was born so she got the gift to create beautiful flowers. With Mirabel, she is incredibly empathetic, she cares about her family deeply and wants to help them. She cares about how they feel. I think the candle recognized this and picked her to be the next holder of the candle, taking the place of Abuela Alma (who, as was said in the video, had lost her way). That is why the cracks seemed to occur when Mirabel felt distant from her family, and it is only when she embraces everyone in her family and is able to forgive her grandmother that the magic is able to return. She is meant to be the holder of the candle/miracle like Abuela Alma who also didn't have any gifts. This is also evidenced by the fact that when the house gets its magic back, the door glows with an image of the entire family and Mirabel is the center holding the candle (which at this point is more symbolic than literal).

[@jimenat357]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 This makes so much sense

[@thedragonwarrior5861]

This makes perfect sense

[@potterhead5785]

@Ginger Snaps this is the kind of explanation i was expecting when i clicked on the video. this is well explained and fits perfectly.

[@gingersnaps5491]

@@psykat777 huh?

[@psykat777]

@@gingersnaps5491 You copied and pasted the comment from someone else in the comment section. Or maybe someone did it to you, but if I picked you and not the other person, then I probably did if for good reason. I don't remember exactly why I picked you as the comment thief, though.

[@jadamgreen]

I like the theory that abuelo was the spirit animating the house, and that he denied Mirabelle a gift as a part of setting her up to heal the family. Her outsider perspective means she isn't under such intense pressure from abuela, and that she can see the issue more clearly. Then abuelo collapses the old house, builds a new one, and gets reincarnated as the yellow butterfly at the end.

[@asteroid11]

The most interesting part of the premonition is they got the bad ending. The house did break, the miracle did stop, it just came back because Mirabel was able to bring her family back together. It almost plays more as a prediction about Abuela and how she percieves Mirabel in that moment. If she is able to acknowledge that she is equally as special as everyone else in the family, the casita stays and the cracks go away, but if she still only sees worth in the gifts, then the cracks remain and the house is destroyed. Mirabel was always a good and special person, just by being her.

[@jacintacapelety9600]

I interpreted it as the prophecy not actually being split, but two successive outcomes in one. The prophecy just shows the house with or without cracks, there's no way to know if the house without cracks was the original Casita, or the one that the family rebuilt, because, at least as far as I could tell, the two houses look exactly the same (at least from the angle shown in the vision). The house crumbled, but then was rebuilt, and both happened at Mirabel's hands. What she yelled at Abuela seemed to be the last bit of family pressure needed to cause Casita's final crumbling, and Mirabel puts the finishing touch on the new house. Both versions of the vision happen.

[@asteroid11]

@@jacintacapelety9600 mm interesteing, I like it

[@perpetuasomnium8173]

I think that in a way it was a dual vision- showing Casita breaking because of the tension in her family and the new Casita rebuilt by everyone at the end. Just a thought tho XD

[@sweetmissirish]

Very interesting. It could also be that she was going to be the one to fix it - Bruno didn't see the vision in order (that's why they thought it ended when she hugged her sister). I think you're right, it could have ended there if abuela could accept her but I also think that it was always going to break and she was the one to fix it. She is the glue holding them together, the foundation... she's like the new abuela.

[@camiart_casual]

I do t thing there were different endings to the prophecy, it's just that no one considered that Mirabel would have to both break AND restore the the house/the family. The vision wasn't undecided, they just didn't know how to interpret it.

[@pirateslife752]

I just had a thought. I definitely thought 5 years old was so super young to "come of age", when most societies say that's when you'rea teenager at least. It almost feels to me like their gifts are given based on what they like at the time, see Antonio liking animals and THEN being given the gift of speaking with them. So, what if all of their powers are based on what they like as a FIVE year old, with no regard to the possibility they'll grow up and grow out of it. Isabella probably liked the color pink and princessy, perfect things when she was a little kid, and now she's discovered that's not her style anymore. Baby Louisa could have wanted to be like superman. Baby Bruno thought seeing the future would be cool, with no way of understanding how much of a curse that can be. So, maybe Baby Mirabel just...didn't really like anything that much? Or her interest was diy crafts, and the house said "fine then, do it yourself, you don't need anything from me." Anyways, all this to say that a power/gift and the responsibility that comes with it shouldn't be placed on someone who is just barely not considered a toddler anymore.

[@jehoshuakaruh6078]

That's actually an interesting theory so by your line of thinking what do you think the rest of the family interested with at the time?

[@dbseamz]

@@jehoshuakaruh6078 Little Julieta would have loved helping in the kitchen, and had extra empathy for her brother and sister whenever they got hurt. Little Pepa would have been the outdoorsy girl, always playing in the sunshine or jumping in rain puddles. Little Dolores, with lots of relatives around (given the ages I looked up for the grandkids, she's less than a year younger than Isabela and three or four years older than Luisa), would have been the curious one who always wants to know what's going on. Little Camilo would be the one who always wants to play dress-up and pretend.

[@vallentinac9513]

Love this theory!!

[@danielasarmiento30]

I think it might have to do with who they are at their core, not so much with what they like. With Isabela, maybe it wasn't liking the pretty things but making people smile with them (so now she can make them). With Antonio, it could be prefering the comfort of animals to people (so now he can talk to them). Bruno, being afraif of the future (so now he can see it). If baby Mirabel's grand core strength is her empathy, wht gift could rreally highten it? At five those life expectation of being a certain way aren't present, so a kid at five is closer to their core than what they mask themselves to be at fifteen or twenty five.

[@aubreywest5006]

I really like this theory! Maybe instead of Mirabel being into diy crafts though, it was just that she really loved and admired her family, so Casita gave her the power to bring them together and see that family is important whether with gifts or not

[@Yuvan04V1]

Encanto is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite Disney movies. Luisa’s power of strength and her fear of letting the family down is her greatest fear and that hits home on so many levels. This movie has such a great message! Also, my favorite song is We Don’t Talk About Bruno. 100% best Disney ever!

[@ggt47]

Really?🤔😯

[@jackboy9046]

@@ggt47 yeah

[@ayshagayle]

I totally agree. I connect with Luisa the most but the Bruno song (and his plight) are my favorite.

[@lost0thech4]

Re watch it she wipes the magic from the candle off before touching the door handle

[@ggt47]

@@jackboy9046 Eh. I think I am too dead inside to find any joy in this film.

[@mbanerjee5889]

In the words of Syndrome: “If everyone’s special, no one will be.” And in the words of Dumbledore: "Only a person who wanted to find the Stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it." So no, it couldn't have been anyone. The gifts are a curse in many ways, but Mirabel not receiving one was her "curse". But she never resented anyone in her family for receiving a gift and helped in any way she could. She didn't want to protect the magic for herself, she did it for her family. The candle chose her to be the miracle. Only someone who wasn't gifted could protect their gifts.

[@RosieGamgee]

also in the words of dumbledore "It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.”

[@officialkirbyfan6899]

So essentially, she's lucky to not get a "gift"?

[@calmwaveofchaos1878]

I’ve seen a lot of theories about Mirabel’s power being the next holder of the magic, or being able to talk to the house, or she did the ceremony wrong, but I really like this interpretation. As we hear from Dolores’ off-handed remark, she simply didn’t get one. It could’ve happened to any of the kids, but it landed on her by chance, and that’s all there is to it. It shouldn’t matter why, and if her family wasn’t gradually splitting apart at the seams it wouldn’t have mattered. She’s a regular ordinary person, just like all of the townsfolk. If her family had been able to see that that still meant she was just as valuable and accommodated her with a regular, ordinary job there wouldn’t have been a problem. Mirabel never wanted a power, she just wanted a place in her family.

