'Encanto' Easter Eggs: All The Hidden Details In The Disney Movie & Film Posters

Like every Disney movie, Encanto is filled to the brim with hidden details—some of which have even been translated onto the film's posters.

If you've been watching the animated musical on a loop since it launched on Disney+, or have just been hitting repeat on all of the addictive Lin-Manuel Miranda songs, then you might want to dig a little deeper into your new obsession.

Attentive fans have already picked up on several Easter eggs over the course of their multiple viewings, and Disney itself has even highlighted a few extras that went under the radar. To help you uncover them all, Newsweek has gone through the movie with a fine-tooth comb and explored its various social media communities.

From characterful costuming details to in-joke cameos and movie homages, here are the best hidden details in Encanto.

1. Dolores Claps With Her Index Fingers Only

Of all the gift's bestowed upon the Madrigal family, Dolores' seems more like a terrible curse. She cannot help but listen to everything that everybody in the village says at any given time, meaning that she is never afforded a moment's peace. As she memorably sings at one point, she is even constantly subjected to the constant "muttering and mumbling" of Bruno as well.

It makes sense then that she would do her best to minimize noise wherever she can, as evidenced by this nice little detail that was snuck in by the animators. When the rest of the family are celebrating Antonio at his gift ceremony, Dolores can be seen clapping with just her index fingers.

Obviously, this would produce a more muted sound, so as not to overwhelm her eardrums. Although it does make you wonder why no one else is extending this same courtesy to her, as the other partygoers are applauding with all their might.

2. Everyone's Clothing Has a Reference to Their Gift

The Art of Encanto book contains a lot of interesting tidbits about the film's character designs and its environments.

In particular, you will learn a lot about the clothing that the Madrigals wear and how their attire reflects different aspects of who they are. For example, the family tree can be divided into two sides; Julietta's and Pepa's, with the former always wearing cool colors and the latter favoring a warmer style.

In addition to this, everybody's individual grab contains references to their own unique powers. Bruno's ruana is decorated with hourglasses (to indicate his ability to peer through the sands of time), Pepa's costume prominently features the sun (as a nod to how she has dominion over the weather), Luisa's outfit has dumbbells (to signify her strength), Dolores' has soundwaves and Isabela's dress itself is composed of flower petals.

3. Even Mirabel's Clothes Have Easter Eggs

As the only child of the Madrigal family who was not blessed with a showy gift, you might think that Mirabel's clothing would be a lot more functional and not really contain any Easter eggs. Instead, she has the most reference-heavy outfit of all.

Not only does her makeshift dress combine the color palettes of both sides of the Madrigal family tree, but it also has nods to each and every one of her relatives' powers. If you scrutinize the clothing intensely you will notice that it is decorated with various motifs, including dumbbells (for Luisa), sound waves (for Dolores), floral patterns (for Isabela), animals (for Antonio), a candle (for Abuela) and a chameleon (for Camilo). There is even a little nod to Bruno, as her glasses are tinted his signature green hue.

There are also butterflies embroidered on Mirabel's dress. This is an homage to the works of Gabriel García Marquez, a Colombian novelist who used them prominently in his book One Hundred Years of Solitude. They are featured as a nod to Colombian culture throughout Encanto, and are also used to chart Mirabel's personal journey (appearing at critical moments in the plot).

All of these symbols are meant to reflect how important the family unit is to Mirabel, as well as how she is (in the end) turns out to be the glue that holds them all together.

4. Disney Good Luck Charm Alan Tudyk Has a Cameo

While he might be best known to cult TV fans as Wash from Firefly, Alan Tudyk is also a very prolific voice actor. Among other things, he's had recurring parts on shows like Rick & Morty, Adventure Time and Robot Chicken, while also voicing the scene-stealing K-2SO droid in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

In addition to those gigs, he's earned himself a place as one of the House of Mouse's good luck charms. Much like how John Ratzenberger can be reliably expected to guest star in all of Pixar's movies (until he skipped out on Luca, that is), Tudyk has been in every single cinematic release from Walt Disney Animation Studio, since his first role with the company as King Candy in Wreck-It Ralph.

You might recognise him as the Duke of Weselton in Frozen or the sleazy Alistair Krei from Big Hero 6, but he's not always a major character in these films. In fact, half of the time he's not even given a proper speaking role. For example, the actor used his illustrious Juilliard training to portray the clucking poultry Hei Hei in Moana, as well the oversized armadillo creature (Tuk Tuk) in Raya and the Last Dragon.

