Brave
is a 2012 American computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation
Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It
was written by Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman, and Irene
Mecchi, directed by Andrews and Chapman and co-directed by Purcell.
The
film's voice cast features Kelly Macdonald, Julie Walters, Billy Connolly,
Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, and Robbie Coltrane. To make
the most complex visuals possible, Pixar completely rewrote their animation
system for the first time in 25 years. It is the first film to use the
Dolby Atmos sound format.
In the film, set in the Scottish Highlands, a skilled archer named Merida
defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in her kingdom. After consulting
a witch for help, Merida accidentally curses her family and is forced
to undo the spell herself before it is too late.
Brave
premiered on 10 June 2012 at the Seattle International Film Festival,
and was released in North America on 22 June 2012 to both highly positive
reviews and box office success.
Brave
won
the 2013 Academy Award for Best Animated Film, the 2013 BAFTA Award for
Best Animated Film, and the 2013 Golden Globe Award for Best Animated
Feature Film.
Cinema
Trailer
Development
First announced in April 2008 as The Bear and the Bow, Brave
is Pixar's first fairy tale. Brenda Chapman considers it a fairy
tale in the tradition of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers
Grimm, and stated that she was inspired by her relationship with
her daughter.
Chapman
conceived the project and was announced as the film's director,
which would have made her Pixar's first female director. However,
in October 2010, she was replaced by Mark Andrews following creative
disagreements. Chapman found the news of her replacement "devastating",
but later stated that her “vision came through in the film”
and that she remains “very proud of the movie, and that I
ultimately stood up for myself.”
Merida is the first female lead protagonist in a Pixar film. She
was originally to be voiced by Reese Witherspoon, who declined due
to scheduling issues. Instead, the character was voiced by Scottish
actress Kelly Macdonald.
The end credits include a special tribute to Pixar co-founder and
CEO Steve Jobs, who died in 2011.
Music
The film score to Brave was composed by Patrick Doyle.
To bring some of Scotland's native flavour to the music, Doyle used
native Scottish instruments such as bagpipes, a solo fiddle, Celtic
harps, flutes and the bodhrán, with an electronically treated
dulcimer and cimbalom to give it a more contemporary feel. "I
employed many classic Scottish dance rhythms such as reels, jigs,
and strathspeys, which not only serve the action but keep it authentic,"
said Doyle.
In addition to Doyle's music, the film features three original songs.
"Touch the Sky" (music by Alex Mandel, lyrics by Mark
Andrews & Mandel) and "Into the Open Air" (music and
lyrics by Alex Mandel) are both performed by Julie Fowlis, who provides
Merida's off-screen singing voice. Mumford & Sons contributed
the song "Learn Me Right" with Birdy to the film soundtrack.
Voice
Cast
•
Kelly Macdonald as Merida, a princess who dreams of following her
own path
•
Billy Connolly as King Fergus, Dunbroch's king and Merida's boisterous
father
• Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor, Dunbroch's diplomatic queen
and Merida's mother, who just wants what's best for the kingdom
and her daughter
• Julie Walters as The Witch, a wise woman who agrees to help
Merida
• Robbie Coltrane as Lord Dingwall
• Kevin McKidd as Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin
• Craig Ferguson as Lord Macintosh
• Sally Kinghorn and Eilidh Fraser as Maudie, the castle maid