Encanto 2 (2025) is an exciting prospect for fans of Disney’s Encanto (2021), a film that captivated audiences with its vibrant animation, heartfelt themes, and memorable soundtrack. The first movie centered on the Madrigal family, who each have unique magical abilities—except for Mirabel, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and learns the importance of family, love, and embracing one’s imperfections. Given the success of Encanto, Encanto 2 could explore new territories while continuing to focus on the emotional and magical journey of the Madrigal family.

Here’s a speculative breakdown of what Encanto 2 could bring:

Story:

Mirabel’s New Role in the Family:
- In Encanto, Mirabel’s journey focused on finding her place in a family full of magic and living up to her family’s expectations. By the end of the first film, Mirabel played a crucial role in restoring the family’s magic and solidifying her importance within the family. Encanto 2 could explore Mirabel’s growth as she fully embraces her role, both within the family and in the larger community.
- Mirabel might take on a more leadership-oriented role, perhaps helping the family members understand and utilize their powers more effectively, or even guiding the younger generation of Madrigals. The sequel could delve deeper into her sense of self-worth as she continues to navigate the pressures of being part of such a unique family.
New Magical Challenges:
- The film could introduce new challenges or threats to the Madrigal family’s magic. While the family’s powers were restored in the first movie, there could be unforeseen consequences, such as magic becoming unstable or new threats emerging from outside the family’s home.
- The source of the family’s magic could be explored further. The sequel might investigate whether there’s a deeper mystery behind the magic and how the family’s powers relate to the greater world outside of their magical home. This could lead to new adventures and even introduce new characters, possibly from different magical regions or cultures.
The Madrigal Family’s Growth:
- The first film primarily focused on Mirabel, but Encanto 2 could further develop the stories of the other Madrigal family members. Each family member has a unique power, and the sequel could explore how they deal with the responsibilities and emotional weight that come with those abilities.
- For example, Isabela, who initially struggled with the pressure of being perfect, could now face her own challenges as she embraces imperfection. Luisa, the strong, reliable sister, might continue her journey of emotional growth as she learns to lean on others and express vulnerability. The sequel could deepen these character arcs while also highlighting the importance of family unity and support.
Exploring the Magic’s Origins:
- Encanto 2 could dive deeper into the origins of the family’s magic. The first film touched on the idea that the magic was a gift tied to their grandmother, Abuela Alma, and the trauma she experienced. The sequel might explore more about how the magic first came into being, whether it’s tied to a specific historical event, a mystical force, or a family secret.
- The storyline could involve a journey to uncover more about the history of the Madrigal family, potentially involving a quest to retrieve something important or to restore a deeper connection to the source of the magic.
Mirabel’s Personal Journey:
- While the first movie was about Mirabel finding her place in the family, Encanto 2 could explore her journey of self-discovery beyond the family dynamic. Mirabel might be faced with questions about her future, her relationships, and what kind of person she wants to become outside of her family’s expectations.
- There could be a storyline about Mirabel discovering a new part of herself, such as a talent or pᴀssion she never thought she had. This could tie into the larger theme of embracing imperfections, as Mirabel realizes that her worth isn’t defined by her family’s magic but by her own choices and actions.
New Villain or Threat:
- To raise the stakes, a new antagonist or challenge could emerge. This could be a person or a force that seeks to control or steal the Madrigal family’s magic. The villain could either be from the outside world, someone looking to harness the magic for their own benefit, or a character from the family’s past, challenging the family’s unity and the core values they’ve learned.
- Alternatively, the film might focus on internal struggles, such as the Madrigal family members grappling with doubts or insecurities about their powers, forcing them to confront their fears and grow together.

Characters:

Mirabel Madrigal: The central character, whose journey of self-discovery and growth will likely continue. Mirabel could embrace her role as a leader within the family and explore her potential beyond her family’s expectations.
Isabela Madrigal: The perfect sister who initially struggled with living up to her family’s image of perfection. Encanto 2 could further explore her growth and the challenges she faces in accepting imperfection.
Luisa Madrigal: The strong and reliable sister, whose journey could continue in exploring emotional vulnerability and learning to ask for help.
Abuela Alma: The matriarch of the Madrigal family, who has carried the burden of protecting the family’s magic. Her backstory could be further explored, delving into the trauma she experienced and how it shaped her relationship with her family.
Antonio Madrigal: The youngest Madrigal, whose bond with animals and his power could be explored more as he grows older. He might play a more active role in the family’s adventures.
Other Family Members: Characters like Pepa and Felix, who have unique abilities, could have expanded storylines that offer deeper insights into the family’s dynamics and the individual journeys of each family member.

Visual Style:

Encanto 2 would likely continue the stunning, vibrant animation style that made the first film so visually rich. Expect lush landscapes, intricate details in the family’s home, and colorful depictions of the magical world.
The film could also introduce new magical environments or settings, further expanding the imaginative world of the Madrigals, such as new regions where other magical families or creatures reside.

Music:

The music would likely continue to feature original songs in the same lively, Latin-inspired style that made the first film’s soundtrack so popular. The songs would capture the emotional beats of the story, balancing the humor, warmth, and drama of the characters’ journey.
Like the first film, the soundtrack could feature a blend of catchy, upbeat tunes and heartfelt ballads that resonate with the themes of family, idenтιтy, and belonging.

Tone:

Encanto 2 would likely maintain the heartwarming, whimsical tone of the first film while expanding on the emotional depth of the characters. The story could blend adventure, humor, and emotional moments, with a focus on family and self-discovery.
The film would continue to emphasize positive messages about embracing differences, overcoming obstacles together, and finding strength in vulnerability.

Overall Expectations:

Encanto 2 (2025) promises to continue the Madrigal family’s journey, exploring new magical adventures, deepening character arcs, and offering fresh challenges. Fans can expect a beautiful, emotionally resonant continuation of the story, with new themes of growth, family, and embracing one’s idenтιтy. The magical world of the Madrigals will likely expand, introducing new mysteries, characters, and possibly new magic systems. With a mix of vibrant animation, memorable music, and an engaging storyline, Encanto 2 would be an exciting and heartwarming sequel that builds on the success of the first film.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.