Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor. Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” debuted November 13, 2012, on Blu‐ray™ Combo Pack, HD Digital and On-Demand.Thanks to the fine folks at Walt Disney Home Video, we have two great interviews and some fantastic behind-the-scenes footage from this visually stunning film.
An Interview With BRAVE Director/Screenwriter MARK ANDREWS
Andrews joined Pixar Animation Studios in December 2000 and has worked on four of the studio’s feature films. He served as story supervisor on the Academy Award®-winning feature films “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” and as a storyboard artist for the Golden Globe®-winning “Cars.” Andrews also contributed to the story of the critically acclaimed, award-winning “Toy Story 3.” In addition to his work on Pixar’s feature films, Andrews co-wrote and co-directed the Academy Award®-nominated short film “One Man Band.” He also provided his talents to Walt Disney Pictures’ “John Carter” as second-unit director and co-writer alongside the film’s director and Pixar colleague Andrew Stanton. Prior to coming to Pixar, Andrews lived in Los Angeles and was a storyboard artist on several animated films. For his work on “The Iron Giant,” he received an Annie Award from ASIFA-Hollywood for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production. He was also a storyboard artist on several animated television shows such as “The New Adventures of Jonny Quest” and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” for which he was awarded an Emmy®, and the award-winning “Samurai Jack.” Besides his work in the animation world, Andrews was a storyboard artist on Sony’s blockbuster live-action feature film “Spider-Man.” Andrews earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 1993. He currently lives in the Bay Area with his wife and their children.
How do you feel about joining the elite group of feature film directors at Pixar Animation Studios? (Only five have had the distinction before “Brave.”)
We’re in very good company and I’m surrounded by fantastic mentors. Their wealth of experience was always ready at hand and helped me become a better filmmaker.
What I love about Pixar films is that we’re always trying to push the envelope and not be formulaic. With “Brave,” we’re telling a story that audiences are going to get wrapped up in. We put a lot of honesty into making this film. At the end of the day, I’m proud of the work that we’ve done—I’m proud of the difficult times and I’m proud of the good times, because I didn’t go through it by myself, I had a lot of good, talented people going through it with me—great warriors by my side.
What is “Brave” about?
In a nutshell, “Brave” is about a young woman named Merida and her struggle to find herself—to reconcile how the world sees her with how she sees herself. The most important thing to Merida is her bow and her horse and the free time that comes with them. So she’s a phenomenal archer. She loves to be outside racing around the Scottish countryside on her horse Angus.
Merida’s relationship with her mother, Queen Elinor, is broken. They have their differences about what’s expected of Merida and the responsibilities that come with growing up. It’s all about changing your fate. And Merida—feeling the constraints of castle life tightening around her—desperately wants to change hers.
The main theme is being brave, finding the courage to let go. Merida is a very brave character—she climbs cliffs, shoots arrows, fights bears—but it’s really that bravery of the heart that’s the hardest.
Can you relate to the film’s family themes?
I have a daughter and three sons, just like Fergus and Elinor. It’s a parent-child relationship that’s at the core of this film—mothers and daughters or dads and sons, it doesn’t matter.
The future doesn’t mean anything to any teenager, especially to Merida. There’s a chemical thing in teenagers to fight back—they want to figure out the world for themselves. [They] are burgeoning, becoming the adults they’re going to be and that’s the really chaotic transition that’s all through this movie.
I was a kid, so I get the other side, too, when you just want to be left alone and find out the answers for yourself. A great truth of the universe is that no matter how much we as parents advise or help our children, they’ve got to make their own mistakes just like we did. And we have to suffer through the pain all over again watching them do it.
What makes the movie special?
In “Brave,” we’re really pushing the envelope in terms of cinematography, lighting and photography. We found new ways to create texture and took human characters to the next level. The movie has unprecedented subtlety in its performances.
This film is very rich—it’s very tactile. The thing about “Brave” is that you want to reach out and touch it, you want to feel everything in the movie from their gowns and kilts to the big red mess of curls on Merida’s head. That’s what brings a special kind of warmth—a personal connection—to the big screen.
