Why Is Brave Neglected By The Pixar Fandom?⎮A Pixar Discussion

[@happyblackwoman6154]

I like how they made Merida independent and tomboyish without making her masculine. Just because a woman isn't a girly girl doesn't mean she has to be masculine.

[@zee3030]

@thanos asparagus monkey condom gamimg a girl who enjoys rough, noisy activities traditionally associated with boys.

[@ev_account]

@thanos asparagus monkey condom gamimg to put it simply, a tomboy is a girl who is not very girly, basically meaning their interests and behavior would be more like a guy’s; sport-like, rebellious, etc. A stereotypical “girly” girl would be more like a Disney Princess; feminine, fashion forward, bubbly and giggly, that sorta stuff. Tomboys are the opposite of that, but that doesn’t exactly make them masculine either. This is what separates Merida from the other princesses from Disney. She likes archery and is seen with weapons throughout the film, rebels against her mother’s wishes to marry a prince, etc.

[@BimDaTitanicNerd]

@thanos asparagus monkey condom gamimg women who does manly activities and acts like a man, it's doesn't technically mean you're lesbian if you're a tomboy

[@MeemahSN]

I really like how she doesn’t fall into either category. I like that she isn’t masculine or feminine and is allowed to just exist without being a walking stereotype. She’s just trying to be herself and, personally, I don’t think that gets enough recognition

[@coldgrandpa]

But also dont we need more butch girl representation in films

[@shadowmarauder6033]

Brave basically got the Middle child syndrome: not hated but not loved, which means nobody remembers it. This is really sad for films, since their are many films like Brave that are really good but aren't good enough to be remembered.

[@eageltheYTman]

Yeah but Brave isn’t “really good” lol it’s kinnnda bad, an example of good film forgotten from the DREAMWORKS catalogue, is Flushed Away

[@DogDogGodFog]

@@eageltheYTman Dude no Flushed Away is really bad. I didn't like it as a kid, I don't like it now. It's so goofy and pointless, it exists for no reason and it's just boring. Nothing is funny, interesting or meaningful.

[@eageltheYTman]

@@DogDogGodFog Flushed away is easily one of the funniest DreamWorks movies, along with Captain underpants, you saying it isnt funny is like, you have no sense of humour

[@DogDogGodFog]

@@eageltheYTman Bro I've always found it lazy and terrible and no nutjob will ever change my mind. It's the type of movie that DESERVES to be obscure. And as for Captain Underpants, I can't say because I never watched it.

[@eageltheYTman]

@@DogDogGodFog bro, lazy? Bruh it's 2006 animation that mimics stop motion that holds up surprisingly well, it's HUGH JACK AN AS A RAT. It's constantly funny with great characters, way better than Brave Top 10 DreamWorks 10. R Flushed Away 9. Spirit: Stallion of the cimmaron 8. Wallace and Grommit curse of the Were Rabbit 7. (controversial but im proud) Shrek forever After 6. Kung fu Panda 2 5. Megamind 4. Shrek 2 3. How to train your Dragon 2. Kung fu Panda 1. Prince of Egypt

[@freezingsn0w_]

Brave was my favorite movie as a kid (I still like it as an adult but different movies have become my favorite now) and I was shocked when I realized how underrated it was. The humor was good, I loved the world building around the wisps, and it connected with me because I have a mother that I don't see eye to eye with sometimes but I still love her. And this movie got me interested in learning archery so that's a bonus!

[@trinabellsz]

Same, yay!!

[@zzodysseuszz]

I’ve liked it the whole time. When I had to babysit my brothers with adhd I would just replay this and everyone would be happy. There were other movies as well that I liked and others that I didn’t. Like I used to like the Madagascar movies but, think about it, would you still like it if you had to watch it 11 times in a row every afternoon? Then there was the pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (4 and 5 hadn’t come out) watching all 3 takes awhile so by the time you get back to the first one on repeat it’s fresh on your mind. I enjoyed watching these and I still rewatch them now but however they scared my younger brothers so I was told off by my parents :,( ah well

[@airicastarwall1349]

I wouldn't say its a personal favorite but I definitely enjoyed it and so did my family

[@nicnic1190]

if you were a kid when Brave came out... you are still a kid.

[@princesskatarina351]

@@nicnic1190 I suppose it depends on what you mean by "kid". But if someone was 8 when it came out in 2012, then legally they are not a "kid" ten years later. Heck, unless they were 1 to, I don't know... 4? 5? in 2012, only then would I still consider that person a "kid". This isn't to say that a 15, 16, or 17 year old is an adult, but I also don't see them as a "kid". They are maybe "responsible teens" or "young adults". But hey, you be you. :)

[@anaphchan6783]

I honestly love Brave. And so does my mom. It takes alot for me and my mom to like alot of the same things. And I think we both like it so much cause my mom can relate to Merida’s mom and I can relate to Merida. This movie should really get a sequel I would love to see what would they do it.

[@spidernymph8964]

That's cute that you and your mom often disagree on what you like but bond over this movie about a mother and daughter disagreeing but in the end bonding.☺️

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

I didn't love the movie. I thought it was just mediocre. It had a story that was so generic and forgettable.

[@WarmLillie]

Oddly looking back on brave, it doesn’t feel Pixar but with the main Disney Princess brand. She’s even the 11th official Disney Princess. Maybe the reason why Brave is forgotten child because it the middle child between Tangle doing a better job 2010 and Frozen a year later at 2013. No song or anything spectacular to separate it.

[@clarie4497]

Which is a shame because those movies are so mediocre it hurts.

[@joshuagarcia4077]

@@clarie4497 how’s Tangle mediocre?

[@kitsuneayano]

@@clarie4497 or more overrated during time now , tangled and the series expanded the story made it more enjoyable and fresh but frozen good but seen it too many times needs something like brave a hidden gem to spice things up

[@carlamcgrath7971]

Don't forget wreak it walph that came out in 2012, I feel like brave was a little bit too adult for children aswell, most movies that do well are bright and full of magic and colour where as brave felt more darker.

[@ericpeterson8732]

What??? You didn't like "Touch the Sky"? That was great!

[@hastiborhani3492]

I loved the first half of the movie,the mother and daughter relationship and their issues and how it showed women's struggles but then instead of solving the conflicts in a satisfying way they just turned elinor to a bear:/ the bow wasn't even mentioned after she burnt it despite it's important role! honestly her and merida's relationship was the best part of the movie,it's sad they didn't get more development

[@EndYouTubeShorts_]

It did. I'm sorry, but it did. Since Elinor was a bear, the writers had to be more clever about how they write. In the story, Merida and Elinor themselves had to be more clever. They writers couldn't just not do the bear part, because that's what makes the movie unique. At the begining of the movie, Merida and Elinor had to put more effort into their relationship because it wasn't working out (and they were daughter and mother; neither has yet a reason to give up). When Elinor was a bear, they had to do even more to make themselves heard and fix things. And they did! They *changed.* At the begining of the movie, they could talk to each other like people and figure out their problems, but they didn't. Merida ended up doing something stupid instead. At the end, they actually *tried* to understand each other. Change *is* development. (Gonna get real out of place here) Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk.

