Top 10 Small Details in Disney's Encanto You Missed

#10: The Many Voices of Alan Tudyk

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You might not know this, but the voice behind Pico the Toucan is an integral cog in some of your favorite modern Disney movies. Alan Tudyk has voiced everyone from King Candy in “Wreck-It Ralph” and the Duke of Weselton in “Frozen” to Heihei in “Moana” and Tuk Tuk in “Raya and The Last Dragon”. And that’s barely even scratching the surface. His casting was first announced on Twitter by the movie’s co-director Jared Bush. He called Tudyk “Disney Animation’s good luck charm”. Apparently, this is an inside joke among those at Disney and one that’s proven rather lucky for the voice actor as well.

#9: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (But We Can See Him)

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The mysterious Bruno is the outcast of the Madrigal family and one that they’d rather not discuss. In fact, this upbeat cha-cha-cha number is pretty insistent on telling us just that. Even though they don’t want to talk about him, this song does a pretty good job in giving us, and Mirabel some background about their ostracized uncle. And speaking of background, Bruno makes a couple of appearances in the background during this song too. You’ll first notice him during the verse about the wedding. But if you pay close attention, you’ll also spot him on the balcony during Dolores’ rap verse.

#8: The Clues About Bruno’s Powers

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Unlike the rest of the family, Bruno’s magical abilities aren’t really seen as a gift as much as an inconvenience. Apparently, people don’t like receiving bad news; who knew? Bruno can see into the future, which is symbolized through hourglass imagery. When he initiates a vision, a dome of sand that glows jade green is created. Since he can see through the sands of time, not only is there an hourglass on his poncho, but the entrance to his tower contains one too. Bruno isn’t the only one to wear his magical prowess on his sleeve - but more on that later.

Eagle-eyed Disney fans may have picked up on a few nods to another Disney classic. Bruno, a man with a misunderstood power who’s condemned to life in solitude, almost reminds us of a certain snow-loving Queen. In fact, we get a nudge-nudge-wink-wink moment when he throws out this line. It’s not the only time that “Encanto” alludes to “Frozen” either. During Luisa’s song, “Surface Pressure,” the sisters are joined by a chorus of donkeys who act as performers and audience members. Now, we don’t know about you, but if you substitute donkeys for reindeer, this gives us some strong, “Lost in the Woods” vibes.

#6: The Symbolism of Opposite Doors

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While there’s no antagonist in the movie, one of its biggest sources of conflict comes from Mirabel butting heads with her Abuela. As the matriarch of the family, Abuela’s room is at the head of the house and Mirabel’s room is directly opposite. This represents their opposing worldviews. The younger aspires for change in hopes of a better future. Meanwhile, the elder stands strongly and firmly in tradition. It also foreshadows the movie’s ending, as we eventually learn their connection is quite literally the foundations of the Casita. And their magical home is at its strongest when grandmother and granddaughter come together.

#5: The Hints About the Cracks

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Luisa’s reggaeton solo number “Surface Pressure” is quite a bop. But if you listen beyond the song’s deceivingly cheery melody, you’ll hear Luisa singing about the pressures of her enchanted skillset. In fact, it seems like she’s on the verge of cracking under the expectations placed on her as both the older sister and generally by their community. At one point during the song, the actual ground cracks open beneath her as well. We don’t want to give away the ending, but this seems to foretell later events. The cracks indicate a shift in familial dynamics. If only Mirabel had seen the signs sooner.

#4: The Significance of their Outfits

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Clothing can say a lot about a person and that’s certainly true for the Madrigals - whether that’s weights on Luisa’s skirt, Colombia’s national flower, the Orchid embroidered on Isabela’s dress, or Chameleons on Camilo’s poncho. Agustín’s clothes seem to pay homage to his daughters while Felix’s geometric shapes can represent stability for his famil . When we first meet Antonio, he’s yet to uncover his powers, so he’s dressed in white to indicate that he’s a blank canvas. You might also notice that Mirabel’s family dress in cooler tones while their cousins opt for warmer colors. Mirabel wears an amalgamation of styles, representing her love for her family.

If you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda, then you’ll know that his musical genius has no bounds. And, he’s struck gold once again with the entire “Encanto” soundtrack. One song that sticks out, however, is Mirabel’s “I Want” song, “Waiting on a Miracle”. For the more musically inclined among us, you might recognize that it’s seemingly set to a three-quarter Colombian Waltz rhythm. The song was deliberately penned to be slightly out of time with the rest of the movie’s music. As Stephanie Beatriz, who voices the protagonist explained, this reflects how Mirabel feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of her family.

Glasses-wearers everywhere were thrilled to finally see a bespectacled Disney protagonist. However, those very glasses are key to the story and actually uncover Mirabel’s more understated special powers. A running theme throughout the movie is that of perspective and understanding. We see how two individuals can have varying approaches to the same situation and how that might affect their relationship. Also, as anyone who understands Spanish can tell you, “Mira” means “sight”. In a nutshell, it’s Mirabel’s unique perspective that helps her see her family beyond their magical powers. That’s her super strength and how she’s able to bring her family back together. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Why Kids Don’t Need Coffee In Colombia, It’s Not Unusual for Kids to Drink Coffee, but This One Has Probably Had Enough Bruno’s Slides Colombia’s 1990 FIFA World Cup Game Against Germany Remains an Important Event Today Movie References in “Surface Pressure” Film Buffs May Have Spotted Mentions of “Hercules” & “Titanic” in This Number Someone’s Clearly a “Doctor Who” Fan When Anyone Enters the TARDIS, They're Amazed That It's Bigger on the Inside Cerveza Para El Dolor de Cabeza Julieta Madrigal Heals with Food & Apparently Beer Is Great for Headaches

#1: The Significance of Butterflies

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It’d be hard to come by a single scene that doesn’t feature a butterfly in some way. Some are more obvious like the butterflies on Mirabel’s clothes. But others are more subtle, such as the song “Two Oruguitas” meaning two caterpillars. This motif symbolizes the family’s magic as well as being representative of transformation and change. You’ll also notice that they tend to be yellow, which is a nod to Gabriel García Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”. Mirabel’s butterflies tend to be more colorful, indicating her more unique personality. In the end, a flutter of yellow butterflies appears as Mirabel finally finds her place in the family.