What Disney’s Encanto reveals about culture

Disney’s latest offering Encanto, (their 60th film) has taken the internet by storm. From TikTok dances to YouTube reaction videos, the charming animated film is full of magic, music, and family. Specifically, one special family — the Madrigals. From the first beat of the opening song, this magical family takes center stage. Disclaimer, spoilers are ahead!

We are introduced to the multigenerational family through Mirabel, the bubbly youngest daughter of Julieta and Agustin. She sings us through the family tree and reveals that the family has protected the people of the valley because of their supernatural powers which they are given by a magical candle. Each member of the family has a unique gift! From Luisa’s immense strength, to Isabela’s ability to create plant life at will, to Camilo’s shapeshifting, their powers are as diverse as the ever spreading family tree. It’s a lot to take in, and Mirabel even admits it in the song. It all ends with the setup for the entire movie — Mirabel is the only Madrigal without a super powered gift.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this film is that it abandons the traditional hero vs. villain dynamic that Disney has become so famous for. Instead, the story is driven by the internal dynamics of the Madrigal family and the many personalities of its members. As we watched, we couldn’t help but think of how these dynamics are mirrored in many organizations. Before we get into that, let’s get into a breakdown of some of the key family members.

Abuela Alma

The stern matriarch of the family, Abuela Alma closely guards the miracle candle and ensures that it stays lit. She cares for her family and makes sure that they are focused on their mission: using their gifts to help each other and the town at large.

Sadly, Alma’s husband Pedro passed away, leaving her to care for the candle, their magical house Casita, and her triplets.

Julieta and Augustin

Julieta is one of the triplets, and married to Agustin. Together they have three children: Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel.

Julieta has the gift of healing through food (now that is a gift!). She spreads happiness and health throughout the family with her baked goods. Her husband Agustin has no powers of his own, but is a dedicated father and family man.

Isabela

Isabela is the golden child of the Madrigal family. Her power is to control plant life, and she does it in ways that are both flashy, and stunning to watch. Throughout the movie, Isabela is portrayed as the epitome of what it means to be a Madrigal. She always does what is best for the family, and never steps out of line. Even her potential husband is a choice that comes across more like a business transaction than a romance. He is simply the best match for the good of the Madrigals.

Luisa

Second in age but certainly not in shoulder width, Luisa has the gift of extreme strength. From carrying 5 donkeys back to the pen they escaped from, to lifting an entire church building she can lift just about everything. But she is carrying more than just heavy objects. Throughout the film she begins to struggle with the emotional weight of caring for everyone else but not herself. She goes where asked, and lifts whatever weight, but never takes time for herself. It eventually leads to a full blown emotional crisis.

Mirabel

The youngest daughter of Julieta and Agustin is Mirabel. She is the main protagonist of Encanto and the only member of the Madrigal bloodline to not receive a gift. From disapproving looks from Abuela to her conflict with her gifted sisters, Mirabel lives with constant reminders that she is different from her family. Despite this challenge, Mirabel does her best to be a supportive and loving member of the family, going out of her way to do everything in her lack of power to support their mission.

Bruno

The last character we will touch on here (seriously though, go see the film to meet the entire Madrigal clan) is Bruno. Bruno is one of the triplets born to Abuela Alma, and the only member of the family to be mostly omitted from Mirabel’s opening song. He is also the proud owner of the catchiest song from the whole movie that has been trending on the internet since the film’s release. Bruno is portrayed as a dark and mysterious character in the movie, a bad omen if you will. His gift is powerful and problematic — the ability to see the future. Unfortunately, when his negative predictions come true, everyone turns against him and eventually he leaves as an outcast.

As we learn more about him throughout the film, it turns out he is far more awkward than intimidating, and far more caring than dark or mysterious.

Drawing the Line Between Family and Organization

Now just this list of some of the main characters can be somewhat overwhelming. And the Madrigal family, much like any company or organization, has an even longer list of members. Each plays a part in making that group what it is. We hope you get a chance to meet all the characters of Encanto, as their dynamic portrayals in the movie are both complex and moving, but the small group we have covered here really stood out as examples that show up in many organizational cultures. This movie demonstrates the Mission, the Leader, The Culture and the Impact.