When audiences go to “Brave,” they’re going to get this great, emotional, character piece about this parent/child relationship, and they’re also going to get a great adventure. They get to travel to Scotland and see magic like they’ve never seen before. There’s comedy, passion and wonderful characters. It’s a fantastic ride.
Is there a bit of Kelly Macdonald in Merida?
Kelly is so alive and vibrant with a great charm, wit and quirkiness that totally works for Merida. The character is funny and goofy and can laugh at herself, but has this Scottish teenage angst. Kelly Macdonald is the soul of the character and she makes Merida truly appealing.
Who is Elinor?
Elinor is a Queen, bar none. She is the ultimate authority, she’s the diplomat, she’s the lawmaker. She handles everything in the castle from planning the feasts, to entertaining guests, to setting all the rules. She’s doing what she feels is the right motherly thing in her efforts to prepare Merida as well as she can for the future, but she doesn’t realize it’s at the expense of their mother-daughter relationship.
Emma [Thompson] is royalty in the acting world and she [knew] exactly what Elinor needed to be. She is queenly and regal and noble, but at the same time, she can be bawdy and funny. She can be very serious and theatrical—then crack a joke. That’s exactly who our queen is. Emma gives Elinor just the right amount of emotion, earthiness and humor.
Who is Fergus?
Fergus is this immense Highland warrior—the kind of guy who wears a bear cloak. He’s loud and boisterous, kind of like me, and full of guts and wisdom. He lost his leg to the demon bear Mor’du and will tell the tale to anyone whether they’ve heard it or not.
I have a great affinity for Fergus because I’m just a big kid. He’s gregarious and open and there’s no rules for him, which puts him on a very different level than Elinor, who’s actually running the kingdom.
When it comes to his daughter, his wife and his little boys, there’s also this soft side to Fergus. He is a great dad, he’s fun to be around and he tells the kids stories and plays with them. Merida’s relationship with King Fergus is a special one. They’re really close as father and daughter; they’re very similar. Merida’s very brave and speaks her mind and is loud like Fergus. They both have red hair and would never shy away from a fight. They both like to tell stories.
Billy [Connolly] is exactly like Fergus in that he’s this gregarious comedian, who’s smart as a whip, has a great wit and just wants to tell stories all the time. The recording sessions were a riot—like life imitating art—we would take a break and get a half-hour of incredible story time with Billy. It was just hilarious.
Who are the Lords?
The Lords are the leaders of the neighboring clans. They don’t like each other, but they pretend to like each other in front of Fergus and Elinor. They’ll brawl at the drop of a hat and it’s up to Fergus to settle them all down—though he’s more inclined to join the fight himself.
Lord Macintosh is a skinny guy with curly hair and a big blue painted tattoo on his face. He’s very surly, and becomes an aggressive pit-bull at the blink of an eye. His son has long flowing locks and a temper that makes him quick to fly off the handle just like his dad.
Lord MacGuffin is huge—a descendant of the Vikings. His eyes are hidden beneath heavy brows and his voice comes out like a big thunderclap. His son is just like MacGuffin, but with a baby face and he speaks a dialect that’s impossible to understand.
Then you have Dingwall, who’s the shortest, oldest and most haggard of the lords, but he was fearsome in his time. He’s like that cantankerous old guy who sits on his porch and yells at the neighborhood kids, “get off my lawn!” That’s Dingwall. Wee Dingwall is his guileless and awkward son.
Who are the triplets?
[The triplets] run around the castle, causing all matters of chaos and getting into trouble. They’re constantly a plague to their nanny, stealing all her sweets and escaping scot-free through some nook or cranny in the castle. They play practical jokes on Fergus—and anyone else they can find.
What are the will o’ the wisps?
The will o’ the wisps are in a lot of Scottish folklore. They were said to lead you to treasure or doom—to change your fate—but they’re an actual phenomenon of swamp and bog gas seeping up through the earth and interacting with the natural resources to create the blue flames. People would follow these lights thinking they were little fairies, and basically drown or get sucked down into the bogs. [So] we made the wisps like actual little spirits.