[@ansleymarshall3894]

But they did develop. Her mom turning into a bear, let both of them come closer together while also solving a pretty interesting mystery.

[@blinday]

My thoughts exactly. I think it's due to the director change. The one to start the story was a woman, the one to finish was a man. I don't remember the details, but there was a lot of chaos.

[@yourmom66600]

The development with the bear idea was bullshit

[@yourmom66600]

@@blinday it was. The first director wanted a movie specifically about what it means to be a WOMAN, with the conflict being between a mother and a daughter. The new director saw this as a genderless movie, and forced it as that with the boring typical human-turns-animal story.

[@Ailorn]

The scene with the queen and Merida during the storm when Merida was little and scared makes me tear up. My children were little at the time and I remembered thinking that these moments are so fleeting and they'll grow up so fast. The movie has a soft spot in my heart for that one scene. I think the bear aspect was very weak.

[@Rhaenarys]

Brave is probably my favorite pixar/Disney movie. It actually resonates with me pretty well. I felt Merida was probably one of the most relatable princesses out there for girls today.

[@lisaruhmann8342]

It is my 3rd favorite.

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

I don't agree. I think it is one of their worst efforts ever. The story was generic, the characters were not very well written, especially by the second half, and the original concept was so much better than what we ended up getting.

[@Rhaenarys]

@@captainhowlerwilson508 ok. Great thing about opinions is not everyone has to agree...

[@Rhaenarys]

@@captainhowlerwilson508 little tip, though, be careful when you say you dont agree. Because...it looks like you do not agree I should have that opinion considering everything I said was about very personal related, not general lol. And it was literally only 3 sentences lol.

[@cholm2070]

I have to agree with OP. I grew up as a strong willed daughter, and often had conflicts with my mother, so I felt a strong connection with the film. I remember at one point the end of the film left me crying because I missed my mother, and it helped us resolve conflict earlier on by listening better to each other. I also really liked the subject material of old mythology. It was one of those films I’d watch before bed as a kid, and be left laying awake with this sparkling sort of sense of wonder and enchantment with it. I’d fall asleep feeling good. It wasn’t quite How To Train Your Dragon (my all-time favorite) but I’ve always been fond of this one.

[@Will_Morand]

I like Brave. I have a bit of a bias towards the setting due to having Scottish ancestry, and found Merida to be a fun character who filled the princess role without falling into the Disney princess cliches. However, I'm reminded of a video by the channel eliquorice from a couple years ago, where he outlined how Brave was effectively two primary plots in one movie. Both plots were good, but neither got enough time to truly develop and tell their story, so the movie feels a bit more lackluster compared to some of Pixar's other films. I agree that Brave is underrated, but I can also see why it's not liked as much from a storytelling perspective. I think that one flaw is what kept Brave from being one of Pixar's greatest hits, up there with Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Inside Out. Though not being as good as The Incredibles doesn't by any means make it a bad movie, either.

[@debbiborella8094]

I think it’s terribly unfortunate the Brave gets forgotten. I love that movie, not only because I and a huge fan of anything Celtic in nature, but also because I can relate to the story, I love listening to Scottish accents, the triplets crack me up as does Maudie, and I especially love how Mirada is a strong, smart, motivated, independent and capable portrayal of a young woman. It’s gives modern girls something to aspire to hear isn’t part of the typical “princess” character. And men in kilts always cheer me up!

[@ThePrincessCH]

I think making her modern is part of the reason "Brave" gets so much contention. The classic Disney princesses were basically products of the era they were born into, while Merida doesn't seem to properly take into account the repercussions that would be associated with the film's setting. Arranged marriages were used to strengthen alliances and avoid conflicts, so when Merida openly defies the marriage, she's not just risking her neck but also the necks of her people. Mulan has a similar story of defying her family's wishes, but it does so in a way that showcases that she lives in a different time and place. I've seen Chinese historical fantasies that are actually Chinese and a rather prominent detail I found is that your family could be punished for your actions, an aspect that I think was translated fairly well, given Disney's reputation with cultural representation. The difficulty of making characters in a historical setting relatable is that you still have to take into account that what was normal then is very different from what is normal now.

[@DragonRebelRose]

I think if there was no bear plot and they did something a bit different it would have been much better and probably remembered more. The only parts I really liked were in the beginning with the tension between Merida and her mom, but as soon as the bear plot comes in I just check out of the movie entirely.

[@z2yn]

Agreed - turning red managed to do a mother daughter conflict/story with generational trauma and a bear plot without the bear overshadowing the main characters Brave went for the interesting route where it seemed to go for this before the bear thing, then focused on the bear plot and then tried to find a neat solution for the unfinished marriage plot before trying to finish the bear plot. So brave gets roped in with brother bear - and while it's a movie where a white person and not person of color is turned into an animal, because of the bad use of animal and integration in the plot, it is not interesting and relevant Brother bear had animal changing because main character needed to learn a less and see a different perspective, princess and the frog had the animal transformation as a diversion form the fairytale, was following the book that the movie used as a base (a young adult novel) and also used for the characters to see things from a different perspective and force them out of their unhealthy behaviour Other movies aside Brave that used animal transformation without good reason or integration were Soul and the emperor's groove (although that one is mostly seen as a joke)

[@1x4]

I thought that was just me. I tried to explain to my family that I found it kind of boring, but honestly, it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. And most of that was because of the whole bear plot.

[@ene_ai]

I always felt like Brave had a lot of missed potential in building its world, story, and themes in favor of shenanigans stolen straight from Brother Bear

[@clarie4497]

Brave is based off of Celtic folklore.

[@kiramccain6310]

@@clarie4497 Brave was made up by the original female writer/director and her relationship with her daughter. It's set in a fantastic version of Scotland that never existed. It used Scotland and Celtic culture as an aesthetic. One of the clan marriage suitors does speak in a genuine thick Scottish accent buts it's played off as laughable. Even the captions say "gibberish" despite actually having lines that make sense. In this way Brave irks me. It's advertising made me think a respectful culture led Celtic story would happen but instead we have a very USA centric stereotypical perspective on Scotland as funny/silly or violent.

[@firefox1270]

@@kiramccain6310 As a Scot, you couldn’t have said that any better. So many people have no interest in taking the time to understand and respect our culture.

[@wayneoftheweb]

@@kiramccain6310 Unfortunately they have to pander to their audience. I'd love to see Americans trying to watch Rab C.

[@kiramccain6310]

@@wayneoftheweb I'll happily watch, and I'm American :) looking up how to stream it now!

[@WarmLillie]

I guess you can say just by being Brave, doesn’t bring you glory.

[@lolori_icepop4840]

When I was a kid, I would watch brave every day. It’s so good, and I wish people would appreciate it more.

