Tiaras, elegant dresses, and a prince charming have made up the typical princess fairy-tales ever since the release of Disney’s Snow White. With Pixar’s 13th feature film and first ever fairy-tale storyline, these stereotypes are shattered with the debut of a feisty princess who would rather be out braving the wild than searching for her prince charming. June 22nd Brave will be released, a 3D animated film featuring the first female protagonist in a Pixar film.
Merida is a princess in 10th century Scotland who is next in line to take over the kingdom. With fiery red hair and an independent spirit unlike other girls in the kingdom, Merida definitely strays from the stereotypical princess. To take over her parents throne, however, a young man from the kingdom must court her. Unimpressed by the three suitors picked by her parents, she takes matters into her own hands and decides she doesn’t want to marry anyone. The story goes on as Merida finds herself solo consulting a wise old woman, falling under a curse, and forced to undo the spell, all the while revealing the true meaning of bravery.
FINALLY we have a children’s film with a female character that defies age-old customs, is fiercely independent, and is not focused on finding the “perfect prince charming.” Rather than wearing princess clothes, she rides a horse, fights bears, and shoots bows and arrows. Merida will be a perfect role model for young girls, especially in an entertainment world where traditional feminine roles are pounded into the heads of the younger generation. Not only will this movie have an effect on young girls, but young boys will also get a view into a female character unlike one they’ve seen previously, proving that the idea that all girls are frou-frou princess types is far from reality. This film will no doubt have an impact on young girls and boys alike as a new badass princess arrives to theaters.
–Ashleigh Mavros, Student Outreach Coordinator
