Merida’s rebellion might call to mind Disney classics like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, but Brave brings something more: the spell-gone-awry endangers the kingdom, brings an interesting twist to the essential mother-daughter bond, and propels the plot deeper it makes the film much more satisfying for parents watching with their children. She requests a spell to change her mother-a spell with unintended consequences. In defiance of her parents’ desire for a suitable marriage, Merida disappears into the forest and follows will-o’-the-wisps to a witch (Julie Walters)’s house. Still, she feels her daughter should engage in “proper” pursuits and marry as expected. Elinor is an active participant in co-governing her clan with her husband she raises Merida to represent her people and fight for their way of life. Unlike Merida’s laid back father, Queen Elinor finds Merida’s tomboyish pastimes unseemly for a future Queen.

Merida constantly butts heads with her loving mother and their bond is central to this story. In a departure from the usual Disney formula of missing or deceased parents, Merida’s parents King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) are very much present in her life and interact in a refreshing nuclear unit along with her triplet brothers Hamish, Hubert, and Harris.

The fiery-tressed Merida would rather ride through the forest and practice her archery than willingly conform to the carefully proscribed box her parents have designated. Merida (Kelly MacDonald), a headstrong teenaged princess, is slated to be married off to a chieftan’s son from a neighboring clan whom she doesn’t love. 2012 is the year of the female archer protagonist and Brave is Pixar’s latest entry into the fairytale realm with a modern telling of a princess heroine set in 10th century Scotland.

Brave 2012 online subtitrat