They appear when Merida needs them most—when she’s in an intense emotional state and a big transition is going to happen. Merida has a big argument with her mother and she gets on Angus and rides out into the woods. They end up in a ring of these giant, monolithic stones that form a perfect circle. It’s in that circle that Merida first sees the will o’ the wisps—these blue mythical creatures that look like little floating flames and whisper in this mesmerizing way. They line up like little landing lights and beckon her to follow.
They’re almost like Marley’s ghost in a way, because Marley’s ghost isn’t an evil spirit—even though he’s frightening, he’s trying to warn Ebenezer to change his ways. That’s what the wisps are doing. There’s a duality to them, because they’re either good or evil—they lead Merida into more and more trouble, but in the end, they’ve led her exactly where she needs to go.
Who’s the Witch?
She’s this little old hippie grandma who does wood carvings—all bear-themed carvings—rocking chairs, mugs, pipes. She’s really a witch who gave up witchcraft because of too many unsatisfied customers. Merida gets her over a barrel and insists on a spell to change her mom so she can change her fate, because she thinks her mom is the only obstacle. Of course it goes, terribly, terribly wrong.
Why is Scotland such a great setting for “Brave”?
Scotland is just filled with myths and legends. It’s a magical place—rugged and majestic. The colors there are dark and moody and, at the same time, bright and cheery—all thanks to the crazy weather.
The people are hospitable, warm and friendly, and they take you in right away. They’re all fabulous storytellers. I’ve never been so enraptured and terrified by heroic tales and ghost stories. One of the things we really wanted to emphasize with “Brave” was that every character is a storyteller in his own right and every location has a story.
The look of the film is gorgeous! Steve Pilcher, who’s the production designer, and his team really captured the diverse and weathered Scottish environment—from the heather in the Highlands to the giant Gannet Scotch Pines in the forest to the scoring on the standing stones. When you go and watch “Brave,” you’re not just going to see a movie, you’re going to be in Scotland.
I am Scottish—on my mother and father’s side. We came over hundreds of years ago, so it’s all but bred out of me, but my wife and I went there on our honeymoon and spent a month exploring the Highlands. It is a pretty amazing place.
Talk about the research trips the production team took to Scotland.
We had two fabulous opportunities to roam around the Highlands of Scotland with a couple of guides. We went everywhere from Edinburgh up into the Highlands to the lochs and glens. We were on the Isles of Skye, Harris and Lewis, meeting people and talking to them—everybody had a story. The girls we met sang in Gaelic, which is amazing and haunting.
We went to places like the Fairy Queens mound, which is this rock formation that’s just sitting out in the middle of nowhere. We saw the Standing Stones of Callanish and Pictish stones and great castles that were crumbling and some that were rebuilt to the glory of what they used to be. We got rained on and hailed on—there were sunny days, windy days and cold days…and sunny-windy-cold days all at the same time.
Do you own a kilt?
I have four kilts right now. One’s a traditional kilt; I have two other kilts that are the short, regular kilts I can wear casually at work or to formal occasions. I have a sport kilt for Highland Games—I have a kilt for pretty much any occasion.
Are you an avid archer?
When I was growing up my dad tried to get me into the normal sports—football, basketball, baseball—I played them, but I really wasn’t into it. They weren’t satisfying for me. So then I turned to martial arts and that led to weapons and especially the bow and sword. I started taking archery in earnest. There was something meditative and focused; it requires so much discipline—it’s just you and your skill alone, trying to put this arrow where you want it. There’s something beautiful about me competing with me, whatever is inside me and whatever I have to overcome. I’ve had a lifelong love of archery and continue to do it to this day.
Who’s brave in “Brave”?
Merida is very brave, Elinor and Fergus are brave, the triplets are even brave. There’s a lot of great action that shows courage in a traditional way. But I think the bravest people are the ones who own up to their mistakes and face what they don’t want to face.
In Merida’s case, it’s about accepting this life that she needs to face. She has duties and there are expectations of her that keep the kingdom at peace. So for her to be truly brave, she’ll have to assume responsibility and admit that she was wrong. That’s not easy!
