Alright, friends, following my post on Family Systems in Encanto, I got a request to do an enneagram breakdown of the Madrigal family too. I love a challenge, so here goes nothing. Like the Madrigal Family Systems post, there will be significant plot-related spoilers for Encanto, and all images property of Disney Animation Studios used for educational yada yada yada…
A Quick Refresher on the Enneagram
There’s a more in-depth explanation at this link, but here’s a short version. If you’re already pretty comfortable with the enneagram, click here to skip straight down to the numbers.
The enneagram is a centuries-old personality typing system geared toward motivation and growth. What separates the enneagram from other systems is its dynamic nature; no one is static in the enneagram unless there’s a problem. There are nine core personality types which reflect primary strategies for interacting with the world, but then there are “wings” (adjacent types) and stress and growth arrows which offer further variation. Put simply, once you know your primary number, there are four others (stress, growth, and both wings) which it will also help to explore. The best analogy I’ve heard is that enneagram numbers are like a color with infinite variations; just as there are countless shades of blue, there are countless ways to be a 3 or 5 or whatever number— the common trait is the motivation.
Perhaps most important of all though: the enneagram is not determinative! There is a certain amount of self-selection involved, and the purpose isn’t to feel locked into your number but to become aware of the avenues of growth available to you. I get that the enneagram can be intimidating at first, so it’s best to ease into it and let it be fun. Your number does not determine who you are; you do.
Oh, and while I’m thinking of it, under normal circumstances, you should NEVER try to guess someone else’s number. Because the enneagram has to do with motivation rather than more observable behaviors, your enneagram number is deeply personal. No one can diagnose it for you, and trying to guess someone else’s number is super rude and potentially harmful. We’re only making an exception for the Madrigals since they are fictional characters, and through Encanto’s musical numbers, we have access to their inner worlds. If you are curious about your own number, I recommend reading descriptions of the types and seeing which one most gets at your own stuff. The Madrigal family breakdown may help, or you can read descriptions here.
“How Did You Pick These Numbers?”
Hey, there’s some really nitpicky screenwriting and enneagram theory stuff in this section, so if you want to skip down to the actual numbers, I will not be offended. You can keep scrolling or click here to jump down. Anyway…
One of the things that makes the magical Madrigals so fascinating is the attention the filmmakers have given to each family member’s wants and needs. Most of the family members have an arc within the movie as they move from a surface-level want to a deeper need. For example, Luisa wants to help everyone around her without ever showing a sign of weakness, but this want works against her deeper need: to find self-worth apart from her strength so she can learn to rest and more fully enjoy her life. Not every family member has an arc like this, but most do, and even the more background characters still have strong motivations. While trying to predict someone else’s enneagram number is still a minefield, the filmmakers’ intentionality in showing off these needs and wants makes our task a little easier.
In theorizing about the Madrigals’ enneagram numbers, I first created a chart of everyone’s wants, needs, arcs, and abilities (see chart at right), and I very intentionally did not look at or think about the enneagram during this exercise. Once I had this material written out, I pulled up a second chart (below) with each enneagram type’s ideal, fear, desire, and vice, and I matched these to the wants and needs I had previously identified. Almost none of these matches were perfect, but there tended to be some common trends which helped identify the Madrigals’ possible enneagram types. In looking at the characters’ arcs, I considered the relationships to stress and growth arrows, but I tried not to dwell too much on these since they could lend themselves to mistyping— which was especially tough with Bruno and Isabela, as we’ll soon see.
In thinking through the characters’ hypothesized numbers, I mostly ignored the differentiation between social, one-to-one, and self-preservation subtypes since that’s some deep analysis, and while I enjoy this topic, it’s not going to be my dissertation. Lastly, while a lot of enneagram theory uses the terms “healthy” and “unhealthy,” I tried to stay away from these words since I find them more judgmental than helpful. Instead, I focused on how each Madrigal member grew during the events of the film (or, in a few cases, the events beforehand). So let’s get to it!