[@rosewater226]

This is my favorite Pixar movie ever. The characters, the settings, the music, the story! 🥰 I saw that this in theaters so many times and it became my comfort movie ❤️

[@eatatjoes6751]

Having seen Brave in theaters when it came out I can tell you the reason people forget about it is entirely because of misogyny *-the plot needlessly alternating between a copy of Brother Bear and an actually good story about a mother and her child-* and it's a goddamn shame audiences can't see it as the golden masterpiece it is.

[@amokriinprolgiid3409]

Brave honestly was a good film. Its themes, storytelling, and animation were all pretty good. I even appreciate that they at least kept a bit of an accent on the characters, which most Disney films don't do. I'm curious how it is that people claim it wasn't relatable, given that its whole storyline was literally about parent/child conflict and tension from not conforming to parental expectations. These are things most people deal with in real life all the time. And it resolves it in a fairly nice manner, with both parent and child developing a mutual understanding and respect.

[@sofiaroura9652]

No, the whole plotline was about a human turned into a bear for no reason. Afte the change, the whole dynamic between parent and child took a backseat and the resolution to this problem was rushed and dissapointing.

[@amokriinprolgiid3409]

@@sofiaroura9652 Her mother getting turned into a bear was a result of Merida not asking for details about the spell. And turning her back required her to reconnect on an emotional level with her mother. So, their dynamic was still important to the plot. But, of course they didn't realize what the real answer was for most of the plot (even though the audience obviously did), so of course the characters focused on the tapestry. But, along the way, they were still bonding, albeit as a side effect of being forced to work together. As for the solution being rushed, that's Disney for you. Their whole deal is taking complex problems, dumbing them down so kids can kinda understand it, and rushing the solution so fast that it's never remotely realistic. It's basically their whole formula for the more recent animated films. That's how it worked in Frozen, Moana, Encanto, and many others.

[@kiko-pr1rq]

I think an error people make is judging a movie based off of a company that produces the movie. Now, it would make sense to do so, especially if said company has made a legacy for themselves, but then again, we also kind of have to remember two things- nostalgia and writing. i remember being a kid and not knowing the difference between different animation companies, so when i saw an animated movie, i was only watching it for the plot and the way the movie looked. When brave came out, i was still a kid, and i thought that the plot was boring. Looking back at brave now, i still think the same thing. I also now believe the characters were loud and some of the characters were useless and added nothing to the story. Compared to monsters inc, brave had no scenes that had an impact on me like when sully reopened the door to see the little girl. Compared to mega mind, brave does not tackle its societal problems as well as mega mind does. When i think of Brave, i think of wreck it ralph 2, because i remember she was in that one scene in the movie.

[@cryingwatercolours]

Yeah some of the characters are like… just there. I loved Merida and her mum as characters as they felt more fleshed out. Maybe they didn’t have the time to tell the full story they wanted and add more character development?

[@jellybeans3994]

the first part of the film was created by a different director who planned on making it about Merida, Elinor (her mother) and society, however she got booted off, hence the change in plot.

[@dekumdoriya]

There was some mess while they were making it, like changes in plot, etc, so that's why it ended up not as great

[@cakecrumb095]

At least Merida is a Disney Princess so technically the movie will never be forgotten now.

[@littlebaldedone]

That's a pretty solid theory on why this movie doesn't get much discussion. I personally think that it's an okay movie. Nothing too great but not bad either, just somewhere around avarage basically, that's all.

[@hastiborhani3492]

The bear plot really ruined the movie for me,it felt like the movie was trying to do the same thing as encanto did but failed at it. I'm still mad that pixar fired it's original director,her story seemed more interesting

[@anaphchan6783]

You can’t say Brave tried to do the same thing as Encanto did when Encanto came out years later after Brave. That’s not a good comparison.

[@hastiborhani3492]

@@anaphchan6783 no I didn't mean that,i was trying to say encanto did what brave tried to do yk? Encanto wasn't about a big journey and adventure,just a family solving their issues. Brave was the opposite

[@anaphchan6783]

@@hastiborhani3492 okay yeah I can agree to that. Encanto and Brave do have the same plot it’s just Brave went outside the boundaries of one place and Encantó didn’t but Encanto didn’t revolve around just one family member it revolves around the whole family while Brave only revolves around Merida and her mom. I love both movies but seeing as one is a musical and stays in the boundaries of one place I don’t think these two movies are the best to be compared together. Yes, the main part of both of them do reveille around family but their still a bit too different to compare to each other.

[@sua9002]

The bear plot is a really important Celtic symbol, they didn't just put that in for no reason, if you look into the mythology of the black bear it's very important, not just random. This isn't meant to be mean by the way, I just wanted to let you know because I see many people not liking the bear plot thinking it was just a weird choice.

[@lynda1963]

Brave has a good story line, but it never really grabs you emotionally, the way that Toy Story or Up does. It is a charming movie, but ultimately it never makes a deep, visceral connection with the viewer. Merida stays brave throughout; she doesn't fall and climb back up the way that Woody did or Marlin. Frankly, Merida is just too...brave.

[@dean_l33]

Didn't go through enough hardship is what you're saying? Yeah you're right a bit more struggling would be nice

[@blinday]

@@dean_l33 she did go, but she didn't ultimately struggled. Her problems didn't seem real, it didn't connect with the audiences.

[@carlamcgrath7971]

The scene where her mom is just full on bear and Merida is crying cause she thinks her mom is gone kills me, it reminds me of my gran with dementia it feels like her body is there but her mind is gone and we are all just strangers to her. Brave hits hard because it goes in focus of loosing someone you took granted for they might not be dead but it feels like they’re gone.

[@anonymouslearner2454]

Aww I am sorry 😟 But yes I too can feel Merida way too deep. It's not easy to try venturing your dreams and lose the people you care about the most on the way.

[@TacticusPrime]

@@carlamcgrath7971 That one scene was pretty good, but losing her mom wasn't the central thematic core of the movie. It was supposed to be about the mother/daughter relationship and the weight of legacy. Turning Red did the same theme and more with way way more success.

[@lovejones0686]

Honestly Princess Merida is my favorite princess as I relate to her and my relationships within my family the most. It always bothers me how underrated it is and I saw this with my daughters when it 1st came out

[@Rosemont104]

It's the result of a woman's vision compromised and a muddled story that falls apart in the second half. Not to mention, Pixar's take on the '90s Disney Princess seemed too "tropey."

[@stelitsa9535]

I love Brave so much and Merida is my favorite princess after Mulan! I just relate to her so much, since my mom is like Eleanor, only she nvr had her character development... 😂 I honestly didn't know that Brave was considered underrated, I only knew that several people think that Merida is a Disney princess. Nevertheless, it's one of my favorite animated movies and it saddens me that people don't remember it.

[@nuri00ko]

Merida did officially become a Disney Princess in 2013: she received a coronation ceremony at Disney World.

[@stecky87]

I really liked Brave. And I think you're on to something with the comparison to 'Turning Red'. Both movies are about the bond between mother & daughter & the expectations that moms put on their daughters. A lot of women/girls can related to that, but I noticed a lot of the guys couldn't, so they thought less of the movie.