[@_Egon]

Is a subtle message for the kids too, injustice things happen without an specific reason but that doesn't mean we are less value as a person. As Mirabel put in words later "sometimes family weirdos get a bad wrap"

[@ashleyhardy1706]

That wasn’t Delors’s as she was in the mountains, that was Camilo I reckon

[@noreng4933]

I like this interpretation the most. It would make no sense to me that her "gift" has actually been being the next family leader or such, because it was obvious at the ceremony that she did NOT recieve one. it was probably an error and that's all

[@despicablepenguin]

I really don't think this could've happened to anyone though. I think it was particularly Mirabel's empathy and energetic belief/positivity to make her the perfect candidate to not get a gift and still not break down absolutely immediately and to bring the family together. I think it would be harder or practically impossible if it was given to Luisa or Isabela because of their personality.

[@joeyt6714]

Sorry for replying to a month old comment. I like your theory the most because so much content I take in are: superheroes or wizards so Mirabel having no gift is refreshing to see in a movie. It hits home because all of us have no superpowers nor magic and how empathy goes a long way.

[@sabrinajordan4949]

I think it’s because she is the “foundation/glue” of the family. She keeps the family together and her purpose was exactly that. Remember when she predicted the downfall? It’s because she can sense the relationship between the family failing and so her goal is to keep that from happening.

[@ThePmso]

Yes. She was the butterfly of the future of família Madrigal

[@amberbradshaw1461]

Yes. My thoughts exactly 💯

[@alexhart9267]

So basically, she IS a gift!

[@im_living_dead]

Yup yup yup

[@Toomooo]

the relationship of the family started failing because she didnt have a gift though, right? so didn't the gift just make it worse or something

[@annelisek.wardwell678]

Okay, so my personal theory kind of goes along with this. I believe that Mirabel was given a magical gift by the candle, and that gift was her empathy. She is not simply empathetic, she is an empath, to an extraordinary extent. She literally appears inside the thoughts and inner monologues of other characters (namely Luisa during Surface pressure and Abuela during Dos Origuitas) and seems able to interact with them. In fact her observations in Abuela’s memory often seem more honest to the trauma that occurred than when we see the origin of the candle at the opening. As an empath she is meant to be constantly connected with her whole family, and it is this fact that unfortunately makes them think she has no gift at all. Because of this calling to connect her family, she does not receive a room of her own, forcing her to be a part of the house at large in stead of isolating herself. This also can explain why she seems to be the only one who directly communicates with Casita. It is, of course, this lack of a room that prompts the family to think she has no gift. However, the door to Casita as a whole responds the same way to Mirabel at the end of the movie as each individual family member’s did to them upon their gifting, indicating that Mirabel did get a gift and the whole of Casita is her place, not just a singular room like the others. In short, Mirabel received a magical gift, and a whole house instead of just a bedroom.

[@thephony1651]

Huh, I didn’t know Mirabel was every single 14 year old girl on Tiktok. Jokes aside, theory’s pretty good actually

[@akitaho1]

Yeah that makes sense to me, it also fits with the ending where Mirabel is opening the door to the newly build house!

[@Luxenya]

Imagine thinking empathy is a magical gift....

[@annelisek.wardwell678]

@@Luxenya I don’t mean empathy in the way we experience it. I mean it to the point where she is literally seeing physical embodiments of other’s thoughts and emotions. That seems pretty extraordinary and magical to me.

[@Luxenya]

@@annelisek.wardwell678 that sounds more like a curse tbh, how would that even benefit her? Besides she didn't know anything about her sisters nor grandma before they actually open up to her so doesn't sound likely.

[@amateur-madman3047]

My theory was that Abuelo’s spirit is what caused the magic in the candle, and he basically became Casita. So when he saw the way Abuela was misusing her family’s gifts he gave Bruno the vision of catastrophe and declined Mirabel a gift because of the way Abuela was beginning to view the possibility of the children not receiving gifts. He knew she’d become the one that would either fix the family or destroy it by refusing to forgive the way they treated her. Which was why Casita was only destroyed AFTER Mirabel acknowledged who was at fault instead of forgiving and moving forward. Opposite to the way the candle burned brighter after Mirabel forgave Isabella’s hatred and Isabella acknowledged that her sister didn’t have to be just as perfect as her to be good enough. My favorite scene was after Luisa’s song Mirabel just walks up and gives her a hug because she understands the pressure to be good enough.

[@katalinarodriguez1221]

I think Bruno's vision could have also been partially misinterpreted showing that the house needed to break down to become whole again.

[@emilyk622]

To me, there was something else that the vision might have been trying to convey. It's not that Mirabel would either break or save the magic, it's that she was going to do both at the same time. She would save the miracle by breaking it. Because it isn't possible to heal from severe generational trauma when you won't even acknowledge that there's a problem in the first place. I've seen some stuff on twitter from the director that leaned into the idea that the powers that each person got were a manifestation of the personality traits that they had already started to come into as their own way of adapting to carry the expectations of their family. Their gifts are manifestations of their trauma responses. So for example, Camilo feels like he has to be whatever anyone wants from him at any given moment, so his gift is the ability to literally shapeshift into different people/roles. This is also supported by showing how he uses his gift to become the mother of a baby in the intro song, and how he's seen trying to calm his mother down after the disaster proposal. So it's possible that the miracle saw something in Mirabel at a young age suggesting that she possessed both the tenacity and headstrong nature to force her family into facing the problem head on, and also the incredible empathy and compassion needed to jumpstart their journey of healing. I think the theory of her being the next matriarch of the family is also a fun idea that might work in tandem with this one, but the reason she didn't get a power was (as you said) to make a point about the magic that the family couldn't ignore, and because the miracle knew that she was capable of the near impossible task she was faced with. This might also be why Casita shows Mirabel the cracks in the house during Antonio's party. It's also interesting that Antonio's gift was the ability to speak with animals or, to put it more simply, communication. It's possible that Antonio's gift was the miracle's next attempt to get the family talking about their problems if Mirabel didn't succeed (not sure how that would work within the story itself though). It also could mean that Antonio is part of a "new generation" of Madrigals, as it were, and his powers are a representation of the open communication that the family will eventually grow into as they heal together. ... On a totally separate point, I see a lot of similarities specifically between Moana and Isabella (who is kind of the disney princess of this movie). They are both daughters of important figures within a community that are expected to meet the high standards placed upon them rather than be allowed to follow their own path. Moana literally says the line "I wish I could be the perfect daughter" in her I Want song, which is Isabella's whole thing. They also both feel a pull towards the unknown/unexplored that they are (at least initially in Moana's case) trying to resist so that they can keep their family happy.

[@feitocomfruta]

It also bears repeating that Bruno’s gift was SEEING the future and not INTERPRETING the future. So when this prophecy for Mirabel appears, it’s the house reiterating that the gifts themselves are not important, it’s what you do with or without them.

[@unmannedtank]

I was surprised they didn't directly answer this in the movie, but I thought it was kind of obvious since Mirabel isn't the only one in the family without a gift. Abuela also has no gift, and Mirabel is her successor. That's why she doesn't have a door of her own, as she shares one with Abuela. That's also why she has such a strong connection with the house and candle, and was able to see it crumbling in visions. And just like how Abuela is the one who is supposed to lead the family and keep them together, so is Mirabel.

[@kerteeveeyuh]

Abuela has a door and room of her own. Mirabel sleeps in the nursery.

[@Jah_LEASE_yah]

I've thought about this movie a lot since I saw it and I know there is a prevailing fan theory that the reason Maribel didn't get a gift was because she is meant to take Abuela's position as the candle holder/head of the family after Abuela passes and I agree with that but I also agree that the reason she didn't get a gift is because the ultimate message of the movie is that you don't need to be gifted to have value. The miracle is you, not some gift, just you.

