Brave New World

I'm so glad Brave won the Oscar for the best Animated Feature Film. This movie truly deserves it. With a spirit that cannot be tamed, Merida proves to young girls and women that they have the power to change their fate. In Brave, Merida struggles to change her fate, a fate that involves marrying a man who wins her hand in matrimony after beating his competitors in a series of games. Merida fights for her right to choose her own fate by competing in the contest and by out shooting her competitors. I nearly jumped up and yelled for joy when Merida did this. Merida is a hero for the girls who don't feel like the traditional Disney princesses, who question why they need a prince on a white horse to rescue them. Brave is for the girls who would rather be fighting with weapons while going on a quest, free to choose their own destiny.  I loved that this movie was not centered on a romance, but rather around the struggle a young girl had with connecting with her mother. This movie proves that a happy ending doesn't always have to end with a romance. Merida and her mother Elinor were able to see each other’s perspectives and motivations, which strengthened their relationship. Merida was still able to keep her wild and free spirit but she was also able to learn that every decision has consequences for others as well as herself. For Merida and her mother, this brave new world gave them a chance to change their fate for the better.