[@JustUsCrazyBoyz]

In my actual opinion. Brave is the best Pixar film out there. It's character arcs are much more emotionally satisfying than other Pixar films. Not only that. I've always had a problem with Pixar thinking way too out of the box to the point of being weird sometimes. Cars and even Toy Story didn't bode that well for me due to them being kinda outlandish. Sentient Cars and Toys? Inside Out, is another example. Brave is based on Celtic History which is amazing as I love European History and it makes a lot more sense than the aforementioned. Not only that. Pixar films tend to be immature, though Incredibles tried to fix this(Wasn't very good at doing it though). I mean I know they are for kids but kids aren't that squeamish and they also want good stories. Brave on the other hand is a lot more mature than other Pixar films. I mean There's Political strife in the Kingdome, The Bear Antagonist looks like a Dark Souls Boss, and even his castle had actual human remains and the fight in the third act is dark and intense. And to top that all off it actively teaches kids to sacrifice their dreams for the greater good, which is a painful yet true moral that must be learned.

[@racheljackson4428]

YES THANK YOU FOR SHOWING SOME LOVE TO THIS UNDERRATED GEM FROM PIXAR!

[@GraupeLie]

I love Brave, it's one of my favourites!

[@springweeks9498]

I rewatched Brave again a few days ago but I focused my attention more on the background characters, reading isekai manhwas has made me appreciate the background character there were so much going on in the background specifically the banquet And I found myself focusing my attention on the suitors and how hilarious the brothers and lords were. I honestly didn’t thought about Brave much until I watched the Once upon a time series and it made me wish to see more

[@marli4442]

my mother and i love this it has a special place in my heart

[@johanstenfelt1206]

Hm, i would like to see more of Brave, seems quite interesting.

[@marioponsromera6259]

I adore brave it’s lovely. Especially the storyline

[@SaraShire]

I just recently rewatched Brave, as I couldn’t really remember the plot very well. I enjoyed it more than the first time I watched it years ago.

[@noobmasterruben5167]

Same, i enjoyed it on first watch back when it came out on rewatch tho its pretty mid andit has everything to do with the bear plot

[@misterniceguy429]

My gripe with the movie is that the trailers hyped it up to be this grand and epic film, but that's not what we ended up getting. The film's not terrible, it's just okay. The film follows a bit of the tropes that most people have seen before like Merida is very adventurous and full of spirit like Belle or Mulan, or how she doesn't want to be a princess similar with Jasmine. The only thing that I found interesting was the mother turning into a bear. When that happened I was thinking: "I swear I've seen this done before," and it turns out I was right because it reminded me a lot of Brother Bear. You know that movie about a guy turning into a bear, the movie that no one, not even Disney, remembers.

[@Attmay]

That movie was a direct attack on *Song of the South* just for the title alone.

[@EvilSnips]

DUDE Cars was so good!!! Yes I think Cars 2 tarnished the legacy of Pixar, but the first Cars slapped and I love the animation and story.

[@stephaniedouglasaviewfroma9596]

Funny, I was thinking about why no one talks about Brave and now your video popped up. I liked it - I don't really focus on what studio makes what. My focus is on whether I enjoy the film and think whether it has good messaging for my grandchildren and do I enjoy watching it with them. Whenever I see a video talking about strong female characters in animated movies of this kind, I'm always puzzled about how Brave is never mentioned.

[@jestana]

I love Brave. A story about a mother and daughter who were clearly close when the daughter was young, but have grown apart and manage to reconnect. Also, pushing back against marrying a total stranger, which is a Disney trope (that’s fading, thank goodness). The Dunbrochs are actually a pretty stable family, all things considered. That’s an oddity when you think about it.

[@katiehettinger7857]

Disney's early view of women as property, rather than fully evolved humans with autonomy, is still held by a large number of people embracing a misogynist ideology. Look at Red state legislation saying the state has the right to government what you may or may not do with your own body, only applying to women. Not an once of responsibility mandated to males involved in the topic at hand.

[@iAmBeaTLes]

When it came out, it took me completely by surprise. When mom turned into a bear, I was like 😂 “what?” Once I let go that it wasn’t going to be what I thought it was going to be (some sort of odyssey or journey), I really liked it. I liked how it ended and the bond between mother and daughter. My daughters and I love it and I have Merida as a Funko Pop. I love how Merida is in Ralph Breaks the Internet and they refer to her as the princess “from the other studio.”

[@user-AtiredAnimator]

Lol, I love that part too. And Merida spoke in Scottish Gaelic too so its another win.

[@arellajardin8188]

I recall a lot of talk about what people “expected”, rather than what it was. The trailers made it seem like Merida would go on an adventure to hunt the demon bear. When that didn’t happen, I remember many people were confused or disappointed. I mean, that wouldn’t account for the long term amnesia around Brave, but it contributed to its initial reception. I loved the film, but a do agree that the mother/bear bit isn’t the strongest way to go with the plot. Right up until the mother daughter fight, and Merida runs away, is perfect. However, I’m not sure how they could have to,d the story of the two bonding and learning each other’s perspective, otherwise.

[@Puerco-Potter]

I remember that! The movie was disappointing because of the marketing around it!

[@LovelyLivelyV]

Yes, this exactly! The marketing sold less than 30 minutes of the whole movie so it was bound to be a disappointment. I think after Merida runs away, the story should’ve continued with Merida meeting the three princes, who snuck out of the party and reveal they don’t want to marry her either. So, the four venture through the forest initially to get away from their parents until they discover Mor’du has grown strong enough to become a threat again, allowing them to go through some development by deciding not to return home until they kill Mor’du (Merida comes to understand her mother’s point of view by realizing how she hasn’t been responsible and steps up as a leader). Meanwhile, the parents search for the runaway royals in the woods and Elinor has a hard time adapting to the forest environment, which makes her realize Merida has some important expertise she lacks (showing her how her method of princess training is not as effective as she previously believed). Then they’d reunite, briefly argue, and after a conversation where they finally see eye to eye they team up to take down Mor’du together.

[@kreestenkreesten]

This is what happened to me. I was so excited because I thought Disney would finally have a princess who went on a proper adventure, but instead I got a story about a girl whose "adventure" was to get along with her mom. It felt insulting. Disney has done some incredible stories about family dynamics (Encanto, Coco, etc.), but this felt shallow to me. Like you said, I think if it had been marketed differently I wouldn't have been so disgusted with the whole thing. Basically Disney decided that the best adventure a kick a** girl like Merida could go on was trying to resolve a spat with her mom.

[@ylvadahlstrom1628]

Exactly why I didn't like it for so long! I was told it'd be about a girl an her awesome skills with a bow that broke the gender norms of the time. We instead got a reckless girl who spends the entire movie righting her wrong and didn't learn anything more than that her mother is not just being mean. Totally different story, and no stakes were really high enough to draw you in as a viewer

[@arellajardin8188]

@@ylvadahlstrom1628 I mean, I loved Turning Red, and that had similar, yet even lower stakes. That movie was about pretty much the same thing. A daughter coming into her own while trying to deal with her mother’s expectations. To me, it’s not the stakes, it’s the execution. I thought the first half hour of Brave set up the familial conflict beautifully. It just kinda falters with the whole bear curse.