The Madrigal Family
Mirabel- 3w2
Mirabel is the central protagonist of Encanto, and she spends the movie trying to keep the Madrigal family together while also proving her own worth. Mirabel is unique among the Madrigals because, unlike her super-powered sisters, cousins, mom, aunt, and uncle, Mirabel has no supernatural gift, and all sorts of family woes get blamed on this. Mirabel is ambitious, dedicated, curious, hardworking, loyal, and helpful, but she can also be proud, obsessive, avoidant, and a little passive-aggressive (as seen in her relationships with Isabela and Abuela). Mirabel is also deeply insecure about her lack of a supernatural gift, and she compensates for this by talking up her family members and helping wherever possible (especially with her youngest cousin, Antonio). Her mom even repeatedly tells her to “take it easy” as Mirabel goes above and beyond to make Antonio’s gift ceremony perfect.
Mirabel carries significant shame and feelings of worthlessness around her lack of a gift, and her striving to prove herself makes me suspect she might be a 3 on the enneagram. 3s are known for our focus on achievement (and I say “our” because it’s my number). We fear being seen as worthless or as failures, and we will usually adapt to whatever situations come our way in order to prove ourselves. As such, 3s may not have much awareness of our own identities apart from achievements. Mirabel sings proudly about her family, but when asked about her own gift, she retreats. Mirabel constantly tries to prove herself worthy to be a part of the Madrigal family, something her empathetic father (Agustin) understands, yet Mirabel resists his attempt at soothing her. She must continue to strive and try and meet every challenge, or so she thinks.
Regarding growth and stress arrows, when Casita collapses at the film’s climax, Mirabel flees. She can’t handle confronting her family after what she sees as her greatest failure since her gift ceremony, so she runs to the river, where Abuela finds and consoles her. This is pretty typical 3 behavior. 3s under stress take on some of the more toxic traits of 9s (non-confrontational, low energy, sometimes reclusive or people-pleasing). On the other hand, Mirabel comes into her own when she acknowledges her true self —the perpetual 3 struggle— and learns how to be a more genuine advocate for her family and herself (the 3-to-6 growth path).
But hey, speaking of 6, I really considered whether Mirabel might be a 6 because of her loyalty to her family and fear of isolation. Rather than seeking the spotlight during Antonio’s gift ceremony, Mirabel hides in the shadows due to her shame, and this leads to one of her most painful moments in the movie: her exclusion from the Madrigal family photo. Her fear is realized in this moment; she is alone, relegated to the sidelines of the family she so deeply loves. In her song at this time (“Waiting for a Miracle”), Mirabel sings,
Hey, I’m still a part of the family, Madrigal,
And I’m fine, I’m totally fine.
I will stand on the side as you shine.
I’m not fine, I’m not fine…
There’s some envy here. It’s not just the exclusion that troubles Mirabel (as it might with a 6); she isn’t content to stand on the sidelines. She wants to prove herself every bit as extraordinary as her family members, which is more consistent with 3.
Assuming she’s a 3, Mirabel has pretty balanced wings since she shows many 4 characteristics (authenticity, fear of commonness, envy), but her story arc in Encanto draws more on 2 motivations (helping, fear of unworthiness, etc.). As such, I think Mirabel is a 3w2, and her primary foil in the movie has a 2 wing as well…
Abuela Alma- 1w2
The matriarch of the Madrigal family and the steward of their enchanted candle, Abuela “runs the show” (to quote the opening musical number). Abuela is the foremost authority in the Madrigal household, and all big decisions must pass through her. At the same time, Abuela has experienced the loss of her home and her husband, yet she suppresses this pain in favor of building the perfect, community-minded family and preserving the Madrigals’ reputation and traditions. Abuela’s arc in Encanto is all about learning to open up and accept her family for who they are, not for who she wants them to be.
