Disney∙Pixar has released a clip from their upcoming film Brave, and my excitement for this film has dramatically increased. The teaser trailer piqued my interest, but there wasn’t enough there to help me decide if I wanted to rush out on June 22 to see this movie.
Based on the new clip, however, I can tell that the teenaged Merida with the flaming hair is the kind of spunky heroine I am drawn to in films. Voiced by Kelly Macdonald (Margaret Schroeder in Boardwalk Empire), Merida is a princess forced to sit and await the results of an archery contest. The winner will be rewarded her hand in marriage.
She and her father King Fergus (voiced by Billy Connolly, Il Duce in Boondock Saints II: All Saint’s Day) joke with each other as the contest begins, but Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) obviously disapproves. This brief interaction between the three characters shows us that Merida has a strong bond with her father, and they seem to have fun together. Her mother, however, is more serious and focused on the task at hand.
The trio of kilted archers fail to impress the young princess, and she sneaks away to appear on the field in a dress poorly suited for archery. She declares that she will compete for her own hand and lets her arrows fly. While what happens next isn’t all that surprising, the way her expertise is depicted is still exciting to watch. She and Robin Hood should go against each other in a tournament, but who would win between the two is anyone’s guess.
The clip ends with Merida glaring defiantly at her mother.
The animation in this film looks incredible, and I’m already in love with the music by Patrick Doyle (composer of Thor). Hopefully it will live up to expectations.