The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
HomeEntertainmentFilmBrave
Entertainment • Film

Brave

Brave is a 2012 American computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Brave is a 2012 American computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Set in medieval Scotland, it follows Princess Merida as she challenges a royal custom and tries to reverse a magical curse. The film was directed by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Premise

Brave follows Merida, a young Scottish princess who defies tradition and seeks to change her fate. Her actions lead to supernatural chaos that she must resolve to save her kingdom and her family. The story is set in the Scottish Highlands and centres on Princess Merida of DunBroch, who is depicted as resisting an arranged betrothal, which triggers the film’s central conflict. The film features a mother-daughter storyline after Queen Elinor is transformed into a bear.

Production

The film was directed by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures in June 2012. Brave was the first Pixar film to feature a female protagonist.

Release and reception

Brave premiered in June 2012 and was a box-office success. It received generally positive reviews and won major awards for Best Animated Feature, including the Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA. In Canada, the film was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and was widely released in Canadian theatres as part of the film’s North American rollout.

Significance

Brave is notable for featuring Pixar’s first female protagonist and for centring a Disney Princess who does not have a love interest. It is also associated with Brenda Chapman becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Key facts

  • Brave was released in 2012 and is a Pixar film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.
  • The story is set in the Scottish Highlands and centres on Princess Merida of DunBroch.
  • Merida is depicted as resisting an arranged betrothal, which triggers the film’s central conflict.
  • The film features a mother-daughter storyline after Queen Elinor is transformed into a bear.
  • Brave won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was the first Pixar film to feature a female protagonist.
🍁
Canadian context

Brave was distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Pictures and was widely released in Canadian theatres as part of the film’s North American rollout.[3][9][12]

Frequently asked questions

What is Brave about?
It follows Princess Merida, who defies a royal tradition and must undo a magical curse after her actions create chaos in her kingdom.
Who directed Brave?
Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews directed the film.
When was Brave released?
Brave was released in North America on June 22, 2012.
Where is Brave set?
The film is set in medieval Scotland, specifically the Scottish Highlands and the kingdom of DunBroch.
Did Brave win any major awards?
Yes. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and also received major awards from the Golden Globes and BAFTA.
Why is Brave notable in Pixar history?
It was Pixar’s first film to feature a female protagonist, and Merida became a Disney Princess unlike earlier characters because she has no love interest.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_(2012_film)
    Supports: Release date, setting, plot, awards, first Pixar female protagonist, premiere and box-office information
  2. Mental Flosshttps://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/disney/13-fascinating-facts-about-brave
    Supports: First Pixar film with a female protagonist; first woman to win Best Animated Feature; Disney Princess without a love interest
  3. Disney Movieshttps://movies.disney.com/brave
    Supports: Official synopsis, runtime, release date, directors, cast, genre
  4. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brave
    Supports: Synopsis, directors, producer, screenwriters, release date, runtime, genre, rating
  5. Pixarhttps://www.pixar.com/brave
    Supports: Official premise and character relationships