Brave, in a good story the Princess saves herself!

Like many women, I grew up being exposed to stories of princesses.

Cue:

• Ariel- The little mermaid
• Jasmine- Aladdin
• Cinderelle – Cinderelle
• Snow White- Snow White & the seven dwarves
• Belle- Beauty & the Beast…

The list could go on, but you get the point. These stories have the same major plots a beautiful princess finding love and needing to be saved by a charming prince. I watched PIXAR’S Brave as an adult and it has stayed a favorite of mine. Brave gives young girls a new female protagonist ‘Merida’ to look up to. Brave celebrates her independence and skills (archery, knowledge of the woods & horseback riding) as well as her free-spirited nature. It tells the next generation that a girl’s worth is based on her and she can problem solve for herself.  

It created a universal emotion; everyone loves a strong, independent woman or at least the feminist in me does. Merida doesn’t need someone to save her, and her story is about her finding out who she is and connecting to her family. The main love plot in this film is the relationship of a mother and daughter growing and changing.  

The movie is set in medieval Scotland and has rich visuals full of greens and greys. It has many scenes that are eye-catching including the ring of stones, large mountain scenery, the highland games, and waterfalls.

Merida’s hair is stark red and has enough movement it could be considered a secondary character.

Merida is also relatable because she tries and fails many times before she succeeds. According to PIXAR (which makes sense as it is a Pixar film), 22 rules of storytelling “You admire a character for trying more than for their successes”. Merida tries to be a good daughter, and independent or true to herself in all the wrong ways before she succeeds and accomplishes this goal the right way. She also tries to save her mom by reversing the spell incorrectly before mending the tapestry. She never gives up and her courage and heart are present. You admire her character and grit more than her ability to prove she can rule and not have to marry a prince.

The movie Brave follows the Aerogramme Writers Studio the Story Spine as seen below:

Once upon a time… Lord and his Lady celebrate their daughter’s (Merida) birthday. She sees a willo-wisp, her mother explains they can lead her to her destiny. Suddenly a black bear attacks and her father fights the bear. Lord Fergus lost his leg to the bear known as Mor’du.

Every day… Merida is a brave, independent princess who spends her days’ horseback riding, practicing archery, and exploring the forest. She fights with her mother over not being a “proper” princess.

But, one day… Clans accept the offer to fight for Merida’s hand in marriage. Each of the firstborn of the clans will compete in the category the Princess chooses. Merida suggests archery, she claims as the first-born as well, she’ll be ‘fighting for her own hand.’ She defies her mother and makes a bullseye.

Because of that… Merida flees, where the willo-wisps bring her to a witch. Merida asks for a spell to change her mother. Her mother turns into a black bear! Merida learns that if they don’t want the spell to become permanent, they will have to “mend it”.

Because of that… Merida and her mother bond during her time as a bear. If they do not find a way to reverse the spell, she will stay a bear. Merida finds the stones and realizes that she is in the castle in the legend her mother told her about as a child. The brother who attempted to seize power went to the witch and turned into Mor’du.

Because of that… Mor’du attempts to attack Merida. Elinor saves her daughter, and they go back to the circle of stones.

Until Finally… Merdia knows what needs to be done. Merida mends the tapestry and saves her mother. And then ever since then … Merida and her mother accept each other.

This story was the first of its kind (with movies like Frozen to follow) I believe it is a timeless story and inspires others to be themselves.