The Mission

Most organizations exist with a goal in mind. Whether it is providing the best health services in your area, or manufacturing crucial components for larger machines, companies have a purpose. This purpose is crucial as it shapes many of the beliefs and behaviors we see from the individual members of the group.

For the Madrigals, their purpose was to protect the village and their family with their gifts for generations to come. It is important to note that this mission is a noble one. But just because the mission is worthy, doesn’t mean the culture automatically falls into line.

The Leader

Leadership matters. 77% of businesses feel their leadership is inadequate or flawed. [1] This is a vital deficiency as leadership sets the tone for culture, both within families and organizations.And in the case of Encanto this is on clear display.

Without a doubt, Abuela Alma is the matriarch of the Madrigal family. She leads with a no-nonsense approach, constantly reminding her family that mission and family are everything. It goes beyond reminders and teeters towards micromanagement as Alma instructs each member on how to use their gifts. She demands perfection. Everyone must always be “on”, there is no room for self, only the mission. Does this leadership shape the Madrigal Family Culture? You bet.

The Culture

In the Madrigal family, failure or weakness is not an option. You put family and the village first at all costs. They are required to bring joy and good to their surroundings. If someone does not (like Bruno’s dark visions of the future), they quickly find themselves somewhat of a pariah. If, like Mirabel, you don’t have a supernatural gift, you are considered to be “lesser’’, and tasked to simply stay out of the way of your more special siblings. Negativity, or even simply raising concerns is quickly shut down in the Madrigal family.

This domineering, “failure is unacceptable” culture is unfortunately common. We immediately thought of our recent breakdown of Volkswagen’s culture (you can even listen to our chief people officer break it all down!). The big takeaway — the culture and leadership were toxic to the health and success of the organization.

The Impact

The frontline of impact is people. Culture, and the behavior it drives, has a profound impact on people. In the family Madrigal, this is on full display.

Let’s start with Mirabel, our main protagonist. As the only member of the family without a gift, she is often shoved to the side and told to stay out of view. While she may not have superpowered gifts, it becomes clear throughout the film that much like her Abuela Alma (who doesn’t have a power either) she is a natural leader, and highly dedicated to helping her family continue their mission. When she tries to help, or be a positive influence on her siblings, she is shut down for being different, which over time drives her away.

Bruno experiences a similar fate — we won’t spoil the movie for you, but he is driven away from his home for essentially just raising concerns about the long term health of the Madrigal approach to their gifts. Concerns and negativity were not allowed in their culture and he was driven away. Employees who don’t feel a cultural fit will suffer a similar fate — those who feel a lack of respect and cultural fit are 25% more likely to leave an organization. [2]

Isabela is the golden child and top performer of the Madrigal family. She toes the company line at all times, eventually ending up in a situation where she has lost herself. She spends years making decisions that often disregard her own wants for the sake of the family, until she eventually breaks down in an entertaining scene where her flower power really goes wild.

Luisa is strong. She has been carrying the weights and burdens of those around her throughout her entire life. Not once does she take any time for herself, sacrificing all her strength for others. Although this is noble, Luisa ultimately finds herself drained of strength and in a full blown emotional crisis. Just like these to Madrigal family all stars, when employees buy into a culture that is ultimately toxic, they will be top performers for a while, but a day of reckoning will arrive and people will start to burn out, underperform, and even leave.

Family and cultural dynamics share many similarities and watching Encanto was a real eye-opener for us. The Madrigal family and the challenge of their mission to protect their village truly tested their leadership, their culture, and each member of the family. To find out how they handled it, head over to Disney Plus, we highly recommend it!

If in the meantime you have any questions about healthy leadership and culture, we would love to connect with you. Just click here to get in touch.

References

1. Lund, S., Madgavkar, A., Manyika, J., Smit, S., Ellingrud, K., & Robinson, O. (2021, September 9). The future of work after COVID-19. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/the-future-of-work-after-covid-19
2. Jobvite. (2018). Job seeker nation special report — jobvite. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.jobvite.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/JobviteReport_Harassment-Bullying-at-Work.pdf