[@sweetmissirish]

Same

[@ellaquilates2450]

This is my theory: The whole breaking and weakening of the encanto magic didn't start with mirabel but with bruno, the moment abuela deemed him useless and worst was the moment the encanto would start to feel the rift, it stays stable for a few years since the family was still together and still has hope but once after bruno saw the future and has already decided to leave shows us that he accepted that his powers are not helping and is worst. The encanto knew this thus didn't gave mirabel a gift hoping that this family member who didn't get a gift would restore a already broken family due to pressure of having gifts. Bruno leaving and accepting the worst that was thrown at him was the key to the future of encanto breaking. I think that if he didn't leave and still held faith mirabel might gain a gift and the future he foresaw might not happen. But at some point abuela really needs to see her wrong.

[@hannahtriick4963]

I will add this, cause I somewhat agree. Bruno said at one point in the movie that the night he left the family, was the same night Mirable was suppose to get her power. Which I think is the cause. And if he wouldn't have left, maybe she would have gotten one

[@timothylangin4095]

@@hannahtriick4963 except that he didn't have the vision until later that night after mirabel didn't get a gift because of the door disappearing is when he was asked to go have a vision to see what it meant and the grandmother didn't see the vision until the time she sees it in the movie so Bruno left without revealing anything about the prophecy.

[@josea.ruizquinones9262]

Just a bit: we know the gifts depend on the interests or wishes of the members as seen as the youngest getting the gift of animal-communion after we knew he had a deep interest in animals. It may be a subconscious wish they themselves are unaware of. Say one wanting to be perfect for abuelita, another wanting to be strong for the family, another being very curious and unable to keep a secret, etc… In Maribel’s case, she has no wish like that. Her wish is simply to be with her family. She’s like her Abuelita whose gift is casita and the candle for the family. Casita must’ve just given her the gift to create her own casita or family if things turned bad like it did for Abuelita.

[@happymama2793]

Also it breaks my heart that the grandmother was blaming a Five Year Old for her son leaving and so many other things. Breaks my heart and angers me. I Fully have empathy for her situation Both feelings can be valid and felt at the same time. She was extremely mad at a Child for stuff out of her control.

[@KaylaPearlCPNinja]

That’s exactly why I felt so angry towards Abuela in the film!

[@d_dave7200]

I think there's two ways of looking at it. One is your way, the other is that Mirabel was /extra/ special since she had the empathy necessary to inherit Abuela's job holding the family together. Her door at the end was a door for the whole family.

[@Luosta_]

I think Mirabel's "room" and also her gift is the Casita. It seems that she has a special connection with the building. You can see a good example when almost everyone tries to get to the candle and use their own powers. But the building only makes way for Mirabel. Mirabel is also the one that sees the cracks on the walls. The rooms went hand to hand with the gift. So when the gift was the Casita there was no room to go with it.

[@cbgaming7209]

Exactly my thoughts! Except I thought the reason she has no room is because Casita can't go into the room and so follow her.

[@LadyShinu]

I like this a lot. I thought she didn't have a door because she didn't need a room, she already has one. And she didn't need magic to amplify her gift, so it wasn't given :)

[@manuc.260]

I really like this idea. To add to it, in the end the magic door that Mirabel does get to open _is_ the front door of the Casita

[@tia84ification]

I saw this too. Even as Casita is falling apart it keeps the others away and Casita even save Mirabel by creating shelter over her specifically. Mirabel is Casita and without her the family has no special gifts.

[@lowercase_ash]

@@manuc.260 This exactly! I was coming to see if anyone had pointed it out

[@fayeb7667]

I think that Mirabel is the “chosen one” of the prophecy and special in a way BECAUSE of her natural born power of empathy. She didn’t need to be given that power by the casita but just naturally had it. My theory is that the casita saw this in Mirabel and saw the division in the family that abuela was causing by putting too much emphasis on their gifts being their worth and decided not to give Mirabel a gift to try to show abuela; this is because the casita knew that Mirabel’s power of empathy was the best chance of the family healing itself. The rest of the family and town learned to lean on and value Mirabel’s empathy however abuela still did not and thats why I think the casita realised that abuela needed to lose her home a second time to be reminded that the Encanto was for her FAMILY and to remind her of the person she is meant to be (she says something along the lines of her wanting to become a different woman but she lost sight of it by the river but I don’t know the exact quote.) That’s why I think in the end Mirabel’s actions of breaking then rebuilding the house and reuniting the family fulfils her prophecy and in the end she gets her room (aka the full house as the front door is her door). I think this shows that her gift is similar to abuela’s in being the leader/ glue of the family, abuela has the gift of the encanto shown through the candle and Mirabel has the gift shown through the house. Hope this makes sense to people, just my theory on things. I think the overall message Disney was trying to make is that you don’t need to be special just be kind to people.

[@elizabethdean8358]

“All of Me” breaks me every time I hear it. Feeling like the black sheep of my own family, the fact that Mirabel’s family finally sees her and who she has become brings me to tears.

[@watermelondude6374]

I’m pretty sure she didn’t get a gift just because the family was forgetting that the miracle was the family and (yes, this is cheesy, but) love. The miracle knew this and sent her to remind the family that family, individual personality and love matters most of all. Anyway hope everyone’s having a great day!! 👍

[@watermelondude6374]

Other theory; she did get a gift and it’s the power of warping time in her song, ‘Waiting on a miracle’ lol but I think that’s just Disney magic 🤣

[@madiz4228]

@@watermelondude6374 That’s exactly what I said when I watched that part for the first time. Haha

[@cassecorrea]

Yeah I agree with you, I thought this was pretty obvious while watching the film and really don’t get how many “theory” videos and posts people are making when it’s just the simple fact that she was the one who needed to change the family, and she could only do so by not having magic (ie, not having the pressures of her magic scare her and being able to be the outside voice)

[@crybaby3486]

@@cassecorrea See, that line of reasoning makes sense to me but then why does Antonio get a gift? I feel like the miracle would punish them until they fixed the issue, right? That's kinda why I like the theory that Mirabel is supposed to be the next one to take Abuela's place.

[@cassecorrea]

@@crybaby3486 because the miracle isn’t “punishing” them at all. It was dying because of Abuela Alma’s pressures on her family, of her losing sight of why she was given the miracle in the first place. So the magic itself was fading. Thus, it knew it had to protect both itself and the family from permanent damage, and decided to not give Mirabel a gift because she was the only one who could help them all. Antonio they have a gift because he was too young to change the family and challenge Abuela so aggressively, and by the time he would’ve been old enough to do so, the magic would’ve died

[@Dusxio]

I still think Mirabel has an almost 4th wall like awareness of the songs as they happen. She seems actually aware of the things happening in the singer's mind as they happen. More than just everyone else just playing their role in the showcase.

[@stillMMJ]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I think her gift is that she’s able to see and visualize things more than anyone else. Like an over powered version of Bruno’s gift. A special intuition. Example, she gave Antonio a stuffed leopard because she knew he was an ‘animal person’, before he received his gift.

[@ryangee4634]

I kinda thought that Mirabel's gift was being able to see people's memories, perspectives and thoughts, etc. When Pepa and Felix sing about Bruno we see their wedding day nut while it isn't an exact memory it's still something. When we see what happened to Pedro it's the full memory but Mirabel is standing in the river, observing what's going on, like she's in Abuela's memory.

[@kitkatboard]

I kinda see her gift (like, in a realistic, human way) is creativity. She likes to customize her clothes, to sew, to sing and she gets the crazy visuals during other characters' songs.

[@ashermccathern3847]

One of my favorite parts of the movie is essentially showing what you were saying. It's the moment where we see Abuela going past everyone in front of their doors, showing how they're all having to live up to her expectations, until she stops at Mirabel. The reason Mirabel didn't get a gift was because for Abuela to see that she was hurting the family with her expectations, she needed somebody who couldn't possibly meet her expectations.

[@ARTandRpodcast]

I took it as she did get a gift, the candle passed along its power to her. The door disappeared as the entire encanto is now hers. I also think her cousin would not have gotten a gift if he hadn't taken her hand prior to touching his door. As for the prophecy, it did show a split it just showed the whole outcome at the same time. That she would break the house and rebuild it.

