Plot

In medieval Scotland, Princess Merida of Clan Dunbroch is an adventurous and skilled archer who defies an age-old custom by refusing to be betrothed. Her actions inadvertently unleash chaos in the kingdom. Seeking to change her fate, Merida consults a witch who grants her an ill-fated wish, resulting in her mother, Queen Elinor, transforming into a bear. Merida must then embark on a quest to reverse the spell and restore harmony to the kingdom.

Production

Development

Brave was announced in April 2008 under the title The Bear and the Bow. Brenda Chapman conceived the project, drawing inspiration from her relationship with her daughter. She became Pixar's first female director of a feature-length film. However, in October 2010, Chapman was replaced by Mark Andrews due to creative differences. Despite this, Chapman stated that her vision remained intact in the final film.

Animation

To achieve the film's complex visuals, Pixar completely rewrote their animation system for the first time in 25 years, introducing a new system called Presto. This allowed for more detailed and dynamic animation, particularly in rendering Merida's curly hair and the Scottish landscapes.

Music

The film's score was composed by Patrick Doyle, incorporating traditional Scottish instruments such as bagpipes, fiddles, and harps to reflect the setting. Original songs include "Touch the Sky" and "Into the Open Air," performed by Julie Fowlis, and "Learn Me Right" by Mumford & Sons featuring Birdy.

Release

Brave premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on June 10, 2012, and was theatrically released in North America on June 22, 2012. It was the first feature film to use the Dolby Atmos sound format. The film was later released on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on November 13, 2012.

Reception

Box Office

Brave grossed $237.3 million in North America and $301.7 million in other countries, totaling $539 million worldwide. It was the 13th highest-grossing film of 2012 and the eighth highest-grossing Pixar film at the time.

Critical Response

The film received generally positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 78% approval rating based on 254 reviews, with an average rating of 7.0/10. The consensus reads: "Brave offers young audiences and fairy tale fans a rousing, funny fantasy adventure with a distaff twist and surprising depth." Rotten Tomatoes

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, noting its uplifting message about improving communication between mothers and daughters, though he remarked that transforming one's mother into a bear is an extreme first step. Roger Ebert

Accolades

Brave won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Feature Film. It was also nominated for several Annie Awards, winning for Best Production Design and Best Editorial in an Animated Feature Production.

Cultural Impact

Brave is notable for featuring Pixar's first female protagonist, Merida, who was later inducted into the Disney Princess line. The film's portrayal of a strong, independent female lead has been praised for challenging traditional gender roles in animated films.

Home Media

Brave was released on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and digital download on November 13, 2012. The home media release includes the short film La Luna and a new short, The Legend of Mor'du, which explores the history of the film's antagonist.

Video Game

A video game adaptation was released on June 19, 2012, for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, and Nintendo DS. Additionally, a mobile game, Temple Run: Brave, was released on June 14, 2012, for iOS and Android platforms.

Possible Sequel

In 2013, director Mark Andrews was asked about the possibility of a sequel. He stated that there were no immediate plans but did not rule out the possibility, emphasizing that any sequel would need to have a compelling story to justify its creation.