Not too long ago, I lamented the lack of strong heroines in children’s movies, citing Harry Potter’s Hermione Granger as a rare example and sidekick (although a great one) to boot. A few days ago I found out about an upcoming release from Pixar titled BRAVE. The official synopsis:

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Initially conceived and slated to be directed by Pixar’s first female director, Brenda Chapman has since been replaced by Mark Andrews. Still, Merida is the first female main character in a Pixar movie.