[@anevanderwalt8115]

So I have an unpopular theory for why Mirabel didn't get her gift. (The popular theory being that she is meant to be the next candle holder and since the current one is still alive, Mirabel's powers hasn't manifested yet). My theory is that MIRABEL unintentionally and very subtly DISRUPTED HER OWN GIFT GIVING CEREMONY. In the ceremony, every child is shown touching the candle, that is being held by Abuela, and then touching the door. HOWEVER, Mirabel has a step, (that was deliberately animated imo) inbetween. SHE RUBS HER HANDS ON HER DRESS BEFORE SHE TOUCHES THE DOOR (probably because she has sweaty hands when she's nervous - as mentioned by Bruno when he tries to save her from falling). I think this could have interrupted the magic somehow - she rubbed off the magic. She did the ceremony wrong. That's why she didn't get a power. So yes, she wasn't chosen, or so special that she wasn't given something special. It was a fluke. She made a mistake. And this set off a butterfly effect (see what I did there), that caused uncertainty, stress, pressure, anxiety, familial strain and ultimately Cassita, the family and the miracle falling apart. Like yes, the family was already strained and the cracks would have happened eventually either way, but Mirabel not getting a gift was the straw that broke the camel's back just a bit sooner. Now as to what her powers could be, I don't really know. I think all the characters probably showed small indications of what their power would be before they got it. Their powers are based on their personalities, not the other way around. Antonio is called "an animal guy" by Mirabel before he can talk to animals, Abuela was wishing for a miracle to save them and then she gained the ability to give miracles etc. This also comes through with Isabela and Luisa who have gifts according to their typical roles in the family. So looking at Mirabel's personality, I know some other theories besides candle holder include strengthening or weaking other’s gifts or emotional healing rather than physical healing (which her mom can already do), being an empath (but like, in a magical way, not just a normal person way) or maybe something to do with transforming people, things or places in some other way, given all the butterfly symbolism. But I'll leave that part up to @SuperCarlinBrothers to discuss.

[@juliacheneyillustration3928]

I disagree mostly for thematic reasons- the movie seems to communicate the message that your “specialness” doesn’t really come from your capabilities or actions (as the Madrigals are always pressured to use their gifts for the good of the town and feel they have no worth without their gifts). There are people in real life who struggle with feeling different, useless, or not special- and they often wonder if it’s their own fault. Most of the time, it’s not their fault. There are just circumstances outside of their control. If Mirabel caused it herself, then it would suggest that she was the cause of her own trauma- she made a mistake and should’ve done things differently. And that doesn’t line up with the major themes of the movie.

[@Dancingwolf325]

@Lacy Claire Whitten EXACTLY!!!

[@Dancingwolf325]

I noticed this, and it was making me crazy that no one was mentioning this. It makes so much sense, like you have to have the candles blessing but she kind of got rid of it. It makes sense that her rubbing her hands on her dress is the reason she didn't get a gift. It's Maribel's fault that she didn't get a gift.

[@jadesweetman9075]

Thank you! It's killing me that it isn't getting mentioned when it wasn't even a hidden thing. Two of my kids even caught it the first time we watched it...

[@batizorsolya-bernadett9463]

Finally, someone mentions this! In terms of her being special, I like to think that by rubbing her hands on her dress, she rubbed the magic into herself.

[@TheFlamingGamerYT]

Like I’ve said before, I believe that Mirabel didn’t get a gift because she is the gift. Mirabel is the one that keeps the family in check, the one family member that does her best to help her other family members, the one that keeps the family going strong. I say Mirabel herself is the gift of the family

[@booklover1104]

This is mentioned at the end by Bruno - 🎵you're the real gift kid, let us in🎵

[@CultureStress]

I think the "gifts" are metaphors for different types of family dysfunction. Super strength is hyperfunctioning/taking on too much, having your emotions control the weather is toxic codependency, really good hearing is hypervigilance, transforming your body is people pleasing, etc Mirabelle doesn't get a "gift" because the "gifts" are what is keeping the family dysfunctional.

[@AntiochosMegas]

That is actually quite an interesting way to see it! I wonder what the healing power stands for, though.

[@jietroraximoff2805]

@@AntiochosMegas Having to be the one person everyone depends on for support with pain, both emotional(I.e. the shoulder the cry on) and physical, with no-one there to support you. You heal everyone else and you have to rely on yourself to be healed.

[@AntiochosMegas]

@@jietroraximoff2805 okay, that meakes sense :)

[@sweetmissirish]

Very interesting... what does the shape-shifting and talking to animals equate to?

[@jietroraximoff2805]

@@sweetmissirish In theory, shape-shifting could be something regarding having to mask/bottle up your emotions or act a certain way because that how people want you to(something which seemingly all the Madrigals do under Abuela's iron fist). Talking to animals could be something related to how you don't like to talk to others or you feel ignored so you're turning to animals for friendship, attention, interactions etc. The flowers thing would represent a desperation to appear perfect(something Isabela struggles with).

[@feeleyj8360]

I was so sure that her gift was the ability to repare the house. The fact that the door disappeared meant that her room/special place was the house. Then when the house is destroyed her gift is linked with the house so when she opens the doors to the house at the end all the gifts are brought back . This is because the rooms are linked to the house so when she opens the house, the gifts are brouhts back from the house to the individual rooms. Thats just my thought anyway

[@kinga3731]

This is such a sweet theory!

[@amberkulp7401]

Encanto is probably my favorite Disney movie to be made in the past 5 years. I feel like a lot recent Disney movies have been very surface level, with very basic themes, like “friendship” and “trust” with only basic conflict to show it, and have generally only being insightful to children. Raya, for example, had the very one-minded theme of being open to trusting others, with no real depth or nuance whatsoever. Encanto, on the other hand, dealt with serious and fleshed out themes of family, self-worth, communication, and more. Both adults and children could leave the movie with ideas to think about. I would argue that the themes are more important and relevant to adults rather than children. Overall, I felt this movie to much more insightful and thought-provoking than many other recent releases by Disney.

[@jessieBird96]

My main argument against the whole "it could have been anyone" thing, is that Camillo is only a few months older than her, so why did he get a gift and not her? Because Mirabel is the most empathetic of the family 😊

[@irisa198]

Could be a difference in expectations. Camilo's mother is Pepa, whose emotions are sometimes useful but frequently cause a disturbance, she can quickly become a hindrance or even a danger completely involuntarily. Meanwhile Julieta can choose when she cooks, and then it only has a positive effect. Both of Julieta's kids also have super useful gifts - Isabela has perfect control over her very versatile power, and Luisa's is super useful to the community, so when Mirabel gets absolutely nothing, it would be extra impactful. Dolores' gift can be useful, such as when spying on people, but it depends on people actually talking outloud, and it seems like she doesn't get to control it either. Could also be part of why Camilo got the shapeshifting power he did - he already sensed that the family valued people that are "useful", so he gained the ability to become anyone that might be needed at any moment. If not that, then a few months are a long enough time that Abuela could've done something that makes the house go "ok stop that now", straw that broke the camel's back and all.

[@_Egon]

By the same logic, why does not happen sooner with Luisa or Dolores, or even Isabela? I think you answer your own question. The magic was presente until it doesn't, that moment happens to be with Mirabel. But then Antonio receives a gift, why's that? Is in the ten years lapse between Mirabel and Antonio's ceremony that we find the answers.

[@abigfootwithinternetaccess8605]

that really isn't an argument tho

[@sabrinahernandez7217]

She also at that early age took making the family proud very seriously. Her need to be what the family needs positioned her to be exactly what the family needed when things fell apart.

[@danielkoltai1094]

What about Pepa's line of the family? We don't see as many expectations regarding them, not as much pressure, none of them seem to struggle with their powers (except maybe Pepa herself). There are theories that Dolores' gift might feel like a curse, but there are no obvious signs of that in the movie and the two boys look pretty much burdenless.

