Pixar knows how to crank out the box office hits, but they might be getting ready to experience their first dud. EW.com has a couple of pictures to highlight the visual artistry of Brave, the studio’s 13th feature-length movie, but it’s going to take more than pretty scenery to boost a film that’s making so many new moves.
New move number one is a female main character. We’ve seen rats, cars, monster, fish, and a grumpy old man who used balloons to fly his house, but a female lead is brand new territory. Another example of Pixar’s new pioneer spirit is the setting and story itself, a medieval fairy tale set in Scotland.
While the last new thing might not seem like a biggie by itself, the situation surrounding the latest developments make things stand out a little bit. Brave was going to be the first Pixar film to be directed by a woman, but director Brenda Chapman was replaced by Mark Andrews, although she will still be listed as co-director. No word yet on why this change was made.
As far as the story itself goes, Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is the daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), who defies a sacred custom that causes problems for the kingdom. Merida goes in search of an old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) in hopes of repairing the damage she’s caused. In the process, she’s granted an “ill-fated wish.”
It wouldn’t be Pixar if there wasn’t any comic relief, so Merida is accompanied by three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).
It’s good that Pixar wants to branch out and try something different but I hope the new direction doesn’t make them forget it’s the story, and not the awesome animation, that makes their movies stand out from the other animated films out there.
Image Credit: Disney-Pixar
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