Would you say “Brave” is a comedy?
There’s comedy in “Brave”—it’s like the spice. Like a good wine or a good meal—there are subtle accents included when it comes to comedy. “Brave” has everything—drama, pathos, adventure, action and humor—we took a really well-rounded approach.
Describe the music in the film.
The music of “Brave” supports the story, bolstering this epic journey with Merida. The music really sets the tone for the film and underscores the time period. We wanted to capture this ancient feel of Scotland and the music really adds another layer of authenticity.
How does “Brave” fit into the Pixar roster?
“Brave” fits perfectly within the cannon of Pixar films because every Pixar film is different. From superheroes to rats that can cook, to an old guy, bugs, fish, talking toys and robots. That’s why I love Pixar. I can honestly say “Brave” is unique—just like every other Pixar film.
An Interview with BRAVE Producer KATHERINE SARAFIAN
Sarafian has been an integral part of the success and growth of Pixar Animation Studios, joining Pixar in 1994 as a production coordinator on the studio’s first full-length feature film, “Toy Story.” From there, she continued to develop her film production experience as production manager in Pixar’s short film department, and as art department manager on the studio’s second feature film, “A Bug’s Life.” She then shifted gears and moved on to positions in the creative services and consumer products departments. She eventually became director of marketing for the studio. In 2000, Sarafian transitioned back into production at Pixar, first as production supervisor on “Monsters, Inc.” and then as production manager on the Academy Award®-winning feature “The Incredibles.” She next took on the role of producer for the Academy Award®-nominated short film “Lifted,” which screened in theaters worldwide with Oscar®-winner “Ratatouille” in 2007. Prior to Pixar, Sarafian worked in development at Castle Rock Entertainment and in digital entertainment at Sanctuary Woods Multimedia. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Film and Television Critical Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, both from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has taught undergraduate film and television courses and has represented Pixar at a variety of film festivals throughout Japan, Europe and the United States. A native of Oakland, Calif., Sarafian is active in the San Francisco Bay Area theater, music and arts communities.
What is “Brave” about?
“Brave” is about a quest to reconcile who you are with who the world wants you to be. Merida is a spirited, adventurous, athletic Highland lass. She loves her life; she loves being outdoors. She’s a creature of nature; she’s happiest exploring with her horse Angus, practicing archery and sword fighting. She also likes playing with her triplet brothers. She’s just a happy kid. But there’s a painful contrast to what she loves doing and being bound by the duties of a royal. Queen Elinor strives to keep Merida on track to be a proper royal, which means lots of lessons within the walls of the castle, which is very confining for Merida, who’s more of a daddy’s girl.
I’m a mom, so I can relate to Elinor’s efforts to maintain control of the household. But I think a lot of people—adults, teenagers and kids—are going to relate to the idea that you want to choose your own path, and at the same time, you have an allegiance to your family, so you’re always walking that line. What’s overstepping and what’s not? I wasn’t rebellious, but I chose a different path than my family of doctors, priests and teachers, so I find the family dynamic within the DunBroch clan very relatable.
The Highland Games should be an exciting time for Merida—she loves sports like archery and caber tossing. However, this year the Highland Games will feature suitors competing for her hand in marriage—not a happy day for Merida. The thought of marrying into one of these clans and falling into this tradition goes against everything that the free spirit believes in, so she resents her mother for enforcing the tradition. Merida, like a lot of teenagers, wants her mom to change, of course. She’s so worried she’ll turn into her own mother that she fails to see who Elinor really is—and that the two of them are not so different.
How is Merida’s character realized on the big screen?
Merida’s design was inspired by the spirit within the character. Fiery red hair made perfect sense—it is beautiful aesthetically against the colors of the Scottish setting, and the untamed curls and vibrant color fit Merida’s wild personality perfectly.
Merida is voiced by the phenomenally talented Kelly Macdonald who’s fantastic in the role, channeling teenage angst, as well as heart and the humor. There’s a real warmth in her performance that balances the teenage nuances.
