The Cast and Crew of Brave Visit Edinburgh

The team behind Brave at a press junket for the film in Edinburgh. (Left - Right) Tia Kratter (Shading Art Director), Kevin McKidd (voice of Lord MacGuffin), Kelly Macdonald (voice of Merida), Mark Andrews (director), Katherine Sarafian (producer), and John Lasseter (executive producer).

The cast and crew of Pixar's thirteenth feature film Brave have been over here in the UK for the past couple of days, specifically, in Edinburgh, the capital of the land in which Brave is set, Scotland. Whilst here, the voice cast of the latest film from the studio that brought you Toy Story (as well as posing for some pictures, which you can see on Pixar's Facebook page) spoke  to Scottish newspaper, The Daily Record, about their favourite Disney memories growing up, and how the more recent Pixar films compare to that.

(Left - Right) Robbie Coltrane (Lord Dingwall), John Lasseter (Pixar and Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer), Katherine Sarafian (producer), Mark Andrews (director), Kelly Macdonald (Merida) and Kevin McKidd (Lord MacGuffin) pose in front of the iconic Edinburgh landscape.

Robbie Coltrane (Lord Dingwall) talks of his love of Disney's Dumbo, saying of its ambitious circus scenes “I remember thinking, ‘Someone did that with a pencil’.” While Kelly Macdonald, who lends her voice to Brave's leading lady, Merida, talks about how Pixar is today, what Disney was then, saying “It is more the Pixar films that  [Macdonald's son] Freddie likes, things like Toy Story.”

Kevin McKidd (Lord MacGuffin) also said, of the film:

“It is a love letter to Scotland. It really conjures up the feel of the country – the wind is blowing, the sea is flowing and everything is covered in ferns or moss and always in motion. It is a very textured landscape and you see this in the movie. Everything looks so real and vibrant.”

Also, you've got to admire John Lasseter for going the whole-hog with the Scottish trip, it takes a brave man (pun intended) to wear a kilt in this weather.

Check out the full article at The Daily Record, and the rest of the pictures from the press junket on the official Pixar Facebook page.

Brave is released in cinemas in just over two weeks, on 22nd June, in America, whereas us poor UK fans will have to wait until 13th August.

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New Brave Featurette - Kilt

What we've seen from Brave in the past has been, with a few exceptions, very tense, very ominous, very eerie and very badass. However, what we're treated to today is a much more light-hearted, jovial advert for the film - a featurette satirising fashion adverts, selling Kilts. The advert may seem a little adult or low-brow for Pixar, but, in my opinion, this is a very needed move. As fantastic and exciting as Brave looks, up until very recently it's showed very little of its funny side - of the side that'll attract the majority of its audience: kids. Animation may be an art-form that perpetual children like myself enjoy, but the fact of the matter is, their key demographic is actual children, so comedy is an essential.

As it's Pixar, the film will undoubtedly be a deft blend of comedy, pathos and emotion, but it's a smart idea - marketing wise - to try and get that across in its advertisements.

The featurette (above) parodies the oftentimes ridiculous fashion adverts we're regularly subjected to; advertising the traditional kilts that populate Brave. It, as well as being very funny, features a decent amount of previously unseen footage - including a shot of Merida's father, King Fergus, fighting the demon bear, Mor'du.

Brave hits US theatres on 22nd June, and arrives here in the UK a couple of months later on 13th August (up slightly from its previous due date of the 17th).

Via iTunes Movie Trailers.

New Brave TV Spot

Disney and Pixar have rolled out the second TV Spot for their next, highly anticipated, feature film, Brave. The tale of Princess Merida and her clash with her mother, magic and tradition, set in the highlands of Scotland, is shaping up to be one of Pixar's best films yet.

Whilst the clip (above) doesn't feature a lot of new footage, it is set to a rocking soundtrack and does a great job - as per usual - of making Brave a must-see film.

Brave is due in cinemas 22nd June in North America, and on 17th August here in the UK.

Brave TV Spot

Pixar may have walked away empty handed from the Oscars last Sunday, but Pixar fans were treated to the above TV spot - the first for Pixar's next feature film, Brave. The newly debuted TV spot shows off the epic scale we've seen in previous trailers, and a familiar warmth and love that Pixar films epitomise and that the antiquated Scottish setting will help further boost.

Over the top of the video, you will also hear beautiful Gaelic singing by the very talented Julie Fowlis.

Behind the Scenes of Brave

Following from the recent advertising blitz for Brave, TIME magazine today debuts a behind the scenes look at Pixar's next feature. The article shows us nine pictures from the development and production of Pixar's first fairytale, showing the film's original director, Brenda Chapman, and current director, Mark Andrews, interacting with the crew (including the infamous kilt Fridays), visiting Scottish locales and getting a feel of holding the varied weaponry.

