Brave is a first for Pixar on so many levels. Its their first foray away from an American setting to a Scottish one, their medieval fantasy and their first ‘princess’ film. And Brave is one heck of an animated flick. 

 

Brave was one of the first Disney films that had a princess that was less damsel in distress and more damsel in charge. It was a sweeping directional change for Disney towards a more balanced, dynamic, and empowering view of girls in animated motion pictures which culminated in Frozen.

 

Princess Merida is a princess that is being made to fit in a very particular mould of damsel in distress, being married off to one of her father's allies. The narrative is her exploration of her finding herself not only in the world of her parents and reconciling with that but also finding her place in the wider world. It was and still is a poignant message for young girls, as well as having a terrific thunderous score with mind blowing animation (Princess Merida’s hair is A-MAZE-ING!)

 

A Disney princess film for the modern era, Brave contains a much needed and empowering message for young girls everywhere wrapped up in mind blowingly wondrous animation.