What we learned about Pixar's 2012 release 'Brave'

By Sarah Sluis

The past few years of Pixar movies have been a joy for adults. WALL-E, Up, and Toy Story 3 were visually stunning, emotionally resonant films that rekindled the taste for animation among those that had abandoned the format. This year's Cars 2 may be beautiful, but the story is more kid-focused and targeted at that machinery-obsessed demographic that includes many boys. For those that were let down by this year's Pixar movie, the trailer for Brave promises more of the brand of Pixar that adults love.

1. It may be fairy tale-inspired, but it's no Tangled. This actually made me sad. I loved the luminous look of Disney's Rapunzel tale, which was filled with color and light rendered in golden hues. Brave is going for a harsher, naturalistic look that matches its medieval setting. I'm holding out for the likelihood that there might be brighter scenes not included in the one-minute trailer.

2. Noticeable technical innovation. Hair is notoriously difficult to computer-animate, so it's always a good place to analyze the work of the animators. At :40, Princess Merida's hair bounces softly. The movement struck me as incredibly naturalistic. These are the kind of people who tap Ph.D.'s in fluid simulation to create waves, so I'm sure months of work went into creating the motion and look of Merida's prominent red curly mane.

3. The Stonehenge mystery. Some of the opening shots include rocks in a Stonehenge-like structure. The only problem is that the movie is set in Scotland while Stonehenge is in southern England. There might be a way around this: A 12th century Arthurian legend purports that Merlin remotely assembled the structure from Ireland. At least there's precedent for creative license in this manner. Now we just need to get to the bottom of what those floating blue orbs of light mean.

4. A female heroine. Princess Merida will be the first female Pixar heroine. In the trailer she's riding horses through bear-infested woods and shooting arrows. As a sidenote, what is it with young female action heroines and their graceful weapon, a bow and arrow? This year's Hanna used it to hunt, and next March's The Hunger Games will feature Katniss, whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. Merida appears to be no exception, perhaps following in the footsteps of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt.

5. A Scottish lead. Reese Witherspoon was originally supposed to voice Merida, but she's been replaced with Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald ("Boardwalk Empire"). Witherspoon may have been too expensive or busy, or perhaps Pixar just wanted a real Scottish brogue. Since we don't hear her voice in the trailer, it's too soon to tell what Macdonald will bring to the table.

Brave is set for a June 22, 2012, release. Disney's website offers just a cryptic description. Merida defies tradition, causing trouble. She then goes to a witch for help, unleashing a curse that she must then fix in order to save the kingdom. The original title, The Bear and the Bow, evoked more of a fairy-tale feel, but it was also more revealing in terms of plot. We see both a bear and a bow in the trailer. I suspect that Merida's showdown with the bear is either her initial act of defiance or seals the ill-conceived wish granted by the witch. The answer is just a year away.