Brave (2012)
Pixar’s story about Princess Merida of the Scottish Highlands, who defies social convention by declaring her desire to remain unwed, is a groundbreaking, landmark children’s film for several reasons. Firstly, the production represents the first re-write of the studio’s computer animation system in 25 years – something Pixar undertook to accommodate the greater complexity of images required by the story. Secondly, Brave was the first film to utilize the capabilities of the Dolby Atmos sound format – creating a more immersive experience for the audience.
Thirdly – and perhaps, most significantly – the film features Pixar’s first female protagonist, which is hugely important, given the ongoing popularity of Pixar productions. Centring on the bond between mother and daughter, Merida also became an unusual Disney Princess, in that she makes it through the whole movie unhindered by a specific ‘love interest.’ This emphasis on gender equality was celebrated by cinema audiences, who made the film a blockbuster – with a global haul of $539 million against a budget of $185 million. The success of Pixar’s Brave was a bold pre-cursor to Disney’s 2013 femle-led smash-hit, Frozen, which itself went on to become the highest grossing animated film of all time.
