Brenda Chapman

         The animated fairy tales of Disney is renowned and unrivaled. Reconstructed from the dark and twisted folktales of early storytellers such as the Grimm Brothers, Disney transformed these fairy tales into global phenomenons. Instilling ideologies and lessons onto children, these stories demonstrate the power and influence of media. Although Disney has strayed away from the gruesome methods of early storytellers, their method of storytelling has become outdated until recent years. The sexualized role of females within fairy tales have been constantly reinforced, from Cinderella (1950) to Hercules (1997), as a damsel in distressed. These princesses await for a prince, who serves as a "deus ex machina" for their problems. Although films as Mulan (1998) address this image of women, it does not fully break away from early storytellings of Disney. Until the arrival of Brave (2012), various Disney movies were constructed until the same mold. Although not as popularly received as other films, Brenda Chapman's storytelling indubitably demonstrates a break from the original mold of Disney storytelling.

Brenda Chapman

        Brave tells a story of a princess who is coming of age to be married off to a potential suitor. After seeking help from a witch, who twists her wishes around, Merida endangers her family and ventures to mend her mistakes. One of the most defining feature of Brave (2012) is the absence of a prince-like character. Although suitors to Merida were introduced, they played an insignificant role in the story. However, Merida's character is not unique in any way. Much like Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991), Tiana from The Princess and the Frog (2009), or Rapunzel from Tangled (2010), Merida is wild and "untamed." Like her hair, she wishes to be free to do what she wants without gender restrictions. In a scene with her suitors, Merida showcases her skills, such as archery, that exceed that of her suitors. Yet by the end of the story, Merida is not "tamed," but rather, achieves her freedom through her own means.

Merida and her "wild" hair!

         Although Chapman worked on various stories such as Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Little Mermaid (1989), and The Lion King (1994), she did not fully gain creative freedom until Brave where she was announced as Pixar's first female director. However, after a creative dispute, she was replaced by Mark Andrews. Although devastated, she states that her "'vision' remained in the film" and that she was "very proud of the movie" and "ultimately stood up for [herself]." Despite leaving Pixar for the incident, I believe that Chapman has propelled a new era of storytelling. Evidenced by Anna and Elsa's particular demeanor in Disney's Frozen (2013). 

Trailer

Works Cited:

Chapman, Brenda (August 14, 2012). "Stand Up for Yourself, and Mentor Others". New York Times. (http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/08/14/how-can-women-gain-influence-in-hollywood/stand-up-for-yourself-and-mentor-others)