TIME have also provided us with an example of a storyboard image from the film, which, for those of you that've watched the new trailer, "The Prize", will be very familiar.

Head on over to TIME to view all the images.

Thanks to Pixarian, Cat Hicks for the tip off.

Brave Updates

Yesterday, we got another stunning image from Pixar's next feature film, Brave. The image (above), shows Merida and the Bear, there is a shocking level of detail on both, and the little nuances are fantastically animated. This certainly looks set to be a visually stunning film.

Secondly, we get some insight into the bear in Brave (which was formerly titled The Bear and The Bow); director, Mark Andrews, spoke with the Scottish newspaper, The Daily Record, about the upcoming film and shared some intricate plot points from the film. Be warned, they contain some spoilers:

"It’s all about the relationship between a mother and daughter, and how this young woman has problems with her mother. When she has a problem with her mother over marriage, she gets a magic spell to try to stop her mother bothering her with the suitor business. But it actually changes her mother into a bear."

Andrews seems enthralled by the beauty of Scotland (when it's not raining ALL the time), saying:

"To set it in Scotland was a no-brainer. It's a place full of stories and full of powerful myths and magic, so what better place to set our story? I love the place. My family came over from Scotland about five centuries ago and my wife and I honeymooned in Scotland."



The record, likewise, seemed impressed with the film, and with Pixar.

I honestly can't wait to see Brave, it sounds fantastic.

Why Brave is my Most Anticipated Animated Film

There's a huge slab of animated films due out over the next few years, whilst it's debatable as to whether any of them are going to be worth your time, there's some that I simply cannot wait to see. The pinnacle of this anticipation is Pixar's Brave. The fantastic poster has got me even more psyched for Pixar's first fairy tale, but there's five reasons in particular that Brave is my most anticipated animated film - and one of my most anticipated films in general, behind The Dark Knight Rises of course.

These five reasons are as follows - in no particular order:

1. It's an original film, not a sequel, not to say that I have anything in particular against sequels, in fact my two favourite films of all time are sequels (Toy Story 2 and The Dark Knight). However, I love the feeling of uncovering a new world and new characters. Furthermore, I'm curious to see how Pixar handles their first fairytale.
2. The artwork we've seen so far looks utterly breathtaking, the visual style looks stunning. You can see just how much of a beautiful film Brave promises to be from the poster (above).
3. The brilliant Scottish feel should translate fantastically to create an authentic feel to the film. This is reinforced by the film's voice cast (lead by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald and starring Scottish comedian, Billy Connolly - who recently provided the voiceover for Scottish Disney Short Film, The Ballad of Nessie) and the fact that the score is being composed by Scot, Patrick Doyle (who scored Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).
4. It's (probably) going to be prefaced by the equally amazing and beautiful looking short film, La Luna, which I can't wait to see.
5. Furthermore, it will also (probably) have the trailer for Monsters University attached. I can't wait to get a glimpse at Pixar's first prequel, and I have waited nearly 10 years for a Monsters, Inc. follow up.

Brave looks, and sounds, utterly amazing in every way, shape and form; it seems like a much darker film and a bold new step by Pixar.

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? SOUND OFF.

Brave Concept Art Poster

Following on from the newt poster I made from all of the concept art yesterday, I decided to make one for Pixar's next release following Cars 2, Brave, using all the concept art released so far.

Since this most recent concept art has surfaced, I have been super psyched for Brave, it looks brilliantly original and I'm hyped to see Pixar's first fairytale.

Fortunately this one didn't take as long as the newt one did!

New Brave Details Emerge, New Artwork

After months of silence on Pixar's 13th feature film, and its first attempt at a fairytale, we finally get something more substantial to do with Brave. When I got home this afternoon and checked my Twitter feed, I was greeted by an interesting tweet by Pixar animator Chris Chua, announcing new Brave concept art.

What I found on The Pixar Times and Entertainment Weekly was perhaps even more interesting, shedding new light on the plot, cast and director.

First of all, we have some fantastic new concept art, it's eerily beautiful, yet also a bit darker and grittier than we may have expected from Pixar, very brave (if you'll pardon the pun). You can see all of this concept art above, however Entertainment Weekly has a great article about the piece including updated plot points, a new description and new information on the voice cast and director.

These points are that, Reese Witherspoon will no longer be voicing Merida - the main character - due to scheduling issues, instead, Scottish actress, Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire) will voice her. This, to be honest, will fit better, using an actual Scottish actress to play a Scottish Princess.

The other main point is that, whilst Mark Andrews (One Man Band) has replaced Brenda Chapman as director, they will both be credited as the film's director. This is an interesting development to say the least. You can read the full article with all the entailing information on Entertainment Weekly's website.

These pictures and this information has got me incredibly psyched for Brave, which I previously could make head nor tail of. Brave is to hit theatres in June 2012.