Like Mirabel, Abuela has many 2 characteristics, which is one of the reasons they’re such great foils for each other during the events of Encanto. Abuela’s greatest love (Abuelo Pedro) was lost on the night the Madrigals received their miracle, and Abuela’s trauma is tied up in “earning” their gifts and preserving the enchantment. Abuela senses something is wrong with the whole scenario (possibly her grief manifesting), and she compensates with perfectionism. She’s deeply neglectful of her own needs in favor of focusing on the larger family (which is classic 2 behavior), but her primary motivation seems to be maintaining order in the Madrigal household and “fixing” problems (hence 1 as her primary type). Additionally, Abuela shows the capacity for significant anger and confrontation which fits the 1’s standard vice, and when feeling more secure, she can be just as playful and fun-loving as the other family members (the 1-to-7 growth path).
I’m also fascinated by how Abuela and Mirabel come into conflict over the scope of their focus. Abuela thinks of the whole family and the whole town at the expense of individuals within it, while Mirabel focuses on individuals at the expense of the whole— or, at least, that’s how Abuela sees it. Abuela pushes Luisa “for the good of the town,” and she sets up an undesired marriage for Isabela “for the good of the family.” Only Agustin and Julieta really name Abuela’s perfectionism as harmful, but even so, it takes Casita’s collapse for Abuela to see it for herself. On the other hand, Mirabel focuses almost exclusively on personal relationships, and Abuela fears how this might harm the family as a whole. Mirabel helps Luisa one-on-one. She sets up Dolores and Mariano. She mentors Antonio. She even extends an olive branch to Isabela (who extends all kinds of plants in return). Ultimately, so many of Mirabel’s actions are about impressing and protecting Abuela, but Abuela cannot see this because of her concern for reputation and preserving the order in the family and the town. This is some pretty solid 1-vs.-3 conflict, with both showing off their 2 wings.
Tio Bruno- 6w5
Ugh, Bruno is hard!
I went through at least three different possibilities before settling on 6, and even then, I needed to rewatch Encanto and get a second opinion from Jessi.
The enigmatic uncle who slipped into the walls after angering one too many people with his foreboding visions, Bruno is tough to figure out enneagram-wise. The writers of Encanto seem to have coded him as neurodivergent, with his unusual speech patterns, rituals, and social awkwardness (not to mention his invention of entire new personas to entertain himself). Because of his difficulty communicating, it’s hard to place Bruno’s motivations, but here goes nothing.
I know there’s some 9 somewhere in there, but I’m not sure whether it’s his primary type, stress arrow, or growth arrow. 9s are peacemakers. They eschew conflict, and a 9’s growth is all about learning to step into the spotlight when necessary (3 as growth arrow). On the flip-side, a 9’s conflict aversion can look an awful lot like a fearful 6 (hence the 6 stress arrow). 3s, 6s, and 9s are unique because these three types all relate directly to one another separate from the other six numbers, which is why it looks like there’s a triangle right in the middle of the enneagram diagram. Bruno is floating around somewhere in this triangle.
Bruno certainly has some characteristics of a 9, such as the way he works to pacify others. He inadvertently causes a hurricane on Pepa’s wedding day because he was trying to help her stay calm. He has a terrifying vision of Mirabel and runs away because he was trying to appease Abuela while also protecting his niece. Like a 6, he’s ever-loyal though. Even in his self-imposed exile, Bruno patches the cracks of the house from within the walls in an effort to keep the family together, and he has fashioned himself a seat beside their table so he can feel like he still belongs (which fits the 6 fear of isolation). Back to the 9ness though, when Mirabel shows up, bringing a world of complexity and conflict with her, Bruno’s immediate response is to give a quick “Bye!” and walk away. He is extremely conflict-averse, and confrontation takes significant work for him.
While I still have some doubts, I think Bruno is a 6. Known for loyalty and driven by fear, 6s can be powerful advocates, and Bruno steps into this role toward the film’s conclusion. With Casita destroyed and the Madrigals’ powers gone, Abuela finally starts to open up to Mirabel about her pain, and at this moment, Bruno rides in and comes to Mirabel’s defense. He overcomes his fear of confrontation and lets Abuela know, in no uncertain terms, that she shouldn’t blame Mirabel for everything that has happened. Bruno takes responsibility and seeks out reconciliation with his family members. He maintains his 6 motivation but is taking on some of the more positive traits of a 9— a standard growth path for 6. Additionally, with his aloofness, Bruno probably has a 5 wing.