Who is Elinor?
Queen Elinor is a working mother. She’s raising the family. She’s keeping the peace. She’s handling the royal duties with elegance and dignity. And she has goals for her daughter. Elinor wants Merida to be able to take on royal responsibilities and practice diplomacy. But learning all of the necessary skills means Merida must spend all her days inside the castle when she’d rather be outside riding her horse. They’re at an impasse.
Queen Elinor is voiced by Emma Thompson. She’s remarkable, bringing warmth and sternness to the character. She exudes that need to keep the rules of the kingdom alive while still being a loving mother. She has a loving and funny relationship with Fergus. And though Merida may not realize it, Elinor remembers her own struggles as a teenager.
Describe Fergus and his relationship with Merida.
Merida’s father is King Fergus, a wild Highland warrior king who lost his leg to a bear. He loves to tell tales. Fergus and Merida are like two peas in a pod who love being outside practicing sword fighting, archery and hunting. Fergus has taught Merida everything about the outdoors and how to be his kind of royal. One of the central bonds between father and daughter is the bow. Merida has a bow that her father gave her when she was just a wee lass and she still carries it everywhere.
King Fergus is voiced by Billy Connolly and he’s a comedian on every level. Billy brings this great authenticity to the role. When [director] Brenda [Chapman] conceived the role of King Fergus she had one name in mind: Billy Connolly.
Why are the Lords so important to the story?
I think the Lords are a great comic element of the film because they’re relatable—everyone will recognize someone they know in the Lords: the guy you work with who gets ticked off too easily or that uncle who always says the wrong thing at an important dinner.
Who are the triplets?
Merida has three brothers: Harris, Hubert, and Hamish. They are identical triplets who get into so much trouble. They love sweets and they are constantly taunting their nanny. They know every secret passage in the castle and are always game to help Merida—and not just because she slips them desserts as a reward.
Who is the Witch?
The Witch is really a retired witch who does wood carvings—she whittles lovely bear creations and sells them out of her shop. She’s very sweet and unassuming. But if pressed—as Merida manages to do—the Witch can be convinced to create a spell. It just might not be exactly what’s expected.
Julie Walters voices the Witch with all her sweet, salesperson sort of humor.
How does “Brave” push the envelope?
“Brave” has a visual complexity that’s at a new level—even for Pixar. Ancient Scotland—with horses, bears and human beings—is about as organic as you can get. There’s absolutely nothing easy in the film. We’ve pushed the look, pushed our technology and pushed our artists to new heights. Merida’s wild, curly mane of red hair and the complexity of clothing on all of the characters—from formal dresses to tunics, cloaks and armor, plus layers and layers of kilt—made this our most challenging film yet.
Discuss the research trips you took to Scotland.
We took two research trips to Scotland—the first was in 2006 with 12 people for 12 days. We started in Edinburgh and roamed throughout the Highlands, lowlands, lochs, Isles of Skye, Lewis and Harris. We dove really deeply into the culture and the storytelling. We met people and talked to them. We ate like locals and immersed ourselves in the landscape and experienced the weather and how it was constantly changing and moving. It could be raining and you don’t care because it’s so beautiful. Then, all of a sudden, it’s sunny—and there’s this mist. It’s one of those places that hooks you—the people are warm and generous, and the landscape—it’s ridiculously dramatic. It just draws you in. It’s almost mystical. You want to be part of this environment.
Our second trip was in 2007. We spent a lot of time at the Standing Stones of Callanish [on the Isle of Lewis]. It felt like the perfect setting for something important to happen in the story. The stones are in a perfect circle on a big exposed cliff with the sky as their backdrop—it’s very striking. You can’t tear yourself away from them. On both trips it was really hard for me to get any of the artists back on the bus.
We wrote stories and kept journals. We took photographs and video, filled sketch books and created pastels. We brought everything back and spread it all out on tables and loaded it into our computers and said, “What is this land and who are these people and how does it mesh with the story we’re trying to tell?” We worked really hard to bring the magic, the beauty and the ruggedness of Scotland to life in the film.