When it came to Encanto, there might not have been any obvious parts for Disney to cast him in (seeing as the Madrigals are all Colombian and Mirabel doesn't have any quickly animal sidekicks), but he does get a brief cameo as Pico the Toucan.

The keel-billed bird is the first critter to converse with Antonio after he discovers his Zoolingualism and accompanies Mirabel on her journey into Bruno's room (before promptly abandoning her when things start to get dicey). Once again, Tudyk isn't given any real lines to say here, but he does get to make an assortment of comical squawking noises.

5. There Are Several Hidden Mickeys

Despite essentially just being a trio of circles arranged in a very particular way, the Mickey Mouse logo is one of the most famous in all of pop culture.

As a tribute to the studio's Steamboat Willie origins, Disney will sneak this recognizable shape into many of its productions. The Easter egg is often barely visible unless you are purposefully looking out for it, manifesting as bubbles (in Dumbo), alien hieroglyphs (Lilo and Stitch) or billows of smoke (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl). They're equally tricky to find at the Disney Parks, where guests will often pass the time waiting in lines by trying to spot the ones that have been most cleverly tucked away.

Honoring this tradition, Encanto has its fair share of hidden Mickeys as well. Right at the beginning of Isabela's song "What Else Can I Do?," the green-fingered Madrigal conjures up a cacti plant that takes the form of one large circle and two smaller ones on top (standing in for Mickey's head and ears).

Meanwhile, there is also a blink-and-you'll-miss-it hidden Mickey in "Waiting on A Miracle." You'll need to be especially eagle-eyed to detect this one, as it is only in frame for a brief second. When Mirabel dances past her parents (in freeze-frame), some of the magical glitter in the foreground creates a familiar three circled shape.

6. Bruno's Den Has a Framed 'Fantasia' Reference

Those aren't the only allusions to Disney's mascot in Encanto, however, as you will also be able to spot a reference to his Fantasia appearance in the background of Bruno's den.

If you have ever seen the 1940 musical anthology, you will likely remember its most famous segment, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. In it, Mickey dons a blue wizard hat (embroidered with stars and a moon) before ill-advisedly trying to rush his chores using magic. Suffice it to say, it doesn't go down well, and he gets a good scolding from his magician teacher.

If you look around Bruno's dwelling in the Casita, there is a photo framed on the wall that depicts one of his rats wearing a hat that looks an awful lot like the Sorcerer Mickey headgear. You really have to be vigilant for this one, as it's only just in focus and well hidden in the background. It can be spotted at 57 minutes and 9 seconds when Bruno moves his head.

7. 'Surface Pressure' Is Filled With Cultural Nods

Luisa's "Surface Pressure" anthem is a smorgasbord of references, both to historical events and other movies. During the song's second verse there's a clear Titanic homage, complete with a band going down with the ship like in James Cameron's blockbuster (only this time they are cast as anthropomorphic mules).

Elsewhere, the image of Luisa single-handedly holding up the entire Encanto village recalls Atlas carrying the globe in Greek myth and, on a related topic, there's also a nod to the demigod Hercules. Right at the beginning of "Surface Pressure," Luisa can be seen facing off against the three-headed dog Cerberus, which incidentally has a very similar design to the one featured in Disney's Hercules movie.

8. Early Bruno Sightings

Despite being an enigmatic presence for the first half of Encanto, you are able to spot Bruno long before his grand reveal.

Like everyone else on the planet right now, he seems to find "We Don't Talk About Bruno" so damn catchy that he emerges from his hiding place to listen. During Dolores' verse, you can see him skulking around in the balcony at the top of the frame, and he even does a little boogie at one point.

If you are particularly attentive, you will also notice that he is hiding in plain sight on the film's main theatrical poster. Thanks to his green ruana and hood, he does blend into the environment quite well, so you might not notice him at first, but he is there. You can find him just to the left of Mirabel's elbow, lurking next to a stone column.

9. Antonio's Character Poster Teases His Gift

Speaking of those marketing materials, there is another detail that you can find on them, as the character poster for Antonio is the only place you can see his themed clothing.

In the film, before the youngest Madrigal gets his powers, he is entirely dressed in white, to show how he is effectively a blank slate. After he discovers his gift to communicate with animals, he then starts wearing orange stripes but there are no real hints to his abilities like there are with the others.

On his character poster however, he is wearing a vest that has been embroidered with various animal designs.

Encanto is available to stream on Disney+ now.

This article was updated on 01/18/2022 at 11:12 to correct the spelling of Colombia.