[@skadi5802]

First off: I like this movie - and especially Merida. BUT for me, personally, the whole "arranged marriage thing" felt a bit out of place. For one, if forming an engagement/bondTwhatever between her clan and one of the others is so important, why has her mother never informed her about it before the events of the movie? You'd think that's the kind of thing you might want to tell your daughter, especially if she's rather unruly. Next, if this whole marriage thing is such a big and pressing matter that you basically turn it into festival a with competitions and whatnot, why can it be resolved (or at least postponed) with a few words, which are not even spoken by the queen herself, but said rebellious princess with a visibly strong motif of preventing the whole affair? Ultimately, this easily solved conflict made the stakes feel kinda low - at least in regards of the whole clan war threat. Moreover, her not wanting to be married off to one of three weirdos is a bit too understandable to be understood as "pride". At least for me XD This way, her actually apologizing to her mother didn't have the full emotional impact that it could have. I think, it would've been more interesting to drop the "marriage plot" as a whole and replace it with some kind of peace treaty. For example: The clans where at war until Fergus united them, but the alliance is - as said in the movie - still shaky. In order to celebrate, let's say.... 15 years of peace, they gather in Fergus' kingdom and he throws a feast with competitions and stuff in their honor. Since those chiefs are rather conservative, Merida is forced to behave as princess-y as possible - if not more. And because the whole thing goes on for days on end, tensions inevitably arise. Elinor asks her daughter to keep out of most or all of the competitions in order not to insult the clan chiefs and/or their sons, telling her, that those are for men only and especially not for princesses. Merida doesn't care, joins the competition, competes, wins and, of course, insults the clan chiefs. Mother and daughter argue, Merida finds the bear witch, her mother get's turned etc. This way, Merida would easily be seen to be proud - but in an understandable way. Driving the whole "Fate be changed, look inside - mend the bond torn by pride" point home. Also, her mother wouldn't be forcing her into a marriage and a life of unhappiness, but solely try to protect the truce and her daughter. Just my two cents XD (Btw, I apologize for my grammar and stuff, I'm German XD)

[@karenramnath9993]

I think I like your version better...🤔

[@Doomzdeh]

I think that’s actually a great idea lol. Another way they could have done it was to make the suitors seem charming, but also too traditional for Merida. She wants respect and to be treated like the Lords’ sons, and she doesn’t want to be forced to marry. Her mom thinks she is ungrateful because the Lords’ sons are actually quite charming and because her mom did everything to make it easier for her. At the end, Merida gets her parents to agree to shirk the Lords and tell them that she will pick when she is older and after she gets to know the princes a bit more. There. A storyline that has higher stakes, makes the mom’s perspective seem more reasonable, makes Merida seem a bit more reasonably flawed, etc.

[@WintaAssefa]

urgh-now, you should have been in the writers' room all those years ago. This is a brilliant alternative storyline. (And your English is pretty good, actually.)

[@WintaAssefa]

@@Doomzdeh yesss! or this

[@skadi5802]

@@karenramnath9993 Thank you :)

[@FairladyZ2005]

Brave is my favorite Pixar film and one of my favorite animated films of all time.

[@cryingwatercolours]

It was a part of many theories but it’s just not all that memorable, probably cause of the lack of songs and Merida and her mum have the most personality while the other characters are pretty bare boned I loved brave, I love looking at that amazing hair, but I wouldn’t watch it again and again like I would with tangled, encanto or lion king (I know not Pixar but they’re basically the same pfft) it sits with monsters inc with me, it’s good, I’d watch it with my cousin or family but no really by myself unless I need that nostalgia

[@ninab9969]

I love Brave with all my heart! And I have seen nearly all Disney films growing up and nearly all Pixar films as an adult. It very much holds up! And it made me cry, in a good way! Merida doesn't need some guy to rescue or marry her. She is badass all by herself at such a young age, which makes her an amazing role model! She has a difficult relationship with her mother, which, despite the fantasy setting, I found incredibly relatable. And the Celtic themes, the fact that it's set in Scotland and everything that comes with. The landscapes, the beautiful accents, the gentle humor. It deserves so much more recognition!

[@Tulpen23]

I had no idea that this movie was poorly / underrated. Saw it for the first time as an adult on Disney +. It's one of my favorite Pixar films. And I remember being blown away at the hair animation.

[@draidiansfather3382]

I went with my siblings and mom. We all walked out disappointed, and I know why. Something you didn't mention was the advertising. The main reason we all left disappointed is because the trailers had us ready to watch a much more action focused adventure than what we got. Brave is now one of my favorites, but it is far more family centered than what the trailers lead my family to expect, so we only started appreciating it after it released on DVD.

[@caradiel2644]

That's a fair point as i love the movie but i never saw any ads or trailers for the movie until after i had watched it so i never had those expectations

[@madsteph9375]

as soon as it came out, it became one of my favourite movies, and it still holds up today. the animation and general style of the film is gorgeous and mystical and the whole movie has a whimsical tone to it that makes it so comforting and warm, and the story involving a femenist protagonist is done in a way that i dont hate Merida at all which is such a nice change to the ... modern "femenist" films. the plot, the buildup, the different layers of the story, everything is beautiful and leaves me feeling wholesome afterwards, every time, and its all wrapped in beautiful visuals, music, scenery and curly red hair. its deffinitely underrated but its a hidden treasure, and thats what makes it better than the crowd-favourites.

[@Smallpotato1965]

When I left the cinema after seeing 'Brave' I was fuming with anger, because 'Brave' could so easily have been a great movie, but it totally missed the mark. At the base of the story, we have four rival Celtic Clans who were always warring with eachtother but, when threatened from outside, decided to work together, and in order to do so, they all allow themselves to be ruled by a Queen and her King, under the condition that the next Queen is the ruling queen's daughter and the next king is one of the sons of the three other chieftains. The princess chooses her husband during the contest in which all clans are together. Yes, it's a contest, but the princess can decide what kind of contest and so play into the strength of her preferred prince, while the lads just do their best to impress the princess. Now, Merida's problem is that she 'wants her freedom', but she has a duty to be the next queen and unite the clans. Without her marrying on of the princes, the clans would go to war with each other. The story should not have been about her mother turning into a bear - because her mother is not the problem - but about Merida changing into a mute scullery maid. Free from marriage, but not free to roam in the wilds as she wants. And each time she acts out in rage, she would become more and more hairy and snarling because the curse would turn HER into a bear, and in danger of being killed by her father, the bear-hunter. We've had the backstory about the prince who selfishly worked against the unification of the clans and was cursed to become a demon bear, something similar should've happened to Merida, who also did her utmost to selfishly destroy the union between the clans.