Whew, that was a lot. Can I have an easy one next?
Luisa- 2w3
Thank you! I am 100% certain Luisa is a 2w3. Piece of cake. Slam dunk. Done and done. Moving on.
What? You’re still here? Okay, fine.
2s are all about helping, and their self-worth is tied to their ability to help others. I’ll admit I went back and forth a little on whether Luisa was a 2 or a 3, but she’s not out to achieve and succeed; she fears being unworthy and unloved if she doesn’t help her family and her town. Her big musical number “Under the Surface” might as well be the 2 national anthem since it’s all about the fear of being unworthy if she can’t help others. Also, Luisa’s anger is a big tell of her 2-ness. In stress, 2s move toward 8, meaning they can be absolute forces of nature when they’re angry or overwhelmed. I love the moment where Mirabel continues to poke and prod at Luisa, and Luisa claps back with a growl, “EVERYTHING IS FINE! NOTHING IS WRONG!” as her eye twitches. Yeah, that’s a 2-to-8 stress path.
Notice too how Luisa perceives something wrong with herself even before Mirabel’s vision. This sounds like her 1 wing bubbling up. Remember that everyone has access to both their wings, but most people tend to favor one or the other. In Luisa’s case, she favors her 3 wing with the way she shows off her strength, but she also leans into her 1 wing’s perfectionism to help her grapple with her fear of losing her strength.
Of all the Madrigals, Luisa undergoes one of the most radical changes. The opening musical number shows her running and lifting weights; though supernaturally strong already, she feels a compulsion to maintain and enhance her strength so she can be that much more helpful (and invulnerable). At the film’s conclusion, however, we see Casita and Antonio’s animal companions setting up a hammock for Luisa. Her arc is complete; she has learned it’s okay to rest. She is accepting herself, strength or not, and trusting that her family’s love for her isn’t conditional after all.
Isabela- 4w3
Mirabel’s sisters both have musical numbers exploring their motivations, so Isabela is also pretty straightforward. In the first half of the movie, Isabela puts on a perfect front and does everything exactly as Abuela instructs her— going so far as to consider a proposal from a man she’s not interested in. As previously addressed, a lot of this stems from Abuela acting out her 1-ness by attempting to “perfect” her granddaughter. After her big musical number, “What Else Can I Do,” Isabela embraces her creative side, establishing her individuality and claiming her own destiny. This is a pretty typical 4 character arc.
4s are motivated by creativity, and they seek to be unique. They resent being controlled, and of all the types, they tend to be some of the most artistically expressive. Under stress, a 4 may take on some attributes of a 2 (as we see with Isabela completely submitting herself to Abuela regardless of her own wants and needs), but while they may become people-pleasers in those circumstances, they probably won’t be happy about it. Isabela typifies this when she blows up at Mirabel just before “What Else Can I Do.” Isabela reveals she hasn’t wanted the perfect image or the buff fiancé or any of it; she was only doing those things for Abuela’s vision of the family. As for what Isabela herself wants, she wants freedom and authenticity and uniqueness— all textbook 4 stuff. In fact, when Isabela inadvertently creates a cactus for the first time, she says pointblank that she loves it because of its authenticity, and she craves more. Oh, one last thing: I tacked the 3 wing on there because of the way Isabela achieves and alters herself to satisfy Abuela.
Sidebar: If Isabela’s enneagram path feels kind of familiar (controlling parental figure, suppressing the real self, escaping into self-discovery and expression), Disney has been down this road with their characters many times. Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Remy in Ratatouille, Jasmine in Aladdin, and Rapunzel in Tangled all have similar arcs of escape and individuality. There was also this other little independent movie called Frozen which even had a similar musical number about opening up and expressing yourself which also involved a dramatic costume change. I really like Isabela’s arc, but I acknowledge this is pretty standard Disney.
