Camilo Madrigal, one of the many magical family members featured in Disney's Encanto, is one of the least explored characters of the film, and yet, paradoxically, one of the most popular. He's funny, but doesn't overstay his welcome to make his shapeshifting-gimmick dull; He's dramatic, but also level-headed and calm; and he's got one of the best verses in the best song, "We Don't Talk About Bruno". And yet, despite being a well-liked character, he's comparatively flat... Or is he?
The theme of the film is layered. In addition to being about the importance of family and the importance of proper communication, it also has a lesson about being more than just what you're good at- your "gift", so to speak. This message is conveyed through the character arcs of Mirabel, Bruno, Luisa and Isabela, as well as Abuela's turnaround at the end. These characters learn to appreciate themselves or others for more than just their powers or lack thereof, and their character development is one of the many draws of the film.
So, where does that leave Camilo?
Unlike his cousins, uncle, and Abuela, Camilo's struggles and growth isn't focused on. Even compared to his siblings and parents, he's overshadowed by their hidden depths and sweet moments. He's just the fun, shapeshifting, troublemaking cousin- no more, no less, right?
Well, I don't think this is entirely true.
Camilo's power is an interesting one. His shapeshifting power means he's able to pull off a lot of entertaining visual gags and prank his family members. The other thing it means is that, whenever he's shown helping the community, its never as himself. Nobody wants Camilo for Camilo- they want him for the person he can shift into. He's wanted because of who he can make himself be, not for who he actually is. This is similar in a way to Isabela forcing herself to be perfect, but where Isabela at least gets to know that she's in the spotlight for her own beauty and grace, Camilo knows that his only power is turning into other, more useful people. It's a conundrum that could leave a person awake at night, wondering about their purpose and use- especially if this person is a teenager with great pressure to succeed and help their community. He's useful, but not because of his own merits.
This mentality may be why he's a prankster with a flair for the dramatic. In addition to never needing to exert himself and make himself physically capable of great feats, he may also be seeking out attention. He's his family's middle child, overshadowed by both Dolores and Antonio, as well as the closest in age to giftless Mirabel, whose own circumstances likely made everyone forget about his own. That, combined with a gift that makes him less valued for who he is as a person, means that Camilo has all the reason in the world to want attention... even if it's just to make someone laugh in the moment.
Camilo, like all the characters in Encanto, are an interesting bunch that make for a fantastic movie. While his own troubles are never explored in depth, a deeper look reveals a lot more under the surface, where, as Luisa put it, there's pressure "like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop".
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