Brave: The Princess And Her Unbearable Mom

Anamarie Mendez

RTVF 82

Introduction to Film History

Topic #6 “See for yourself what the genius of Walt Disney has created in his first full-length feature production” (Disney releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1938). Deemed the number 1 animated film of all time, in 2008, by the American Film Institute, Snow White and the Seven Dwarf’s is nothing short of an extraordinary film. Disney’s first feature film portrays a young princess, Snow White, marked for death by her evil stepmother, the queen. A hunter warns Snow White of her fate and warns her to hide in the forest. Along her journey, Snow White happens upon a little cottage that is inhabited by seven dwarfs (Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, and Dopey). Although Snow

Pixar studio, whose parent company is Walt Disney Studios, premiered the film on June 22nd, 2012. TIME Magazine titled their article of the film “Brave: The Princess and Her Unbearable Mom”, but it isn’t what you think. “Disney princesses have a rough time with the women who run their lives” (TIME Magazine, 2012). This statement is the only thing that you can be used to compare Merida, the Scottish princess from Brave, and Snow White. Unlike Snow White, Merida is a take-charge, strong, rebellious, independent female character. Before Brave was brought to the drawing board by its Pixar creators, a female character, especially a princess, was never put into a role where they came off tough or capable of success without a man. Although some filmmakers still believed that the representation of a man’s guidance was needed in the film, the idea was shut down and gender equality prevailed in the film. Brave is the animated tale of, “a rebellious princess who battles an imperious queen and is beset by magic spells” (TIME Magazine, 2012). The film was a complete twist on film’s like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and unlike it, Merida is a hunter, adventurous, brave (of course), and courageous. Although Merida presents the same beauty as Snow White does, she has more of a free spirit, without fear of not finding her “one true love”. Merida would prefer to spend her day as an expert archer, exploring Scotland and her freedom, rather than preparing for her future suitors. She is your typical everyday girl at heart with attitude and all. She enjoys being alone and doesn’t feel like she needs to be on a man’s arm in order to rule her kingdom in the future. Her mother begs to differ, which causes havoc between the two of them. In the end, Merida and the queen realize that nothing that they fought over was worth losing each other. Brave shows you the importance of family, believing in yourself and the