[@emilygillock3803]

Hearing everything going on for miles around you? Hearing things you wish you didn't have to? It IS a curse, but a useful one. Pepa herself basically has to be happy all the time or she faces unleashing a storm upon the house/community. Antonio is a child and just got his gift- he hasn't had to experience expectations yet. Camilo seems to mainly use his shapeshifting to mess with people and be comic relief, but could potentially have identity issues because one) he can be anybody else, and 2) he's just "the funny one" and his gift doesn't really help the community directly.

[@Vekcrazah]

@@emilygillock3803 There's a community theory where they say that Pepa being eternally happy is part of Abuela's brainwashing. Because by the end of the movie, Pepa is happy, and yet she makes it hail ice. Meaning, she might have similar control as Isabela does with hers, where they get to grow/create whatever they want with their powers if they feel true to themselves.

[@Whyteroze28]

@@emilygillock3803 except for the one scene where he (Camillo)changed into the mom so he could give her a break with the baby.

[@calebmorri]

@@Vekcrazah Yep, I was about to say this. At the end (when the family stopping pressuring and valuing people based on their gifts), she is able to express happiness with snow/hail. Just like how Isabella had to be perfect and could only make "beautiful" flowers, Pepa could only see sunny clear skies as happy. If you think about it, snow can be a happy and fun weather, so can rain/storms (for some people, obviously not everyone enjoys them). Pepa seems to have had similar expectations of perfection as Isabella, but it doesn't focus on her as much as Isabella as she is closer to Mirabel.

[@BluetailOffical]

Camilo is described to not even know who he is so---

[@WhiteRaven696]

For me a more pressing question is why didn’t Abuela get a gift? Everyone almost universally agrees that Mirabel didn’t get a gift because she’s gonna be the new generation’s Abuela, but why didn’t Abuela get a gift of her own?

[@AshleysAdvice]

Yes exactly, great question! That’s the same message I got by the end of the film, it was so obvious that Mirabelle and her grandmother are parallels of each other and her purpose is to take up the mantle of her grandmother once she passes, at least that was my interpretation.

[@Zanin_Lozar]

Abuela's gift is the miracle itself

[@BlitzerXYZ]

Abuela was too old to get a gift. So the miracle produced what abuela needed most a home. Also I disagree completely that she didn't get a gift because she is supposed to heal the family become the new head of the house. But simply because she wiped the magic off on her dress. I also think that had Maribel got powers the story still would have happened. Because maybe her power wasn't super useful. Or because simply she feels the weight of the Abuela's pressure even more now.

[@jish55]

She did. Notice how only she is able to grant gifts to the other members of the family? This is most likely a combined effort of both Abuela and her late husband. It's also why only those who share Abuela's blood can receive the gift.

[@shekhhusain6278]

I personally like to believe that the house and candle themselves were her gifts, especially the house, and that would also explain the whole Mirabel didn't get a gift thing because if she will be the new abuela, she would get the house as a gift, I mean, they are the only two that talk to the house directly and they seem to be its favorites

[@thunderflare59]

I think what caused it was the magic faltering because of issues in the family dynamic. Note that the Casita started cracking after Antonio got his gift. The magic was being strained because the family wasn't getting along properly.

[@SteveBrockMedia]

I have a different take. Each character had clothing with embroidered symbols of their gift. Mirabelle’s had butterflies. The candle had butterflies. They were everywhere. Mirabelle didn’t get a gift because she already had it. She was the candle to light the path for the family.

[@mrmightyena8786]

Yes, I agree! Butterflies symbolize re-birth and transformation, i.e. exactly what Mirabel needed to facilitate in order for the family to heal

[@samuraisam97]

To preface all of this, I can’t remember most of the characters names after only watching the this movie once, but I’ll do my best to explain people based on their relation to Mirabel. The way I see this whole why did “Mirabel not get a gift” thing in a very logical way compared to how I’ve seen it discussed throughout the internet. The way I see it, the house and candle had a limited amount of magic, and it new that once it was Mirabel’s turn if it gave her a gift, what we see happen when the young cousin gets a gift. The house begins to fall apart. Because of this it decided to entrust Mirabel to fix this problem, but as a child she couldn’t do that, so it skipped her and then gave her little cousin a gift to push teen Mirabel into action. To find a solution. Now you might be wondering “well if it’s just a finite magic situation, then why didn’t the house fall apart when her little cousin got his gift?” And it’s simple. Because of Bruno. Hear me out, Bruno had been hiding in the walls for years at this point, and he wasn’t using his magic. To the point that his door was dark. Thus suggesting that the house had reallocated his portion of the magic, but Mirabel’s cousin getting his gift once again caused cracks to begin appearing because of his room. If we assume that the house has enough magic for each person to have a gift and a room, but Bruno wasn’t using his gift, then the house only has enough magic to grant a gift or room, yet it gives Mirabel’s little cousin both. This causes some cracks to appear and Mirabel’s strong sister to start to lose her powers. This is further backed up when Mirabel convinced Bruno to use his gift again thus relighting his door and forcing the magic to be reallocated. This was at night though while many of the family members were sleeping and likely not using their gifts, so the magic could be reallocated easily. Then we reach the point when the house falls apart. Mirabel had just reconnected with her sister and pushed her to be herself. This made her user her powers to a level that had never been heard of before. Stretching the magic thin, but to understand what set the house over the edge we must first talk about the message of the movie and what was putting the cap on the magic in the first place. Mirabel’s grandmother. The message of the movie in my opinion is that if you force yourself to be what everyone else wants you to be and don’t give yourself any down time to express your true self or decompress after some hard work, then you’ll never be at your best. By pushing too hard and bottling your true emotions up you can never reach your highest potential. Then when Mirabel yells at her grandmother she for a moment puts all that pressure on her. Her grandmother feels like she’s betrayed her family and pushed everyone too hard and worked herself to the bone to keep the family in line. She immediately feels the pressure which further limits the magic as previously Mirabel’s grandmother fully believed that she was doing what was best for the family, and didn’t see it as oppressing herself and her family. She was proud and happy because she thought everyone else was proud and happy. Then when they embrace their flaws and understand the importance of individuality and breaks for their mental health, the magic was no longer limited. They were all free to reach their ultimate potential meaning there was more magic to go around. They could reach the maximum of their true potential. They were able to bring the magic back on their own because of this new realization. Sorry for the long comment, and what I know are hundreds of grammatical errors, but I’m typing this on my phone, so it’s not easy to proofread lol. I hope this all made sense and helps people to understand the movie a bit better, but like you Carlin brothers always say, and as I always say I love hearing all the other theories because everyone sees things differently and it’s only through each other’s eyes that we’ll truly understand the world around us.

[@Thamometer]

The powers given were related to their personalites /insecurities. Maybe the house saw that Mirabel's character is already matured enough/perfect as it is. Thus, she doesn't need any power.

[@writerofthought8084]

My takeaway was that Mirabel wasn't given a gift because they were tied to Abuela's desires, combined with love. Abuela seemed to forget to love Mirabel and because of that Mirabel's door vanished, just like Abuela's empathy and concern. But, because of this, Mirabel became much more connected to Casita than the rest of the family, and Mirabel's mood could reflect and understand Casita's mood better than anyone else.

[@EyeofZai]

i’ve been watching this channel since i was 9, maybe younger, i’m almost 16 now. i don’t watch regularly, but y’all fostered a love of media analysis that has grown & stuck with me. this channel is educating kids on how to think critically about films in a free, fun & accessible manner. i learned a ton from this channel and it’s helped to bolster my critical thinking skills. obviously i’m still learning but really, keep up the good work and thank you for making content! :)

[@DasSinaTier]

"To make the family proud" is also the motto for Mulan. She needs to bring honor to her family and make them proud. And when she couldn't do that as a bride, she does it as a warrior.

