Take a Closer Look at Pixar’s Brave
Brave will be out in June so Disney is cranking up the publicity machine. Here are some concept sketches to give you more of an idea about the filme, featuring Pixar’s first heroine.
MERIDA (Voice of Kelly Macdonald)
Passionate and fiery, Merida is a headstrong teenager of royal upbringing who is struggling to take control of her own destiny. She feels most at home in the outdoors honing her impressive athletic skills as an archer and swordfighter, and racing across the magnificent Highland countryside with her faithful horse, Angus. With a spirit as vibrant as her untamed hair, Merida also has a softness of heart, especially when it comes to her wee triplet brothers. As the daughter of the King and Queen, her life is weighted with responsibilities and expectations, causing her to yearn to preserve her freedom and independence. When Merida blatantly defies an ancient tradition, the consequences of her actions prove disastrous for the kingdom. She must race against time to make right the result of her reckless behavior, her journey compelling her to look inside to discover the meaning of bravery and reveal her true fate.
ANGUS
Black as night with ivory muzzle and fetlocks, Angus is Merida’s powerful Clydesdale and her most trusted confidant. Angus is Merida’s escape from castle life into the deep forest and the highlands beyond. Merida target shoots from her perch on his broad back and is able to coax him into one adventure after another. Angus can be balky, stubborn and faint-hearted at times, but is ultimately a devoted and faithful friend to Merida.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PY0Rjgg0M[/youtube]
Here’s more official details fro Disney:
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. From Disney and Pixar, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.
Brave follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, Brave is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor that audiences of all ages around the world have come to eagerly expect. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release Date: June 22, 2012
Voice Talent: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson
Directors: Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Co-Director: Steve Purcell
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Executive Producers: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter
Story by: Brenda Chapman
Screenplay by: Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell and Brenda Chapman & Irene Mecchi
Composer: Patrick Doyle
Notes:
- Director Mark Andrews served as story supervisor for the Disney•Pixar films Ratatouille and The Incredibles, and was Oscar®-nominated as the co-writer/co-director of the Pixar short “One Man Band.” He also contributed to the screenplay as co-screenwriter and served as second unit director for the 2012 Walt Disney Studios film John Carter. Director Brenda Chapman directed DreamWorks Animation’s The Prince of Egypt and was story supervisor for the Disney classic The Lion King. Producer Katherine Sarafian produced the Oscar®-nominated Pixar short film Lifted and served as production manager for The Incredibles.
- Two-time Emmy®-nominated actress Kelly Macdonald stars as Margaret Schroeder on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and as Ravenclaw’s ghost, The Grey Lady, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Her film credits also include No Country for Old Men, Gosford Park and Trainspotting.
- Appearing in the movies Men in Black 3 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Emma Thompson is an Oscar®-winning actress (“Howards End”) and screenwriter (Sense and Sensibility) who most recently starred in, wrote and executive produced Nanny McPhee Returns.
- Native Scot Billy Connolly is a comedian, musician and actor. His film credits include Gulliver’s Travels, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Last Samurai and the award-winning Mrs. Brown, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA. He also served as narrator for the Walt Disney Animation Studios short The Ballad of Nessie.
It sounds interesting.
I thought the trailer was kind of weak and all over the place in terms of story.
I think this Pixar Brave movie is going to be a blockbuster and one of the best Disney Pixar movies to date.
I also believe the story line of this movie will be a big hit with all of the teenage girls and the humorous one-liners in Brave will win the teenage boys over too.