FROZENNEAGRAM BONUS: Elsa- 1w9
All kidding aside, I almost rethought Isabela’s number because of the similar character arc to Elsa from Frozen (who is probably a 1 moving into 7, as marked by the song “Let It Go”). The key difference is the focus on authenticity. Elsa has obsessed over doing things right for years because of a perceived dysfunction within herself, and after she flees (9 wing) and realizes joy in her powers (growth to 7), she starts to give herself some grace. Isabela’s journey isn’t so much about right and wrong or correcting a dysfunction; it’s about authenticity, which is the 4’s core desire. 4 and 1 do interact quite a bit in terms of growth and stress, and Elsa and Isabela certainly have a lot in common, but they still have very different motivations.
Let’s keep going with the third generation of Madrigals, shall we?
Dolores- 5, balanced wings
This one is hard, and I’ll admit I’m playing a little into observable characteristics rather than expressed motivations. As we talked about back in the family systems breakdown, Dolores is the family wallflower with an appropriately soft-spoken gift: superhuman hearing. While Dolores is fairly quiet about her motivations (as she’s fairly quiet about everything), a lot of her behavior points toward 5. She hangs back and investigates, keeps track of information, and puts pieces together. She’s not quite gossipy per se, but with her gift, she knows everyone’s business all the time, and she has become the de facto family secret keeper.
The main reason I think 5 for Dolores is because of the 5’s growth toward 8. Dolores’s journey is all about learning to be confident and express her own needs and desires (particularly her affection for Mariano and fear of being alone— oh hi there, 6 wing). At the film’s conclusion, Dolores finally comes out of her shell and gets out of her head by admitting her feelings. As mentioned in the family systems post, Dolores telling Mirabel “I’ll take it from here” is a major moment of growth and reflects Dolores learning to take control of her own destiny rather than dwell on the periphery of her own life. Dolores thus has a fairly appropriate 5 character arc.
Dolores’s wings are also fascinating. On the one hand, she fears isolation like a 6, but she desires authentic expression and has the emotiveness of a 4 (especially in the way she’s drawn to Mariano’s romantic streak). For that reason, I think Dolores has fairly balanced wings.
Camilo- 8w7
I’m well aware this may be my most controversial pick, but I think the shapeshifter isn’t a 3!
In all seriousness, while known for adapting and changing themselves, 3s are interested in image and achievement, and that’s not Camilo at all. The family shapeshifter, Camilo frequently uses his ability for practical jokes, but like all the Madrigals, he has an altruistic side too. The opening musical number shows Camilo changing into a mother so he can hold her crying newborn and give the tired mom a break. Most often though, Camilo uses his gift to challenge his family members, and that’s the reason I think Camilo might be an 8.
Like his older sister, Camilo doesn’t have a ton of individual screen time or his own musical number, but we see a lot of his interactions with other family members, and these offer clues. While Camilo may not crave control in the way a textbook 8 does, he enjoys challenging his loved ones. He uses his shapeshifting ability to critique his father’s anxiousness and his sister’s soft-spokenness, and he even presents Mirabel and his parents with a monstrous portrayal of Uncle Bruno to frighten them but also help them reflect on how Bruno had upset them in the past. Of course, while Camilo enjoys picking at people, he’s still very fun-loving, hence my addition of the 7 wing. At first, I thought Camilo might be a 7, but he seems to desire challenging others above the novelty 7s crave. 8s also have a growth arrow toward 2, and when he’s at his best, Camilo uses his gifts to help others. Even his caricatures of loved ones seem to be geared toward helping (except for that one time he impersonated Dolores to get more food).
Antonio- 9w1
*A big important special note here: Antonio is probably way too young to truly have an enneagram number. The enneagram is based on the theory that our coping strategies as children become default strategies for interacting with the world as we age, and Antonio is canonically about five years old. Still, we can look at some of his coping strategies here and hazard a guess…
Similar to Bruno, I just know Antonio has some 9 somewhere in his makeup, but his loyalty to Mirabel and advocacy on her behalf suggest a little 6 as well. Though certainly shy —even fearful— at the movie’s beginning, Antonio excels in expressing his feelings, and his gift revolves around communication (though with animals rather than people). Faced with the difficult task of having a perfect gift ceremony after Mirabel’s went wrong, Antonio finds himself playing the role of family peacemaker. His main goal throughout Encanto is to make his family happy, and he accomplishes this by being a soothing and encouraging presence despite being the youngest. Yeah, if I had to guess, sounds like 9.