How did “Brave” break ground when it comes to clothing and layers?
In “Brave,” the clothing was really important in defining the characters and capturing the feel of Scotland. We wanted it to have the rugged texture of the land and the layers and layers of garments that were common at the time.
Boo wears a T-shirt and leggings in “Monsters, Inc.” Mom wears tight-fitting pants in “Toy Story 2.” That’s what we were able to do at the time. In “Brave,” King Fergus has eight layers—chain mail, body armor, several layers of kilt, a belt, a sheath for his sword and even a bear fur cloak. Merida has to be able to ride her horse in her skirt and still shoot arrows. That all has to be programmed in the computer so that each layer moves like it should and reacts to the other layers. Our team came through, though: new technology, new software, unbelievable artists.
What did the two directors, Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, bring to “Brave”?
Mark and Brenda have so much in common, and they also complement each other as storytellers and filmmakers. They’re both family focused and esteemed story artists with years of training and impressive credits. They each bring something unique to the process. Mark has a much more rambunctious approach and loves action. Brenda loves the quieter moments. “Brave” is this incredible blend of those skills—it reflects Brenda’s inspired concept and the adventurous excitement that Mark brings.
What are your thoughts on the music of “Brave”?
Patrick Doyle composed the score for “Brave.” He’s Scottish, so he was able to tap into his own heritage. We have bagpipes, Celtic fiddles and Irish flute, among other truly interesting instruments, creating a beautiful score that reflects the action and swelling emotion, as well as the film’s great comic bits.
We were delighted that [Pixar’s own] Alex Mandel’s songs were ultimately exactly what we needed for the movie. We love working with in-house artists. They work right alongside our story team and know the goal of the story point and can really collaborate with the director along the way to get the meaning behind a song in a wonderful way.
Julie Fowlis performed [two] songs. If ever we imagined a singing voice for Merida—the beauty, the clarity, the directness and honesty—Julie embodies that and she’s fantastic.
[With Birdy on vocals], “Learn Me Right” is an amazing song. I feel something every time I hear it. Mumford & Sons sketched out a piece that would do justice to the culminating moment of the movie, underscoring the emotion, heart and the lessons learned between mother and daughter. They really found that moment of truth in the story we were trying to tell, and it takes the movie to a new level at the end.
Why should audiences see “Brave”?
Though set in a different time and place, at its core, “Brave” is a highly relatable story of a family. The heart of the film is how family members interact and how they don’t always understand each other. In the end, relationships come down to trust, love and forgiveness.
“Brave” has battles and comedy, light moments and high drama, plus big action and adventure—it’s all in there. The humor is character driven and the characters are relatable to modern kids and adults alike. It’s the kind of film that makes audiences chuckle and get choked up.
In “Brave,” magic has transformative abilities. We can take something to a whole different place with a little bit of magic. While the story is very much grounded in reality with an organic feel and real family issues, there’s just enough magic to make it special.
Who’s brave in “Brave”?
Each character has to be brave in a different way. Mom has to relinquish control for the first time in her life. I think a lot of working moms can relate to that idea. Initially, Merida considers it brave to pursue the kind of life she wants to pursue, speaking out against traditions she does not agree with. But Merida also has to bravely face her own weakness, which is particularly tough for someone who’s good with a bow and arrow, skilled with a sword and great at hunting.
What makes “Brave” a true Pixar film?
“Brave” is the next in a progression of unusual pictures that have nothing in common with each other. Each film is different than the one before it and “Brave” is another in the great cannon of Pixar storytelling. “Brave” has all of the things audiences expect from a Pixar film—heart, humor, grand adventure and warm storytelling—as well as things they don’t expect. It’s simply great entertainment.
Some compare director Mark Andrews to King Fergus and you to Queen Elinor. True?
One might say Mark [Andrews] is a bit boisterous and I’m more of a low-key diplomat. His language may be a little more colorful—he has the wild spirit of a Highland warrior…if only I were a royal.
BRAVE is now available on Blu‐ray™ Combo Pack, HD Digital and On-Demand.
