Family information
Bruno is the youngest of the fraternal triplets and the only son of Alma and Pedro, his siblings being Julieta and Pepa. In addition to being the brother-in-law of Félix and Agustín, Bruno is also the maternal uncle of Isabela, Dolores, Luisa, Camilo, Mirabel, and Antonio.
Why Didn't Mirabel Know About Bruno? Mirabel knew nothing about Bruno other than that he could see the future. That's why she had to ask the whole family about him in the song, We Don't Talk About Bruno.
Bruno was banished from the family's compound years ago by his own mother, Abuela Alma, the matriarch of the family, because the magical gift with which he was “blessed” had a clairvoyant component to it. So when Abuela began to fear Bruno's prophecies might take away her control over the family, she made him leave.
The character appears to symbolize the stigma around mental health issues: While he is never labeled with a specific diagnosis in the film, some viewers have suggested that he has OCD or another type of neurodivergent brain function.
Encanto 2 has yet to be officially confirmed by Disney, but recent developments at the House of Mouse might have given fans hope that we'll all be talking about Bruno again (if we even stopped). In February 2023, Disney confirmed sequels for Toy Story, Frozen and Zootopia.
Bruno has a few Autistic traits. In the movie, he developed the form of ritual based off of a combination of superstition and possibly sensory stimming. He would “knock knock knock on wood” all around him which is a way of asking for protection in many cultures from certain spirits.
Alma Madrigal is the mother of Julieta, Pepa and Bruno and the grandmother of Mirabel, Isabela, Luisa, Camilo, Antonio, and Dolores, who all call her "Abuela". She is a kind woman who practically worships the candle that blessed the Madrigals with their magic gifts.
Together, they had triplets, Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno. Tragically, Pedro's story ended shortly after the birth of the triplets when he sacrificed his life to protect his family as they fled from invaders.
During the conflict that same day, Pedro sacrificed himself to the Soldiers who were chasing after the escaping villagers, allowing Alma and their children to escape but at the cost of his life.
She and her husband have three children: Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel, each of whom play important roles in Encanto. Julieta is next in line to lead the Madrigal family after Alma, and her caring and attentive disposition makes her perfect for the role.
Bruno also performed several other well-known behaviors meant to prevent bad luck, including throwing salt over his shoulder, avoiding stepping on cracks, and both holding his breath and crossing his fingers while passing through doorways.
Lurie said that while on the outside, Luisa presents herself as together, she silently worries and hides her true feelings and her desire to rest. Her depression becomes more apparent when she cannot perform the way she did before once her powers begin to lessen.
From the small tidbits the writers and directors allowed us to see about Pepa throughout the film, I can nearly one hundred percent confirm that she likely does have some sort of mood disorder. This has a lot more to do with the fact that she is pressured for it to always be sunny than it does her mood swings.
While Encanto doesn't have a traditional Disney villain, Dolores Madrigal seems the closest to fulfill that role, especially with how she tries to ruin things for her cousin, Isabela.
After a world premiere November 3, 2021, Encanto was released theatrically on November 24, 2021. After a 30-day run, the film was made available on Disney+ on December 24. If Encanto 2 is officially announced in the next year, fans might expect a release date of at least 2025, due to the demands of production.
The family disliked Bruno because his power caused him to speak truths that they did not want to hear. This can understandably be a traumatic event for Bruno, making him feel like he did not fit in with his family.
In Encanto, we learn that Abuela endured a massive trauma. Forced to flee from her home with her infant triplets and husband, her husband was murdered trying to protect them as they fled (caveat: The film didn't explicitly show this; it's only implied).
Pepa can be described as "overly emotional". She has frequent mood swings which alters the weather around her. She can become very nervous, anxious, stressed, sometimes even neurotic. Her emotions sometimes control her more than she can control them, resulting in chaotic weather conditions.
At first glance, it seems Bruno represents the voice of fear and that we need to silence fear. But with another look, he's more than that. Bruno isn't just the voice of fear, but the fear of living. Bruno represents the fear of the imaginary unknown future you create in your head.
Why can Dolores hear Bruno? The truth is, Dolores isn't exactly sure what she hears when it comes to Bruno. Bruno left to live in the house's walls when Dolores was just a child, so she's listened to her uncle in the house for years. For Dolores, his sounds are a regular part of everyday life.
According to one article (via Inside the Magic) however, the name's use in both films was purely coincidental. While the creators of Encanto chose the name Bruno for stylistic purposes, Luca's writers picked the name at random. For Encanto, the movie's creators had a specific reason to select the name, Bruno.
Juancho is nicknamed for his love for coffee, which gives him loads of energy and causes him to be hyper. Both Mirabel and Luisa express concern or dismay at the amount of coffee Juancho drinks. Juancho is an excitable kid who adores the Madrigals and wants to know everything about them.
However, in this story about a family blessed with magical powers and one girl's journey to preserve that magic, there is one character that is quickly becoming a fan favorite: Luisa.