10. Antonio Madrigal - The Cast of Encanto and their Archetypes

Archetype: The Innocent / The Animal Whisperer / The Connector

Antonio is the youngest member of the Madrigal family, and his gift—to communicate with animals—speaks volumes about his archetypal role. He represents The Innocent or Nature Child, a pure, empathic presence who symbolizes the untarnished Self. Unlike the other characters, Antonio has not yet internalized the family’s legacy of burdens, perfectionism, or control. His arrival at the beginning of the film marks a transition point: the next generation stepping into the system. But unlike his older relatives, Antonio is met with safety and genuine support, largely because of Mirabel's presence.

In Jungian terms, Antonio is a living embodiment of The Child archetype—a figure of renewal, instinct, and the potential for healing. His connection with animals is symbolic of his instinctual nature and innate ability to relate without domination. He has no persona to uphold yet, no repressed shadow—he simply is. This allows him to serve as a mirror for the family’s more rigid roles, a reminder of what emotional freedom and trust can look like before roles and masks take hold.

From an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens, Antonio could be seen as living mostly in Self-energy: he is open, connected, curious, and unburdened. He doesn’t need to shape-shift or suppress; he simply relates. But his closeness to Mirabel is also a subtle indicator that even at his young age, he senses who is safe and emotionally available. He trusts Mirabel enough to share his vulnerability before receiving his gift—an early act of relational courage.

In the 7 Inner Child Archetypes, Antonio most clearly resonates with The Magical Child—a part that retains innocence, hope, and spiritual attunement. This archetype often holds the imagination and intuitive gifts that adults lose touch with under the weight of survival roles. Antonio’s interactions are characterized by gentle boundary-crossing—not violating others, but connecting across species, ages, and family tension with innate openness.

Antonio’s role may not require transformation in the way others do, but his gift is just as essential. He represents what it looks like to begin in Self—and his function in the narrative is to remind the family of what they were before the weight of magic distorted their sense of self-worth. His healing lies in preservation: keeping that wonder alive as he grows, protected by the very family he helps to heal through presence alone.—sensitive, empathic, and deeply connected to nature. He is the promise of regeneration and harmony, not yet touched by trauma. In archetypal terms, he is The Wildling or Nature Child, holding the seed of a better future.