Early on, Antonio starts to retreat into his fear (hiding under the bed or in the shadows), but with his gift ceremony, he learns to be comfortable in the spotlight, and he even manages to bring the hesitant Mirabel with him. Hmm…sounds like a move between 6, 9, and 3 to me! Antonio’s character arc pretty well wraps up at the gift ceremony, but for the rest of the movie’s runtime, he’s still there supporting his family and using his gift to offer them comfort.
Okay, from here on, things get really tough because the second generation of Madrigals (with the exception of Bruno) don’t have a ton of screen time and development. We don’t see as much of their arcs or their driving motivations, and in a few cases, it seems like some of their most significant conflicts have happened off-screen years prior to the events of Encanto. There’s going to be a ton of guesswork here, but a dare is a dare, so here goes…
Tia Pepa- 8w7
The weather-controlling hothead of the family, Pepa literally cannot hide her emotions since they swirl in clouds above her head. While Pepa doesn’t have her own musical number like Isabela and Luisa, she talks and sings about her resentment toward Bruno after his disastrous attempt to comfort her on her wedding day. She has carried a grudge all these years, but when Bruno finally shows up in person, Pepa is quick to hug and forgive (perhaps an 8-to-2 growth path?). Pepa’s primary motivation is all about control: control of her emotions, control of the weather, control of Antonio’s big day, and control of her branch of the family (as seen when she silences Felix during “We Don’t Talk about Bruno”). With all this in mind, Pepa seems to be written as an 8, but like so many in her branch of the family, she has a strong fun-loving streak too, so I’m guessing a 7 wing.
It seems worth noting here that each enneagram type belongs to a triad focused around a certain emotion and center within the body. 1s, 8s, and 9s (the instinctive center or “gut triad”) all have a special relationship to anger. 2s, 3s, and 4s (the feeling center or “heart triad”) have a special relationship to sadness. And 5s, 6s, and 7s (the thinking center or “head triad”) all have a special relationship to fear. Each type in the triad either embraces the feeling, denies the feeling, or experiences conflict with the feeling (see chart). For example, Pepa, Antonio, Camilo, and Abuela all fall into the instinctive triad. Antonio, as a 9, denies his anger in favor of a cheerful and peaceful demeanor regardless of circumstances. Abuela, a 1, is in conflict with her anger, and she works out her frustration through perfectionism targeted at her family. Meanwhile, Camilo and Pepa, as 8s, express their anger; Pepa is outwardly stormy, while Camilo vents his anger largely through humor. While the same type and wing, Pepa and her son live out their 8-ness in very different ways.
Tio Felix- 7w6
There’s not much to go off of here except for Felix’s good humor and vivacious personality. Again, the enneagram is about motivation, so while these qualities don’t guarantee Felix is a 7, they may still be clues. Every Disney-sanctioned description I’ve found of Felix uses the term “fun-loving,” and the 7’s desire for novelty and excitement fits. Felix (along with Camilo) serves as a pressure valve for many other family members— particularly Pepa. On the other hand, we see him stress over Antonio’s gift ceremony; Felix wants everything to be done just right (perhaps hinting at a 1 stress arrow consistent with 7 or a 6 wing through which he can connect with his fear). Really, that’s about it for Felix, but I have one more theory related to him which I’ll cover in “Miscellaneous Observations” below.
Julieta (Mom)- 2w1
Despite being one of the biggest influences on Mirabel, Julieta barely has any dialogue in Encanto, so this one is a reach. Like most of the second generation of Madrigals, Julieta has probably experienced her most significant growth prior to the events of the movie. What we see of her is a loving and supportive mother with a gift for healing people through her creative cooking. Much like Abuela, she prefers things orderly and predictable, but she presents more compassion. In Julieta’s most memorable scene, Mirabel makes a comment about Julieta’s healing abilities, and Julieta quickly retorts that the real power is in her love for her daughter. All of Julieta’s interactions with Mirabel involve soothing her and comforting her, but Julieta also isn’t afraid to tell Abuela when she’s being too hard on Mirabel (perhaps exhibiting a 2-to-8 growth arrow). As such, I’m taking a shot in the dark here and guessing Julieta is a 2w1 who has already undergone a significant growth arc prior to the events of Encanto.
