Abuela Alma had a critical change in Encanto, and the moment may hint at the future of the Family Madrigal in the film’s sequel. Encanto tells the story of Alma Madrigal (María Cecilia Botero) and her magical family. Years before the film’s events, Alma witnessed her husband sacrifice himself to save his village and his family. Because of that sacrifice, Alma receives a magical candle, an enchanted house, and mountains spring up around her and the town for protection. Her family members also receive supernatural gifts when they get older. For instance, Luisa (Jessica Darrow) has super strength, and Bruno (John Leguizamo) can see the future.

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Unfortunately, not all the Madrigals get powers. Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz), Alma’s granddaughter, doesn’t get powers on the night of her childhood gift ceremony. The moment strains her relationship with Abuela Alma. However, Mirabel’s lack of powers drives her to make her family proud and learn about what’s causing cracks to appear in their magical house. In the end, Mirabel and Abuela Alma learn that the rifts in the family caused the problems with the house, and Mirabel leads the way to help rebuild the magical Casita.

During Encanto’s development, the production made a change with Alma, and it may hint at the franchise’s future. In Disney’s Art of Encanto, Production Designer Ian Gooding explains that Abuela Alma and Mirabel were once going to visit the city where Alma grew up. “There, they would see vehicles, including the traditional Chiva bus, and technology that was not available in their hidden little town.” In Encanto, the Madrigal’s village is hidden away in the mountains, which break open at the end of the film. Since Mirabel and Abuela were once going to see more advanced technology, Mirabel could help the family adapt to the new world in the future.

Encanto makes it clear that Mirabel is following in Abuela Alma’s footsteps and leading her family. Like Alma, Mirabel puts the family before herself, and Alma even tells her granddaughter that her husband sent Mirabel to help her. However, while Abuela held the family back for protection, Mirabel is all about bringing on change. For instance, Mirabel’s encouragement helps her sister Isabela (Diane Guerrero) stop trying to be perfect all the time. “There’s nothing you can’t do,” Mirabel sings to her during Encanto’s “What Else Can I Do?” Life changed outside the Encanto walls while the mountains are up, and technology advanced. Now, Mirabel seems ready to lead her family into the wider world.

Of course, Encanto went through several other changes that ultimately weren’t a part of the final film. For instance, Casita once changed to reflect Alma’s mood in scenes, and the Madrigals went through several different powers and rooms in Casita. Since Disney dropped many of those previous story elements, there’s no guarantee that cars and Abuela’s hometown will be a part of the franchise’s future. However, Mirabel certainly has the drive to lead her family into the modern world, and cars would make that drive much easier.

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Bill Bradley
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Bill is an experienced reporter who’s covered entertainment and fandom since 2014. He’s done everything from unearthing the discarded Game of Thrones pilot script in a library in Texas to finding out why Steve left Blue’s Clues. He also enjoys eating Taco Bell and drinking chocolate milk.

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