Brave

What’s it about?

Brave is an animated fantasy adventure set in the Scottish Highlands that follows the spirited Princess Merida of Dunbroch (Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer who goes against an old tradition, unleashing chaos in her kingdom. To fix things, Merida must rely on her bravery and quick thinking to undo a powerful curse and heal the bond with her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), discovering the true meaning of courage along the way.

The facts 

• Directed by Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt) and Mark Andrews (One Man Band)
• Starring Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane
• English language
• Runtime: 89 minutes
• Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
• The main character, Merida, is the first character in the Disney Princess line to be created by Pixar. 

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Scary scenes

Brave includes several intense moments that may scare younger tamariki:

• In an early scene, a character faces off with the fierce bear Mor'du in a suspenseful, action-filled battle. Although it’s later explained that the character lost his leg during the fight and now has a wooden one, no injuries are shown on screen.
• A character encounters a witch and follows will-o'-the-wisps—mystical lights rooted in Scottish folklore that are believed to lead people to their destiny. While not overly scary, these scenes might be unsettling for children who don’t like witches or supernatural themes.
• In a later scene, a character falls into Mor'du’s dark cave, creating a tense escape sequence with a jump scare as they try to avoid the menacing bear.
• In the final showdown, two bears battle each other. Though the fight is intense, no injuries are shown, but one bear is ultimately crushed by a large rock.

Violence

• Aside from the bear scenes, the Scotsmen from different clans are often shown brawling with each other, using fists, kicks, and even weapons like swords and arrows. These moments are portrayed in a humorous, slapstick style rather than a serious or violent tone.

Sad scenes

• Near the end of the film, audiences get the impression that Merida has lost her mother (she has had a full transformation into a bear) which is sad and upsetting.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?