[@bdariamihaela]

Untill recently I didn't even knew Brave was Pixar

[@g.d.graham2446]

I know one of this movie's problems was its production history, especially the swapping of directors and changing of course halfway through

[@vejapetrutyte7246]

I think the first half of the movie has a really strong message about daughter and mother relationship, but i guess the bear plot is a bit of a turn off. Some people who talked about this movie have said that the directors changed in the middle of the movie and changed the original idea for the ending. In my opinion, the second half of the movie isn't that strong because to fix daughter and mother relationship is to undo the spell. So for the viewers it's two separate movies which don't combine nicely. But after all, this movie is still in my heart after what? 6-8 years?

[@carlamcgrath7971]

It's because the original director got fired, she had a different story in mind

[@El-ouis]

Brave is an amazing movie, well the first half of the movie is amazing, the rest very much isn't. The first half introduces and shows us the character's traits and how they view what's happening. The highlight of the first half is the relationship between Merida and her mother, their foil characters. Both their beliefs arent right but they're too stubborn to think otherwise. It's a great character dynamic. Theirs a video essay on youtube that goes more in-depth about this(I think it was called why brave is a masterpiece). We are shown how much power the queen has compared to the king and how even though Merida is Brave(see what I did there) she is still scared of mother.The first half of the movie feels like a Pixar movie. But then we get to the second part where her mum TURNS INTO A FRICKING BEAR. For the rest of the movie, we get a stupid plot with stupid shenanigans. There is character development. I love Merida she is my favourite princess but her movie isn't my favourite princess movie. p.s I dont know what my point is p.s.s why did i write?? p.s.s.s I used Grammarly

[@eatatjoes6751]

Boom. That's it.

[@AJ42K]

Brave is the Disney version of Balto. Underrated and Underestimated. Merida and Balto would get along well. Both were hated and left out. Balto could preach alot to Brave.

[@letscarpethisdiem1988]

Cars was saved by Larry the Cable Guy. If his character was removed, I don’t think it would have survived.

[@hyrumjohnson9930]

I can say at least this much about Brave: It's a better movie than Frozen by a land slide. With Brave, you get story, adventure, fun, etc. With Frozen you get music that gets stuck in your head and you end up hating it, a story that's barely there, and one good comedy character and that's it. I really don't get the hype for Frozen. Brave deserved more love.

[@caradiel2644]

Because brave was oddly enough more down to earth and serious than most "kids" films as brave doesn't really have much of a com relief character and as you pointed out brave doesn't have a bunch of songs that get caught in your head

[@dayschange2]

All these years later, I can still remember watching this movie in theaters, and that moment when we were two-thirds of the way through, when it dawned on me, “Oh, this is all this is.” The ads leading up to the release had been so vague, and the details that had been teased had created this idea that we were going to see this huge story that dabbled into otherworldly magic and fate, with a badass female protagonists who-I SWEAR-was being compared to Legolas before the movie came out. And then the movie did come out, and it was just another story of “someone’s been turned into an animal and WHACKY THINGS HAPPENED!” It was such a let down. It abruptly felt like a movie that I’d already seen.

[@jodysmoviesandshowschannel8698]

Brave is _the_ Mother's Day movie in our house. One of my all time personal favorites! And Cinema Psychology did an episode on it, so it's got my favs covered.

[@blaiddsumu3639]

when i was a kid and first saw brave i honestly thought it was the coolest pixar movie ever. and frankly it Still has a very special place in my heart, but i think it's for a lot different reason than most; growing up and To This Day, i have never ever been interested in anything to do with romance. and seeing merida like that felt like an incredible validation. it seems like there is Always some sort of romance plot in media, or even just the character being attracted to people, and the whole movie i was bracing myself for disappointment for what felt like the inevitable... and then, it wasn't. There was none of the romance stuff. and that made me so incredibly happy, to see this big name movie and the main character was Like Me. even now as an adult its so incredibly hard to find media that doesnt have some kind of romance plotline. so. brave has always held a special place in my heart. (not that i'm saying romance is bad or whatever! just that it is so ingrained in our society, it feels very alienating when you dont experience that kind of attraction.) also characters turning into bears. i thought that was the coolest thing as well lmao

[@talithacrow7530]

I absolutely love Brave, the music is amazing, I love the character designs, animation and Merida's hair made it possible for me to see people who look like me in animation and it makes me so happy just looking at her beautiful curls bouncing and blowing and moving the way my hair does.

[@morebirdsandroses]

Well said, but I am jealous of you both for that hair!🤭🦋

[@crazyfrazy74747]

I like Brave and think it is underrated. Thanks for this video to give it more visibility in KZbin

[@karnage2948]

Brave has always been one of my favourite Disney/Pixar movies

[@EvolvedSungod]

I love this movie and wish it got more positive attention

[@jessicagill6097]

Seeing it as a parent I absolutely loved it! My kids not so much, I don't get why they didn't love it like I did.

[@Furinalover2736]

I love Brave as it is one of my favorites. I would say that it is underrated and deserves more love and attention especially with it's message of story.

[@eageltheYTman]

Nah imo it’s at a good place. It’s mid af and should be forgotten

[@hassansulaiman3848]

@@eageltheYTman just shut your mouth

[@ericepperson8409]

I spent over 8 minutes of watching this video going, "What about the Good Dinosaur"? "Onward" was totally missed. If we're going to address Pixar's middling films and lump Brave in there, its at the very top of that list, especially if we discount sequels. Looking back at Pixar's filmography since this film came out, its interesting to see Pixar has had some fantastic hits - Inside Out, Soul, & Coco. They also missed with Monster's University and Cars 3, but most of their releases look to fall right in the middle with Brave. I think its just a bit buried by the majority of Pixar's mediocre offerings have come out after it.

[@VictoriaForSale]

In the Pixar universe brave is my favorite. I am a mother and it touches me that the story is about mother daughter relationship and that mothers needs to remember how they felt when they were young and being more understanding to their children. Also meridas mother is never portrayed as the bad one but just stressed in her wish to raise her daughter what she things is the best. And all parents know this distress, it's difficult to lead a child, protect them and in the same time support and encourage them. Loving parents take this very seriously, I guess sometimes even too seriously.

[@unarealtaragionevole]

Because Disney hates redheads....seriously...look at their active attempts to remove/replace all redheaded character's, especially in Marvel films. They have been on a anti-redhead tear for almost 15 years now.

[@acecat5575]

I also think that it could have been more impactful if we had been shown Mordu's struggle as his consciousness spiraled out of control; bc he bows to them at the end like he's thankful to have been released, but there's no real meaningfulness behind it.

[@kayleelesmeister3477]

I really like Brave! It's actually one of my favourite Pixar movies, and Merida is one of my favourite Disney Princesses

[@blaze0rama]

The problem I saw with this film is that the first half of the plot was intriguing and unique -- Pixar! Then suddenly it turned into a rehash of Brother Bear. The fact that it just seemed to lose its way hurt this movie.