Agustin (Dad)- 6w7
As addressed in the family systems breakdown, Agustin is fiercely loyal to his daughters, even when it necessitates conflict with Abuela. He also works hard to keep the peace in the family and attempts to calm Mirabel when she wants to pursue Bruno’s prophecy. Agustin displays a strong sense of self, and he is comfortable talking about the awkwardness of living among such extraordinary people (which feels an awful lot like a 6 integrating to 9). In the stressful proposal dinner when Mirabel and her dad try to hide Bruno’s prophecy, Augustin works hard to pretend everything is fine (which feels an awful lot like a 6 disintegrating to 3). Of course, he’s not the greatest liar, something which makes Agustin all the more endearing, so the stress of the dinner escalates.
Agustin’s skittishness and growth toward peacekeeping make me suspect he’s some sort of 6. Given his sociable and easygoing demeanor, he probably has a 7 wing, but I see a little analytical 5 in there too. When we meet Agustin in Encanto, he’s already been through a lot. While I don’t know this for certain, because Julieta’s children are older than Pepa’s, my guess is that Agustin and Julieta married first, making Agustin both the first non-magical Madrigal and the first addition to the family since Abuelo Pedro’s traumatic death years earlier. He hints to Mirabel that this was a difficult adjustment, but he has grown and learned from it. When we meet Agustin, his most interesting character arc has already taken place, but we see the lessons he’s already learned in the way he comforts and advocates for others.
Miscellaneous Observations
In trying to guess the family members’ types, it was far easier to guess Julieta and Augustin’s children since so much of Encanto’s action revolves around their relationships. Mirabel, Luisa, and Isabela all get musical numbers dedicated to their feelings, and their emotional journeys are central to the plot of the movie. On the other hand, while Antonio, Camilo, and Dolores certainly have arcs within the movie, they’re not nearly as pronounced.
As for the second generation of Madrigals (sans Bruno), I have a theory that didn’t really fit anywhere else in this post. With Felix being a 7w6 and Augustin being a 6w7, I wonder if Abuelo Pedro may have been a 6 or 7 himself. Even without really knowing Pedro, could Pepa and Julieta have sought out partners whose personalities resemble their late father’s? Could Abuela have set her daughters up with men whose personalities reminded her of her late husband in the same way she sets Isabela up with someone who resembles Pedro physically (same eyes, same hair, same beard, same shirt, just a little more buff)? Furthermore, could Casita embody many of Pedro’s motivations toward helpfulness and protection? (And for the record, I’m not even going to try to guess the enneagram type of a super-helpful sentient house.)
Lastly, assuming I’ve come close to accurate here, I think it’s fascinating how Julieta’s branch of the family tend toward the feeling triad (2, 3, and 4), while Pepa’s branch and Abuela tend toward the thinking triad (5, 6, and 7) and the instinctive triad (8, 9, and 1). This really shows the variety within the Madrigal family and the effects of the different parents! Also, I like the idea that, if we think of the family using the metaphor of a body, there’s a balance between head, heart, and gut within the Madrigals. All of this points toward solid writing and a creative team who really had a passion for these characters and their relationships.
Conclusion
Alright, this has been fun, but I think I’m done with Encanto for a while. It’s a great movie with so much depth. The fact that we can guess the whole family’s enneagram numbers reflects just how much time and energy the creative team put into these characters. Also, the family dynamics here are great fodder for discussion and may help viewers think about their own families in new ways. If you haven’t already checked out my Family Systems Theory breakdown of Encanto, click here to do so.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go listen to “Surface Pressure” while I do some dishes because that song rules.
Hey! I recently wrote a follow-up to this post where I revisited and reconsidered a handful of Madrigal family members— Abuela, Mirabel, Isabela, Luisa, Camilo, and Pepa. Click here for the follow-up.