Initially introduced only from the other characters' perspectives within the verses of the song, Bruno appears later in the plot when Mirabel finds him secretly living in the walls of the family house with the rats.

Critical analysis of the Madrigals' neglect and demonisation of Bruno has raised discussions about how families treat members with mental illness and resolve issues around intergenerational trauma.

[2] Bush and Howard's relationship with filmmakers Juan Rendon and Natalie Osma, who had previously worked on the documentary "Imagining Zootopia", initiated a casual conversation about Latin America culture, which over time influenced them to focus on Colombia.

Bush explained that the family's powers were devised as a natural extension of these archetypes in order to create "a magic born of emotion and personality and character".

According to Bush, the team conducted research by consulting therapists and psychologists: "One gave us an interesting stat: In a four-person family, each was asked 'Who is treated the best by the parents?'

[5] Bruno was originally younger, around the same age as Mirabel, and depicted as "kind of a chubbier, funnier uncle who she met earlier in the movie", according to Howard.

This story concept provided an interesting idea for Miranda to write a song that focused on the character being absent for ten years and developing a reputation based on gossip and misperception.

[19] After Mirabel fails to receive a gift, Bruno is asked to conjure a vision to find out why and sees her standing in front of a broken Casita, their sentient home.

CNN highlighted that therapists have theorized that Bruno may be neurodivergent or have a mental illness due to being different and exhibiting unusual mannerisms, such as knocking on wood.

"[32] Roxy Simons, writing for Newsweek, commented that the song reveals more about the other members of the family than Bruno himself, particularly in the verse in which his sister Pepa complains that he ruined her wedding day by approaching her with a "mischievous grin" and causing rain.

Simons further noted that the verse sung by Dolores reveals that Bruno was an outsider because his visions left the family members "grappling with prophecies they couldn't understand".

In addition, Simons highlighted that Camilo also misrepresents his uncle by describing him with exaggerated features and "rats along his back", which causes other characters to shun him even more.

[21] Barbara Robles-Ramamurthy wrote for Psychology Today that in their pursuit of perfection, the family purposefully neglects and demonises him literally by not talking about him rather than being open to his gift and that this rejection or misunderstanding of children with mental illness is common.

[33] Derrick Knox and Glennie Leshen noted that out of the negative communal response to his visions, Bruno develops a fear of giving the family undesirable news and represses his thoughts and feelings.

Upon meeting Mirabel, he experiences anxiety and uses avoidance tactics that, from a Freudian perspective results from his superego, which causes him to struggle with the pressures of being a member of the Madrigal family.

His ostracisation has a serious impact on his physical and psychological state, being pale and thin due to lack of sunlight, but also displaying obsessive-compulsive behaviour, such as holding his breath, counting and knocking on wood before entering a room.

[35] BJ Colangerlo of SlashFilm noted that Bruno is initially presented as the villain, but ends up as one of the leading characters and felt that the film teaches viewers to treat similar people with more empathy.

He further opined that Bruno symbolises the Carl Jung concept of the collective unconsciousness: "He is myth, intuition, the irrational, the shadow, archetypal energies, the stuff of prophecy and dreams.

[4] Mychal Thompson of BuzzFeed felt that Bruno is highly relatable to millennials because he is the black sheep of the family, he is misunderstood by the older generation and practices mental self-care through various quirks, such as knocking on wood and avoiding cracks.

[40] CinemaBlend writer Sarah El-Mahmoud considered Bruno to be the most interesting character in Encanto for being the missing piece that ties the movie together and for his "affecting and hilarious" depiction.

[41] Princess Weekes of The Mary Sue described Bruno as her favourite character and commented that his situation is "painfully tragic" because he lives in the walls with the rats so that he can be near to his family.

[45] Forbes staff writer Scott Mendelson considered Leguizamo's voicing of the character to be the film's standout performance, highlighting both its comedic and tragic elements.

[47] In an IGN review of the film, Andrea Towers praised Leguizamo's performance for balancing humour with the character's deep-seated resentment, hurt and shame.

[49] Following the release of Encanto, therapists discussed the way family secrets exemplified in the Madrigals' stories about Bruno are common signs of intergenerational trauma.

[50] A study at the University of Cambridge found that the film had the potential of offering therapeutic benefits to children's mental health who see themselves represented in the characters, with Bruno being the black sheep who rejects the family's coping mechanisms.

[51] Lucy Blake wrote for Psychology Today that the film shows that the Madrigals' happy ending is a challenging process that involves addressing their traumas, understanding the perspectives of others and finally "talking about Bruno".