[@sergiogodinez3770]

Merida is my favorite Disney Princess, and this whole film is one of my favorite of the Disney-Pixar family of films. I think you’re definitely on to something when you bring up the general audience’s failure to connect with a Pixar film in a fantasy setting that feels like it could have just been a Disney film instead but is actually not Disney enough for Disney, but then not Pixar enough for Pixar. It would be like if McDonald’s released a really tasty and unique pizza, but they’re really best known for their burgers. People might enjoy the pizza, but because they would be so confused with why a restaurant know for their burgers is suddenly making a pizza, they ultimately wouldn’t let that product be as successful as it could be, because it would make more sense for them to just go to Pizza Hut instead. There’s so much more to say about this topic, but honestly, I’m just glad somebody made a video opening up the discussion. I definitely wish more people talked about Brave and how awesome Merida is! :D

[@cassandradziedzic5432]

I thought that Brave was a beautiful Pixar film. 1. The art work was mesmerizing. 2. Storyline was relatable and enhanced with elements of folklore and magic. 3. Most important it teaches lessons! Your Parents are not your enemies. Family, no matter who is biologically related to us there is a bond. Honesty, is always the best policy. Hold true to who you are and what you believe in. Stand up for those who can not!

[@theawkwardexpert]

I love Brave and I watch it when I’m in the mood for Disney movies. I don’t know why people don’t talk about it or even saw it in the first place.

[@ceciliafaith4132]

Brave was the first Pixar film I actually enjoyed as a little girl, but back then it was just because I was an obsessive Disney Princess fan. As I've gotten older, Brave has held a special place for me. I relate so heavily to the mother-daughter dynamic presented in the film, as many of my disagreements with my mom come from different dispositions and misunderstandings. The mother is also not shown to be a horrible person. She genuinely cares about Merida and wants what she believes is best for her, but she struggles to listen. Merida thinks she knows it all and insists so much on her own way that her insubordination is the root of many of the problems that happen throughout the story. (Yes, we teens make dumb decisions no matter how much we want to deny it!) Both are at fault, but both come from a position that explains their actions well. IN CONCLUSION! Yes, this film is underrated, and thank you so much for making a video on it. Have a lively day! :)

[@austint4139]

This is by no means a bad film I just personally think it’s not as memorable as some of Pixar’s other movies

[@letscarpethisdiem1988]

It had no catchy music and she’s not designed as conventionally “pretty” as other princesses. This makes her less marketable and makes little kids forget about her easily. If the 0-15 year olds don’t really latch on to a movie then the 16+ year olds (especially the 20-30 something’s who spend most of their time on social media or making KZbin videos) won’t talk about it either. There’s a reason why cars was so popular: marketability. You saw cars stuff EVERYWHERE and I still can’t get that song out of my head (“Real Gone”). IMHO other Pixar films had better main and side plots. Brave outright ignored and shat on all semblance of romance which is a very delicate thing to do. Eleanor loved her husband but overall the relationship was kind of hard to watch and Merida was so against getting married and all of her prospects were truly terrible. The bear thing kind of came out of left field and there were just a lot of things that happened that didn’t seem to make sense. It wasn’t a “bad” movie by a long shot but I can definitely see where it fell flat in comparison to other Pixar films. It tried to be too different where it counted and was laid by the wayside because of it.

[@kayleighbell6903]

I have to disagree with the musical aspect it wasn’t a musical like other Disney princess films however Pixar films aren’t made to be musicals, however songs played such as touch the sky and into the open air are very catchy and are very much appropriate to where the film is based. So for me personally I think the music and score in the film was very enjoyable and catchy.

[@letscarpethisdiem1988]

@@kayleighbell6903 I really do totally agree with you, I honestly believe that the movie was pretty perfect. I can’t really put my finger on any particular thing that would have made it “better“. I just know that by comparing it to other films (and although it was made by Pixar, it was released by Disney so you have to compare it to other Disney movies as well) that did way better in the box office and sold more merchandise, changing those few things would have probably helped. Overall, I don’t believe that it would have made it a “better” movie but I do believe that it would have catered more to the masses and drawn in a bigger fan base.

[@desiotaku8890]

This makes sense

[@Attmay]

At least they had the good taste to spare us any more of Randy Newman‘s noodling crap songs.

[@williamwilson1348]

I didn’t think that brave was forgotten, I’m not a part of the Pixar fandom but this is talked about all the time cause it’s awesome

[@thelettermegan]

NEVER CONJURE WHERE YOU CRAFT - words to live by.

[@ronaldlebeck9577]

I loved the movie "Brave", though I'm half Irish. Never saw "Cars". Merida was better than any Disney princess -- and that glorious red hair! Billy Connelly did great as the voice actor for the king.

[@kiramccain6310]

Brave was hurt severely by both not being able to pursue to it's fullest the specifics of mother daughter family bonds and American Scottish stereotypes. The forced "challenge your fate" more adventurey comic feel clashes with the much more fascinating struggle between Elenor and Merida which feels sidelined after she gets turned into a bear. Thankfully Turning Red was allowed to commit in ways Brave literally wasn't allowed to with the firing of the original director, but overall Brave feels like it lost so much of it's potential for a genuine heartfelt relationship centered story that got pulled in too many directions.

[@daye22]

I didn't like brave because of it's incoherence with the plot. The best part was the mother daughter bond and independence, but they ignored that part in the second part with the whole stupid bear plot. In the end the mother has changed so much and in my opinion it's without reason or I just didn't understand. Either way thats why I dislike brave and maybe others too.

[@mistingwolf]

I love Brave, and Merida is my favorite of the Disney Princesses (with Bell a half step behind). I do admit the story could have used a little more (or less depending on POV) attention, but it's a solid story. I do wish there was a bit more connection between Mor'du and the plot aside from being Big Bad Bear (but that fight scene was epic). It's not a perfect movie, but I'd still happily watch it over Cars, A Bug's Life or Ratatouille, which is my least favorite Pixar film.

[@Kamil-B]

I love Brave! I recently been revisiting a bunch of Pixar movies and this one was one of the first ones I picked. Honestly I'm astonished anyone would question it's level

[@anttonhammarskjold8233]

Brave is one of my absolute FAVORITE animated films!

[@carlamcgrath7971]

Brave has always been one of my favourite Pixar movies although I am a bit bias since I’m Scottish but brave never quite makes me cry but it always makes me tear up a bit especially the end scene and the scene where Merida is little and hiding under her moms dress during a storm.

[@DogDogGodFog]

I saw a video essay on this movie, which led me to believe, just like the creator, that the movie would have been better off if the mother-daughter relationship and the subverting of gender roles was explored through a means OTHER than a random bear transformation. It switched from discussing those themes, to 'OH NO MY MOM'S A BEAR WHAT DO I DO??' But on the other hand I feel like switching roles so that Merida had to take care of her mother instead of the other way round actually did help them bond, and perhaps understand each other through some sort of filter. The mother also got to see what her daughter was capable of. And I do feel like Merida accidentally turning her mother into a bear while trying to fix her own issues, carries this theme of you being really mad at someone and hurting them really badly in a fit of rage, and really regretting it afterwards. This is especially terrible when it's been done to a parent, aka someone that you still actually love the whole time despite maybe lashing out at them sometimes. I don't think being overly angry is uncommon with teenagers 😏

[@irThumper]

I love Brave! Stymied why it is so underrated. Maybe it's because Merida was a Power Girl before being a Power Girl was cool, and she didn't fall into the typical Princess meets Prince = Happily Ever After trope. Given that, Brave was actually fairly groundbreaking.