[@cambry4932]

It's awesome to see Ben and J pour their hearts and souls into Disney/Pixar movies.

[@leahbettcher4110]

Mayhaps Mirabel didn't get her gift because she wiped her hands on her dress after touching the candle/before touching the doorknob. We see Antonio *not* do this and all goes well with his gift. Haha I'm sure that's not the whole reason... but could you imagine?

[@BlitzerXYZ]

It definitely is the whole reason imo. Like is said the magic isn't sentient it wasn't an issue with the magic. In fact I think the story still would have happened even if Mirabel got powers. She just happened to not.

[@sue-ellenlightbody2337]

I noticed that too. It was the first thing I thought when I watched it. It was like she wiped away the magic of the candle before touching the doorknob. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@quethesparkle]

The magic went into her instead of into the door I was looking for this comment

[@ori2301]

Do we forget how at the end when the house is rebuilt, she opens the front door and it magically paints itself as if she was just being given a gift? I think the gift of Mirabel is her being able to unite the entire family and she might be the next leader of the Casita

[@denissemurray5819]

I still love that her name is Mirabel. "Mira" meaning "look" in Spanish and she was able to have others see more in themselves as well as herself. Also made others see internal/external expectations. Maribel is more common than Mirabel, so it was cool that that is what they went with. I could be completely wrong though.

[@caitlinlach9615]

If you remember, after holding the candle, Mirabel patted down her dress/shirt, and she kinda wiped her hands. So my theory is that she just, well, wiped off the magic candle/door touch

[@tonycorte19]

Hard to say because we only see two ceremonies but it is obvious the animators wanted someone to notice that.

[@sweetmissirish]

It's possible... I just think that would be a super sucky rule or whatever (once you touch the candle the magic on your hands could be wiped off if you touch anything). I mean, I get it, it also makes sense, it just sucks if that's what happened

[@catblimp7894]

@@sweetmissirish I think that’s not too out of left field for Disney, I mean if you look at Wreck It Ralph, the moral of the story is essentially “Sometimes you get stuck with a crappy skill set, and will be less capable to do what you want than others. Sometimes, you can’t even do anything about it. So, just do the best work you can with your abilities, and… cope.” Not exactly the most uplifting lesson, but it’s certainly more realistic. Mirabel’s lack of powers could have been just a mistake, not exactly her or anyone’s fault, just a genuine error. I don’t personally believe that theory, but I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility.

[@kohganightbane9430]

For me, the song i resonate with most is "waiting on a miracle" that Mirabell sings right after Antonio gets his gift.

[@Myrathosghost]

Hoenstly if you look at the House, Abuela has a door and she doesnt have a gift, which is what makes me (and ive seen other ppl say this as well) think that Mirabels door is Abuelas door, but because Abuela is still alive and well Mirabel cant have a door because they have the same Gift….Keeper of the Candle so when Abuela passes away I think her door will become Mirabels door

[@noodlesthefox435]

yes add to that, that every family member has there gift on there clothes, in Mirabel her case that is butterflies, the candle also has a butterfly on it.

[@thepip3599]

I related a lot to "What else can I do?" because I'm autistic and have recently stopped masking it so much and have started flapping my hands and rocking back and forth a lot and stuff and it feels great! Just being myself.

[@irenepimentel9046]

And another reason why Mirabel didn’t have a gift is that when she was young, she accidentally wiped her hands of the candle when she touched it so that’s why she didn’t have a gift and again they said that Mirabel does have a gift and her gift is the candle what her abuela is holding

[@AlylovesDP]

I think it went into her

[@jasminewilliams8450]

She's gonna be the next candle holder, I feel that and there's a lot of suggestion that and it would be interesting if a sequel or a short comes out on a year or two that answers this question once and for all. Edit: also a big clue in is that Abuela DOES HAVE A DOOR she walks out it in the beginning of the movie! Also when Mirabel doesn't get her gift the candle flickers, I don't think it means the magic is weakening per say but it only has one steam to burn from. Abuela has that steam, that LIGHT and while Mirabel does have a connection which makes the candle burn brighter. Abuela is the whole light, the whole source it cannot be shared or the magic drains. It's a balancing act. Once Abuela passes on, Mirabel goes from having a sorta connection to being the full on candle holder. The doors will shift and she will be the new leader. Additionally the candle is only remade when all the family fully resolves ALL issues steaming from Abuela including the feelings towards Mirabel from the others being less valuable to the family because her apparent lack of gift. The doorknob at the end showed the family and Abuela finally saw her as an equal part of the family. But that's my thoughts

[@laytonpro8655]

I think it’s cause she’s the embodiment of the candle, she keeps the family hopeful, reconnecting everyone and only when her hope faulters when confronting Albuela, the house crumbles. When that hope returned as she reunites her family and rebuilds their home does the magic return. Her door is the house door itself, the magic returns cause of her, not the candle, she has the gift to keep the magic alive, both figuratively and literally

[@FortKnox5529]

Nah, I think she is the house. That is her gift

[@foodplayzgames]

@@FortKnox5529 *what*

[@bookmasterharry4432]

My favorite theory is that she became the heart of the magic alongside the candle, which is why she is able to make Bruno's gift work again, why Luisa's gift is taken away after her song, and it would even make it so that when all the songs happen, all the changes and stuff are being caused by Mirabel trying to help her family.

[@deborahzawacki9536]

I want to know what happened after Mirabel's door shut down. What was done to comfort her or help her move forward? Did she cry, did her mother hold her all night-- did everyone steer clear of her? was she treated badly by townsfolk too?

[@LastLove3014]

I always love your theories! I heard one that I really liked: Abuela's power was given on "that night" and hers is to build barriers, and Maribel's is to tear them down. The magic was also perhaps preparing Maribel to take over Abuela's role when she's gone. Edit: And the vision was the house falling down and then being rebuilt? I think the family had to build everything back from the foundation up. House /and/ Trauma healing.

[@briarrose8154]

I think mirabel’s power was the same as her grandmother, ie family as shown thru the house. Grandma’s power was expressed in the time of tragedy against her family & came out of her in the form of the candle. Mira bel DID RECEIVE a gift, it was the continuation of the power of family. Throughout the movie we see she is the story teller of the family which is a very important role within Latin families and she is the one who is able to give each of the other characters clarity and courage and. make each feel included in the family. The doors are the externalization of the powers e/ recieved. Her door became part of her when her ceremony “failed” & then she was able to essentially re-magic the newly built unmagical house at the end of the movie & turn it back into “casitas” the living magical entity. The point of the story is we are all gifted in some way even if it’s not flashy. Some provide physical services & others the gift is just being themselves & what that means to others. Mira bel was the unsung heart of the family & that is enough magic in itself.

[@eliben4066]

I was also thinking that Mirabel might probably be Abuela’s successor. Unless Abuela’s gift is immortality, someone needs to be ready to take over as head of the family, and that someone would be better off without any chores to do. And after the events of the movie, I’m sure Mirabel would be the best nominee. It wasn’t a test to see if the family deserved the miracle, it was a test to see if Mirabel could gain her family’s trust

[@jellocat9244]

I am so glad that she didn’t just randomly get a power at the end of the movie because that would have ruined it…

[@amberbanuelos7053]

I think Mirabel’s gift is her mental health. Abuela’s gift is Casita after she lost her husband and was left with three infants to raise alone. Pepa, Julieta, and Bruno got gifts because they were trying to be enough for their mother. Dolores, Luisa, Isabela, Camilo, and Antonio got gifts for similar reasons, but Mirabel didn’t because she’s so mentally stable and secure in the knowledge that she is safe and loved within her family, that she is enough. And as someone who struggles with mental health issues, I must say, that has to be the greatest gift of all.

[@herothecrow994]

Mirabel’s door dissolved because she already had a gift, which was given from the second the movie begins. Mirabel’s gift is being the protagonist, she’s the only one that can spark musical numbers and cause character growth through them.

