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Isabelores is the family ship between Isabela Madrigal and Dolores Madrigal from the Encanto fandom.
Canon[]
The two characters are first cousins, from their respective mothers' sides. Isabela is the daughter of the oldest Madrigal triplet, Julieta, while Dolores is the daughter of the second triplet, Pepa. According to Jared Bush, the co-director of Encanto, both characters are 21, and their birthdays are both in August (Isabela on August 7th, Dolores on August 31st).[1][2][3] This means that Isabela is only a few weeks older than Dolores, so they would have spent their entire childhoods together and experienced many milestones around the same time.
Bush also corroborated many fan speculations that their relationship became strained as they grew up. While they did their best to remain friends (and outwardly show themselves as such, since they are seen holding hands at Antonio's ceremony), there was a little bit of resentment on Dolores' side especially. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, Isabela is often treated as the "perfect" grandchild of the family throughout most of the film, and her status as the first-born grandchild plays a part in this. Since she is only a little bit older than Dolores, this meant that Dolores would often find herself living in her cousin's shadow.
The second, more prominent reason, is that the film's events find Isabela engaged to Mariano Guzman--someone whom Dolores is madly in love with. Not only is this another example of Dolores being second to Isabela, but the problem is exacerbated by the women's shared maternal uncle, Bruno. Having the Gift of precognition, Bruno had told Dolores sometime in the past that the man of her dreams would be "betrothed to another." Since this exact scenario is playing out with Mariano, Dolores most likely figures that there was no hope for her, and stays quiet in the face of her dream man being engaged to marry her "perfect" cousin. The only sign of bitterness on Dolores' end is that she claims to hear (with her super-hearing ability) that Mariano wants to have five children with Isabela, which shocks the latter. Dolores gives Isabela a somewhat annoyed glance after this, and Bush has hinted that Dolores may not have been honest in this scene.
As it happened, however, Isabela was never interested in Mariano and is only going through with the engagement to please her family. Her prophesied betrothal to Mariano turned out to be only a betrothal, not ending in marriage. At the end of the movie, Dolores ends up getting her man after all, which Isabela celebrates along with Mirabel.
Unfortunately, there are very little one-to-one interactions between the two characters in the film, or even in supplemental material. Their dynamic is mostly left up to fan speculation based on the small interactions mentioned above.
Fanon[]
Encanto fans seek to soften the relationship between the two characters, not wanting there to be toxicity between them over the love triangle. Since Dolores has the Gift of super-hearing and knows many secrets (and can discern emotions to some extent), fans infer that she had some knowledge and Isabela's lack of interest in Mariano. Thus, she is often shown to be more sympathetic toward Isabela and not completely resent her for her role in the situation.
Their relationship is shown to be a complicated one. On the one hand, they are usually shown as best friends, being two female cousins who are close in age. The shot of them holding hands at Antonio's ceremony is likely what started the support toward this dynamic. At the same time, Dolores' envy, sympathy and reconciliation with Isabela is also a popular topic among fans who portray the dynamic. Many people like to explore the dichotomy of Dolores understanding that Isabela wasn't happy but still feeling resentful of her. These mixed feelings can serve as inspiration for a lot of fans.
Fan content that takes place after the movie tends to portray the two women as once again being best friends. They spend a lot of time together and share gossip. Isabela is also ecstatic about Dolores' relationship with Mariano (both because she is happy for her cousin and also free from her own engagement), and teases both of them often. Since both are the eldest daughters in their respective family branches, they also often share exasperation at the antics of their younger siblings.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Dolores & Isabela tag on AO3
Variations[]
- Madrigal Family refers to the ship between the two, Alma Madrigal, Pedro Madrigal, Julieta Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal, Pepa Madrigal, Félix Madrigal, Mirabel Madrigal, Luisa Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal, Camilo Madrigal and Bruno Madrigal
- Madrigal Grandkids refers to the ship between the two, Camilo Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal, Luisa Madrigal and Mirabel Madrigal
References[]
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| Encanto Ships • Encanto Characters | |||
| SHIPS | het | Brulith • Doloriano • Elsuno • Félipa • Herculisa • IsaBubo • Isariano • Julistín • Palma | |
| slash | Camiberto | ||
| femslash | Elsabela • LuzMira • MeiMirabel • Rayabela | ||
| family | Alberuno • BruAlma • Brumilo • BruMira • CamiPepa • Camirabel • Cool Family • Dolomilo • Isabelores • Julirabel • Luisabel • Madrigal Family • Madrigal Sisters • Madrigal Triplets • MiraAlma • Warm Family | ||
| friend | Mirabel x Casita | ||
| cargo | Alma x 🕯️ • Isabela x 🌵 | ||
| CHARACTERS | male | Bruno Madrigal • Camilo Madrigal | |
| female | Alma Madrigal • Dolores Madrigal • Isabela Madrigal • Julieta Madrigal • Luisa Madrigal • Mirabel Madrigal • Pepa Madrigal | ||