[@radaperfetto6310]

One mama + 3 daughters = ❤️ Brave We Just love that movie and it’s one of our all time favourites.

[@tree_sparrow1623]

I loved brave when I was younger, I was a lot like Merida as I was a tomboy, Scottish and with untameable red hair, I have fond memories of watching this movie with my family and us all laughing at the jokes and having a great time. I’m also a big fan of the fantasy genre and as I’ve gotten older I have become fascinated with Scottish myth and folklore as a way of understanding my culture better, I love this movie but I understand why it didn’t resonate with so many people.

[@laurapiacentinicasarin8205]

The thing is exactly like you said, because Brave was released in the same year as Wreck it Ralph by disney, both movies were essentially what we expect for the other studio, like, Brave being a "princess" movie made by disney and Wreck it Ralph the "what if something had feelings" type of writing material that we are used to see from Pixar, thats what i think that Brave fell on the loophole. I personally love Brave, i think its beautiful and i can connect with the story as myself had a lot of problems with my family expectations on me, but unfortunately people still associates Pixar movies with "something" and not with "people" to have these type of feelings.

[@zay3843]

So, me and my parents went on a cruise back in 2012, and this was the only movie they had playing in my room. I watched it at least like 7 times, I was 12 years old at the time. Today, I'm 23, my parents are divorced and this movie somewhat means a lot to me.

[@phillipA123]

I think it is underrated, but your ending analysis is something I would agree with. When considering best to worst it does seem to fall somewhere in the middle. Not as highly praised and talked about as the greats, and definitely not anywhere near the worst. So it doesn't get much mention.

[@thatotherguy8138]

Merida is difficult for non-Scottish children to understand. Even me as an Adult had trouble following her speech at times due to the thickness of the accent, and I've been a fan of Billy Connelly for 30 years! You tack that on to a solid 6/10 movie in all other regards, and instead of getting a Pixar Bump (where the 6 becomes an 7/10), it stays a solid 6. The Supporting characters are the main problem - you can delete the Triplets and lose very little. You can delete the other 3 clans and also lose very little. You can ALMOST delete the Father - not quite, but close. The Witch is more of a Plot Device than anything else. Usually in a movie like this you expect that one of the Servants is going to be a well developed ally for the Protagonist, not here. Essentially the only characters you NEED for the movie are Merida and her Mother. Contrast that with nearly every other Pixar movie and this is the main place in which Brave is faulty. The Incredibles had 8 very well developed characters - the family, Edna, Frozone, Syndrome and Mirage - all of whom are difficult to remove from the story - and two partially developed characters (the two babysitters; Dicker and Kari). Wall-E had 5 well developed ones - Wall-E, Eve, the Captain, the Antagonist Robot and the Cockroach. Etc. Brave had... two. The movie is Solid, but not Spectacular. The Animation outside of Merida's hair is not particularly noteworthy. It's not BAD, but you look at the faces of the people and they're rather bland. There are few, if any, truly stand-out scenes - there might be 2 Brave scenes you pick out for a Pixar compilation because they deserve it (Merida shooting the bow to win her own hand in marriage, and a scene of her hair animation), and a few others you pick out because Brave is a Pixar movie so it has to be in there. The Plot is interesting, but not inspiring - it ends with Compromise. Merida is still going to get married, but now she gets to set the terms - which means, essentially, the main plot driver is not resolved, so there isn't quite the same sense of Finality and Accomplishment. Wall-E, the world is being repopulated. You can finish the story there, but you can go on with it. The Incredibles, the family is a crime fighting family at the end. You can finish the story there - or go on with it. Up? Carl has the Adventure and ends up being the Grandfather he was never able to be (and a bit of Daddy in there too). Good spot to end, but maybe there are other adventures to go on. Brave? Merida is going to choose her own husband. Umm... okay. It's not BAD, it's just... eh? What do you do from there, where the next step in the story is her choosing which man to marry - is that where you go? All in all, while I like Brave, it's a lower tier of the Pixar movies. It's not at the level of Cars, but it's around the level of the Good Dinosaur. It's the movie in the Box Set that you just skip over every time and don't even realize it. It's the one where when you search "Pixar" in a Streaming Service and it pops up, you do a double take because you forgot it was a Pixar movie... but then go on to another movie because you kind of expected Toy Story or Incredibles to pop up, and you really were looking for them.

[@athenaisabelguillar2084]

I agree that "Brave" is such a thought-provoking film indeed, however, I don't agree that this film is not groundbreaking or does not fit into Pixar's library as best films! I believe that with this film, Pixar CHALLENGED Disney's idealism of princesses (Disney even had to change the look of Merida now because they believed that being pretty and shiny was better than strength and confidence)! And it IS a film worthy of thought because it has one aspect quite similar to Finding Nemo: the bonding of a mother and daughter whilst in Nemo, it was father and son. "Brave" has never been off my mind for a single day and I am sad to hear that this film is underrated and not understood enough. I relate to Merida so much because it portrays the exact life I had with my mum when I was her age! THA I CHO SGONNEIL! (Scottish Gaelic for "It is so brilliant!")

[@priorityecko4989]

I always figured that it wasn't something that one side or the other could latch on. Sure, it was a "Disney Princess" film but that princess didn't need the knight in shining armor to rescue her. Sure she was a tomboy but wasn't manly and it showed how familial bonds are important and that compromise is important, even in a family. Basically, there was nothing for someone to really complain about on either side, then add Frozen....

[@MartinGorski]

The one thing I remember of Brave, is that the trailer did not spoil the movie. I saw the trailer a few times and was completely surprised that Merida 'cursed' her mom and turned the mom into a bear...I was flummoxed that a major plot point wasn't revealed. I spent the rest of the movie on edge wondering what was going to happen next. For that reason alone, I really liked Brave.

[@V1sual3y3z]

I love Brave and rewatched it last month. However, for me, it has a lot of elements that personally resonate: curly haired, strong willed princess protagonist is my childhood dream (90s kid). I also love archery and pursue it as a hobby, as well as having a strong connection to my scottish ancestry. I think for me it just checked a lot of personal boxes for what I have been waiting to see, and is a bit niche in that regard.

[@kaygirl10101]

My problem was it seems like Pixar and Disney switched movie projects, when Wreck-it Ralph came out around the same time. I love WiR, but it fits a lot more with what Pixar does a lot in its movies "What if X thing was sentient"; ie sentient toys, cars, video games, bugs, robots. Like you said, the "Princess want more from life in a magic/fantasy world" feels more Disney. Granted these are stereotypes and nowhere near the only kinds of movies from each, but the issue in my brain is that they came out so close together.

[@davidskiff3083]

She is her own woman while also being a young girl coming into her own. God knows, perhaps people were expecting more singing? She's a "Disney Princess" after all. Personally, I think Brave is one of Pixar's best films ever. Thanks for talking about it.

[@ashleywilson1238]

I freaking loved brave