[@Ga1axyCooki3]

Her gift is to bring the family together as it shows on her door ( her door being the front door and showing her standing with the whole family)

[@Dianabtm]

Mirabel's theme song! Waiting on a miracle crushes my soul s2 "Don’t be upset or mad at all Don’t feel regret or sad at all I’m not fine, I’m not fine" The suppressing of feelings that hits her right here it is me trying to deal with my family always wanting perfection from me. Now I'm trying to deal with it despite not having this movie all solving problems moment. But it makes me think that things can be fixed ^^

[@King-of-the-beginning]

I’ve been waiting for this video for so long, but the real question is what her power would have been

[@imgabiireyes]

persistence.

[@BlitzerXYZ]

I feel like it would have something to do with art or clothing.

[@eliben4066]

It would have to match her personality (that wasn’t influenced by her not having a gift) and it would have to be useful for chores. Good gifts would be: -mind-reading (she was a good psychologist) -holograms (good for entertaining kids, which she seemed to be good at) -super eyesight (good for detective work and gives her a classic ironic character design)

[@King-of-the-beginning]

@@eliben4066 I thought it would be like when she’s around all her family members get stronger or something like that

[@eternalsenseofmind]

These songs live rent free in my head now and I'm okay with that lol

[@Harleymotor]

I like the idea that she inherited the Magic itself; like the Gift staked everything on her by giving her All the power; letting her decide. She gives the stuffed Tiger to Antonio, and his gift ends up being he can talk to animals. Luisa starts losing her power when Mirabel finds out she needs a break. The Casita is affected by Mirabel's mood- it cracks when she sings at her lowest, the candle is back when she believes she fulfilled the future by hugging Isa, it completely falls apart when she calls Abuela out; and she's the one who ultimately returns the Magic in the end with the door. I think she was meant as both a test to Abuela about abusing the family's usefulness by giving her a member who had no 'use' but also ironically had the power to take the gifts away unknowingly.

[@realstanley767]

When he was saying the thing at the beginning about not feeling like you are enough, I thought it was a Segway into a better help thank you for sponsoring the video…

[@MaryJaneBluntkevinalvizurez]

This is my theory as to why maribel didn’t get a gift So I’m my theory the house is a manifestation of abuelo’s 👴 soul who stayed behind to protect the family and give them gifts (powers) So abuelita doesn’t have a power because she is never meant to leave the house and the house will always protect her until the day of her death 💀 So she doesn’t need powers but the sons and daughters and grandchildren they leave and continue their life so maribel is simply the inherent of the house so there go she doesn’t need powers but her children will… But this theory goes even further because I also believe boo is the daughter of maribel 🤪 and that’s why she knew doors can be magical and wasn’t scared of the monsters

[@vctrsigma]

Because "you dont' need a gift to be special" is a very good leason.

[@bluehairedemon]

The theme of the expectations put on you and how you're precived by people is mostly seen in Bruno imo. People see him as the scary dude that makes bad things happen, so he had no choise but to become what everyone expected from him, so he left, and never used his powers, because he belived they just do harm, because that's what everyone told him

[@potterhead5785]

My theory is that Mirabel does get a gift when she was 5 years old but its not a superpower like others in the family received. I think Mirabel's power is that her emotions are connected with Casita's being. When Antonio was getting his power, Abuela started to point out about Mirabel not having a gift and looking down on her. And then Antonio got his gift just like all others in the family which hurt Mirabel even more because she felt like she's the only one left out in the family. When she was ignored & not included in the family photo, her heart (emotions) started to break which was exactly when cracks appear in Casita. Again when Mirabel was having a serious argument with Abuela, Mirabel was angry, sad and felt completely broken which is again reflected in casita's condition. The cracks that bruno (or is it Hernando) has been patching occured everytime Mirabel was hurting emotionally through those 10 years. And at the end of the movie, the family worked together and Mirabel was happy, so the miracle and its magic came back. And this connection between her emotions and Casita was given to her as a gift at her ceremony when she was 5 years old. She did not get a door like everyone else but i think this gift was revealed to bruno through his vision. The 'green prophecy/vision plate thing' shows that perfectly. Casita cracks or stays strong based on how Mirabel feels. I think Bruno or anyone else just could not understand that the prophecy/vision is not about future but it is actually the interpretation/representation of the gift that Mirabel has already been given.

[@ranijerushapuli9861]

This is actually pretty good. Also explains how the cracks starts disappearing when mirabel genuinely hugs Isabella and is happy in that moment. It's a nice theory

[@shanalidesilva4625]

I really think that a big component in regards to how the Madrigals receive their powers was their personalities pre-gift ceremony. They understandably don't have a lot of time to cover every single family member in detail, but they do seem to establish that people get powers that correspond with the ways in which they view the world. Antonio cares about animals, his gift is being able to talk with/befriend them. Julieta is shown to be one of the most overtly compassionate members of the family, so her power is healing/taking away people's pain. There's not much concrete evidence for the others, but there are a few solid arguments to be made at least about Isabela and Luisa- Isabela obviously knows a lot about plants (she whipped out the names of a ton during her number, and I'd assume that that would be something she'd have had to have dedicated time to learning so well), and is able to see the beauty in everything she grows, so she was given nature powers. During Luisa’s song we not only explicitly hear about how badly she wants to protect everyone, but we see her go out of her way to make sure that Mirabel was safe, even if it was just in Magical Song Land tm; like there was an entire tornado approaching and Luisa still stopped to make sure that her little sister’s glasses were on right before turning right around and dealing with the next disaster, so having the gift of being physically strong in order to protect her family makes sense for her. I think that this applies to Mirabel too. In the opening scene, right as they’re getting ready to go, Abuela is giving her that last little pep talk, saying that her gift will strengthen their community, strengthen their home, and make their family proud. In that moment Mirabel explicitly latches onto the idea of making her family proud, and even ten years later we see that she uses that same idea as a mantra to start off her day. Assuming that the gifts family members are given are just ways in which certain aspects of their personalities are heightened, it really makes sense that Mirabel wouldn’t need any magical additions. There’s arguably some evidence for this (her constant optimism/lack of resentment, her ability to quickly cut to the root of her family’s issues), but the most striking one for me is what happened to her door. It’s been said by the creators that the rooms are meant to be extensions of the people/ their powers. While yes, Mirabel’s door did disappear, it wasn’t violently wrenched away or destroyed, it simply dissolved, fading back into the house. In a (slightly messed up) way, this would totally make sense assuming Mirabel’s ‘gift’ had something to do with her connection to her family, because how could Casita make a place that embodied Mirabel’s love for her family when the Casita itself was already that embodiment? Her unique situation gave her the ability to not only see the best in her family, even when they were doubting themselves, but also to recognize when they were being pushed in directions they shouldn’t/didn’t want to go, since they had lived pretty much all of their lives defining themselves solely by their powers, where as she can learn to see them simply as people. She pulls all of them back to reality (which is no small feat given how their magic/safety up until that point was essentially seen as something they had to earn, something that Abuelo Pedro gave his life for and something they had to continuously prove their worth for), reminding everyone of the reason they’d been given their miracle, cementing the idea that the Madrigals aren’t just the magical caretakers of the people in their community- they are people within that community, who have the right to be respected and cared for as well. Safety and compassion aren’t earned, they are inherently deserved. This also ties into how the candle functioned in the movie, first when it flickered, and later when it completely died. It wasn’t a sign that she’d bring the end of the magic, it was a sign that she’d be the one to teach them to stop letting the weight of the Encanto loom over them, to stop letting the sacrifices from the past keep them from living the life that the sacrifices were made for in the first place. TL;DR- Mirabel’s gift was essentially already there, because the thing that drives her/ the thing in the world she finds the most beauty in is her family. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[@cmm07r]

My biggest issue is, while in a magic house, why does not having a gift force her to live in a broom closet essentially when everyone else gets portals to another world?

