Brave (2012 film)

Theatrical release poster

***Brave*** is a 2012 American computer-animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman (in the former's feature directorial debut), co-directed by Steve Purcell, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, with John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Pete Docter serving as executive producers. The story was written by Chapman, who also wrote the film's screenplay with Andrews, Purcell, and Irene Mecchi. The film stars the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson. Set in the Scottish Highlands, the film tells the story of Princess Merida of DunBroch (Macdonald) who defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in the kingdom by expressing the desire not to be betrothed. When Queen Elinor (Thompson), her mother, falls victim to a beastly curse and turns into a bear, Merida must look within herself and find the key to saving the kingdom. Merida is the first character in the Disney Princess line created by Pixar. The film is also dedicated to Pixar chairman and Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who died before the film's release.

*Brave* is Pixar's first film with a female protagonist, and the first one animated with a new proprietary animation system, called Presto. Originally titled *The Bear and the Bow*, the film was first announced in April 2008 alongside *Up* and *Cars 2*. Chapman drew inspiration for the film's story from her relationship with her own daughter. Co-directing with Andrews and Purcell, Chapman became Pixar's first female director of a feature-length film. To create the most complex visuals possible, Pixar completely rewrote their animation system for the first time in 25 years. *Brave* is the first film to use the Dolby Atmos sound format. The filmmakers created three original tartan patterns for three of the four clans in the film. Patrick Doyle composed the film's musical score.

*Brave* premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on June 10, 2012, and was theatrically released in North America on June 22. Receiving generally positive reviews, it was a box office success, grossing $540.4 million against a $185 million budget. The film won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Feature Film. Preceding the feature theatrically was a short film entitled *La Luna*, directed by Enrico Casarosa.

## Plot

In Medieval Scotland, a young Princess Merida of the clan Dunbroch celebrates her birthday and is given a bow and arrow by her father, King Fergus, dismaying his wife Queen Elinor. While venturing into the forest to fetch an arrow, Merida encounters a will-o'-the-wisp. Soon afterward, Mor'du, a huge demon bear, attacks the family. Merida flees on horseback with Elinor, while Fergus and his men fend off Mor'du, though the fight costs the king one of his legs.

Ten years later, Merida discovers she is to be betrothed to the son of one of her father's allies. Elinor explains failure to consent to the betrothal could harm Dunbroch, reminding Merida of a legend of a prince whose pride and refusal to follow his father's wishes destroyed his kingdom.

The allied clan chieftains and their first-born sons arrive to compete in the Highland games for Merida's hand in marriage. Twisting the rules, Merida announces that, as her own clan's firstborn, she will compete for her own hand. Merida easily bests her suitors in an archery contest and, after arguing with Elinor, runs away into the forest. Wisps appear, leading her to the hut of an elderly witch. Merida bargains for a spell to "change" Elinor, and the witch gives her an enchanted cake.

Elinor eats the cake and is transformed into a bear, unable to speak but still retaining most of her human consciousness. Merida returns to the deserted witch's cottage with Elinor, and discovers a message from the witch: Merida must "mend the bond, torn by pride" by the second sunrise, or the spell will become permanent. Merida and Elinor are led by the wisps to ancient ruins, where they encounter Mor'du. Realizing Mor'du was the prince in the legend, Merida vows to not let the same thing happen to her mother, and concludes she needs to repair the family tapestry she deliberately damaged during their argument.

They return to the castle to find the clans on the verge of war. Merida intends to relent and declare herself ready to choose a suitor as tradition demands, but at Elinor's prompting, she instead allows the firstborns to marry in their own time to whomever they choose. The clans agree, breaking tradition but renewing and strengthening their alliance.

Merida sneaks into the tapestry room with Elinor, but Fergus walks in on them. Losing her humanity, Elinor attacks Fergus, but suddenly regains her composure and flees the castle. Mistaking the Queen for Mor'du, and thinking it has eaten his wife, Fergus pursues the bear with the other clans, locking Merida in the castle. Merida escapes with the assistance of her identical triplet brothers, Harris, Hubert, and Hamish, who have become bear cubs after eating the enchanted cake. Merida repairs the tapestry and pursues her father. Fergus and the clans capture Elinor, but Merida thwarts them before the real Mor'du arrives. Mor'du battles with the clan warriors and targets Merida, but Elinor intercedes, holding off Mor'du and causing him to be crushed by a falling menhir. This releases the spirit of the prince, who silently thanks Merida for freeing him and transforms into a wisp. Merida covers her mother in the repaired tapestry as the sun rises for the second time, but she remains a bear. Thinking it was for nothing, Merida reconciles with Elinor begging to have her back, unknowingly fulfilling the true meaning of the witch's message and reversing the spell's effects on her mother and brothers.

With Mor'du gone, Merida and Elinor work together on a new tapestry. After they are called to the docks to bid farewell to the other clans, they ride their horses together.

## Voice cast

* Kelly Macdonald as Merida, an adventurous and virtuous 16-year-old princess who has been forced to be betrothed to strengthen the bond of a kingdom.
	+ Peigi Barker as Young Merida.
* Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor, Dunbroch's queen and Merida's mother, whose respect for protocol and tradition brings her into conflict with her daughter.
* Billy Connolly as King Fergus, Dunbroch's king and Merida's boisterous father.
* Julie Walters as The Witch, a crafty and eccentric witch who agrees to help Merida. She is also a master woodcarver.
* Robbie Coltrane as Lord Dingwall
* Kevin McKidd as Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin, whose lines were spoken in Doric.
* Craig Ferguson as Lord Macintosh
* Steve Purcell as The Crow, a talking crow of the Witch, who has his own opinions on his mistress' way of thinking as well as her abilities.
* Patrick Doyle as Martin, the guard.
* John Ratzenberger as Gordon, the guard.
* Sally Kinghorn and Eilidh Fraser as Maudie, the bumbling and cowardly castle maid.
* Steven Cree as Young Macintosh
* Callum O'Neill as Wee Dingwall