I detested just about every Disney princess story out there until Brave. Having grown up without a mom, I just didnāt buy into the āglamorā of the mom-less, dad-less, or orphaned life. And I found that the whole being saved by a handsome prince thing was too wishy-washy.
Merida has 2 parents and she is fierce and fearless. She reminds me a bit of Katniss from the Hunger Games, and I had just finished reading the book series before seeing Brave for the 1st time. Merida is self-reliant and she doesnāt wait around for anyone to come to her aid. Itās refreshing that she has 2 parents and exists in a traditional family. Our familysā roots are Irish (mine) and Scottish (DH).
My little girl and little niece are total Merida fans, and Iām comfortable with my daughter taking Merida as a ārole modelā because Meridaās character has so many strong points. My daughter has promised never to turn me into a bear.
The only thing I donāt like about the story is the witchcraft angle.