[@natashashort3194]

I believe that maribel was going to be a new candle. The original candle had a room this is why she didn't get a room. The meaning of her name is miracle. She is her own power.

[@MAORIguy25]

I think Mirabel allows change. Sure, she’s the new matriarch, she’s the glue. But she allows all the family members to be something a little more different so that they can survive They serve the community, but don’t serve themselves, and Abuela doesn’t look out for the family themselves either, instead putting the community first Whereas, Mirabel was raised outside of that. She’s a part of the family, but clearly wasn’t important So she got to see the family in a way literally no one else can. Abuela could, but doesn’t because of her own issues And the house struggles with that

[@phantomnexusvods2579]

good theory, but was it really necessary to put a space between every line?

[@MAORIguy25]

@@phantomnexusvods2579 I don’t like walls of text So yes, it was necessary for my own satisfaction

[@ariana2384k9f]

Something that I noticed my first time watching that I thought was the reason she didn't get her gift, was what she does right in between touching the candle and touching the door handle. The way I see it, the candle is the miracle itself, and the way it works is that they have to touch it in order to get their gift, and then when they touch the door it showcases their gift. However, if you watch the scene closely, right after she touches the candle and is walking toward the door, she wipes off her hands on her dress. On rewatches I'm not sure if she's wiping off sweat because she's nervous or smoothing her dress out, but nonetheless, I thought it was like, a little touch from the animators as a thrown-in explanation to why she didn't get a gift, since the magic was wiped off of her hands before she reached the door. I haven't seen this anywhere else, but it could already be a theory that I just haven't heard yet? If it is, and you've seen it elsewhere, could you let me know? :))

[@ZuskV1]

I’m halfway through the video so idk if you mention this but she did wipe her hands on her dress after touching the candle so that might be why she got no gift

[@TheAxshun]

Her gift is the ability to change the future. That’s why Bruno’s vision is unclear, and his visions for Isabella and Dolores are changed by Mirabel

[@reneedarville6641]

Well technically...she didn't do that. Isabella's prophecy was that she would have the life of her dreams and her power will continue to grow. Obviously the life she led before was not the life of her dreams so Mirabel didn't change her future, she was more like the catalyst to make it happen. And Dolore's vision was that her love would be betrothed to another, betrothed meaning engaged not married. It seems like Bruno can't hear these visions and can only see a snippet of the future so most likely be saw the moment Mariano was going to propose and stopped there. So....she didn't change anything except her own prophecy which was changable to begin with.

[@SierraMascara28]

If that’s true, wouldn’t she have a door?

[@rachelhansen2417]

I think Bruno’s vision meant not that the future was undecided, but that she would both break and heal casita.

[@brandi3981]

You might not be able to physically hurt Luisa but you can definitely emotionally hurt her you know she was falling apart about how she feels useless if she can't be of service and how she just started essentially crying when told to move a piano when she's just trying to eat dinner and her gift is disappearing on her cuz she knows this is going to be a problem and it's going to be embarrassing and it might actually hurt cuz she's losing her strength so you know if you used to be able to bench press double your weight but you haven't worked out in a long time something your weight would probably be too much

[@Eleanore.Rigbyy]

It actually made me enjoy the movie A LOT LESS when I realized that she wasn’t getting a gift with the rebuilding of the house. And maybe the point was to show that her family’s love is unconditional/they finally see her and respect her at the end. BUT SHE DOESNT EVEN HAVE A BEDROOM. A BEDROOM SHE NEEDS A GIFT IN ORDER TO GET A BEDROOM! Now that her family does respect her, love her and accept her without a gift I think that she could have gotten a gift (and bedroom) without taking away from the main theme of the movie. #JusticeForMirabel

[@Zanin_Lozar]

we are never told that she didn't receive a gift with the rebuilding of the house

[@towatchvideos5592]

100% I totally agree

[@im_living_dead]

At the end all the doors were sparkling but there were no images on them. Which means all of them got their own special room without having to feel separated from the family.

[@Jah_LEASE_yah]

if she got a gift at the end, it would have detracted from the real message of the movie, which is that you don't need to be gifted to have value or worth. I think the movie should have ended with none of them getting their power back and them moving forward as a family, finding their worth as individuals without being gifted.

[@sylvy16]

@@Jah_LEASE_yah I agree with this, but imo the ending that we got was perfect. Mirabel still doesn’t have a gift, but her family learn to love and accept her regardless, cause that’s how it is even in real life. Some people face problems that cannot be solved, but they can still be loved and accepted by their family regardless.

[@dracone4370]

Watching this video, and going over to watch a bit of Encanto, I had thought, what if the magic was going to give Maribel her gift but decided to withhold it? What if Maribel's gift was to be an Empath, a psychic with the ability to tune into the emotions of others and read their mind to some extent but the magic saw that she was the best fit for helping to solve the impending crisis and chose to not give her the gift when she was young but wait until she dealt with the crisis, then after the crisis was dealt with, the magic gave Maribel the gift it held off on giving her as a thank you and sorry for all the trouble.

[@HexanTronic]

I find it interesting how the Gifts that they each got can be used to defend and protect their family and town, in ways unique to them, if the situation called for it. Super Strength, Healing Cooking, Super Hearing, Future Sight, Weather Control, Animal Speaker, Plant Control, Shapeshifting.

[@Heroism4499]

I like to imagine that the house draws upon a trait of the child to make the gift (Antonio liking animals is shown, Luisa could have been active as a kid, Isabela could have liked flowers, etc) and Mirabel was such stock standard child the house wasn't able to form a fitting gift

[@talkytabby2878]

Honestly I like this one the most. Sometimes it's the simplest answer that makes most sense

[@sirisrodriguez3559]

This was perfect timing. I just finished watching y'all's Encanto review and now I get more Encanto content from you guys? Score!

[@gabriellockwood2780]

I wasn't surprised when they 'revealed' that Mirabel was "the Gift" I even called it "she's not magical because SHE IS THE KEY to fixing everything..."

[@stecky87]

I saw it as whatever gave out the powers knew that to save everything, the family needed someone who didn't have the added pressure of having a power. They didn't have that stress, so they could see things clearer than those who were focusing on using their power for the family, for the village & felt like they had to bottle up so much of themselves because of that responsibility

[@PlutoniumBoss]

Another interesting parallel between Moana and Mirabel is that both of them live in a location that's hard to leave. Moana is surrounded by rough seas beyond the reef, Mirabel is surrounded by mountains. But while Moana feels a need to explore beyond this barrier, Mirabel is barely shown to think about it. Her focus is on her home and how great it is to be there with her family.

[@AHufflepuffAndASwiftie]

I personally think she did; her gift is kindness & compassion. Think about it: she's kind & compassionate to EVERYONE, even Bruno!! It just not as visible (& fully appreciated) as say, super strength, animal talker, healing cookies/food, &/or "flower/plant ability". 😉

[@Toy_story_and_beyond]

Before I finish this video, I’m just going to say it, she didn’t get her power because the movie had to happen

[@BlitzerXYZ]

Yes

[@eliben4066]

Getting Ryan George vibes

[@radcircles9865]

So basically, you don’t need to be gifts to be special Kinda reminds me of “if everyone’s [special], no one will be” Conspiracy: Mirabel is Syndrome

[@brookiov]

There was a really good theory I saw the other day, saying when we saw Camillo get his gift, he put his hands on the candle and directly on the door, but when we see Mirabel at the gift ceremony, she touched the candle, wipes her hands on her dress, then touched the door. Possibly when she wiped her hands she removed the magic from her which didn't trigger Casita.

[@cassieconcanon413]

I think an important part about it being her specifically out of Julieta's three children, is that as the youngest, she was in a unique position in which she was already probably going to be under pressure to live up to the achievements of her (polar opoosite) sisters, and then by not recieving a gift, it only pressed that issue further, which gave her that extra drive to prove her worth and make her family proud.