Disney’s Encanto doesn’t genuinely include a traditional villain, but one change almost accidentally made Abuela Alma seem more villainous. Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) and Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero and Olga Merediz) don’t have the greatest relationship at the start of Encanto. Abuela Alma is protective of the Family Madrigal’s gifts and magic, and Mirabel’s lack of magic worries her. In fact, Abuela Alma is so protective of the magic that she doesn’t let her family reach their true potential. Instead, they’re always trying to be something they’re not. For instance, Isabela (Diane Guerrero) may even marry someone she doesn’t love to make Abuela Alma proud.
Abuela Alma has a right to be protective of the family’s magic. In Encanto, the Madrigals receive their magic after an unimaginable tragedy. Pedro Madrigal, Alma’s husband, ultimately sacrifices himself to save his family and village from marauders. After Alma cries out in grief, the Colombian wilderness takes pity on her and gives her a magical house and an enchanted candle. Her family members also get special powers that they use to help their community. Alma wants to keep the magic to make sure no one loses their home again.
Though Alma’s intentions are pure, another version of the film could’ve made her decisions seem more sinister. In Art of Encanto, the filmmakers behind the movie reveal everything that went into making Encanto and the behind-the-scenes changes to the film. Associate Production Designer Lorelay Bové explained the magical house was once going to be an extension of Abuela instead of an extension of all the magical Madrigal family members. “The color of the wallpaper would reflect her mood in whatever room she was in,” Bové said. Though the story would’ve more strongly connected Abuela Alma to the miracle, it could’ve also made her seem like she didn’t have the best intentions.
If the house reflected Alma, it could’ve made her choices seem more selfish and perhaps even villainous. In the film, Alma obviously wants to keep the magic safe for the good of her entire family. But if the house reflected her moods, it could also make it seem like she wanted to protect the magic for herself. After all, the miracle connects to her above all others. So in saving the miracle, Abuela Alma Madrigal might appear to want to keep the magic going for personal reasons instead of the good of others.
Alma isn’t a villain in Encanto at the end of the day. Though Alma opposes Mirabel at points in the film, she’s always thinking of others above herself. She’s faced unspeakable tragedy, and she wants to save others from facing those same hardships. If Encanto showed the house reflecting Alma, the film could’ve taken care to show that she wasn’t acting out of selfishness. However, there would always be a danger of viewers assuming Abuela didn’t have the best intentions at heart in Encanto.