Art Shift: As with Rapunzel, Merida was given a 2D redesign ◊ in order to fit the Disney Princess franchise.Although she's certainly skilled with a bow and arrow, she's less calm and composed and more of a Fiery Redhead. That said, he is a shapeshifting entity and she states that she doesn't love the male form he presents himself in front of her, but the genderless being of air he truly is, once again making her exact sexuality ambiguous.
This gets thrown off, however, when she falls in love with the masculine-presenting Feradach.
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Ambiguously Gay: In the movie's sequel novel Bravely, Merida shows little to no interest in any of the men and admits to being intimidated by them, is heavily implied to be in love with Leezie, becomes noticeably disappointed when she finds out that Leezie is getting married, and gets noticeably excited when she enters a room full of women at one point. In the climax, she gets the better of the three chiefs and her father in close combat. Action Girl: When confronted with Mor'du, a monster of a bear, she notches an arrow and fires. It's not the skirt, but the back, shoulders, and sleeves by flexing, which is realistic given the action in question. Action Dress Rip: During the archery contest, she breaks her dress for easier movement. Merida is also Pixar's first entry into the Disney Princess franchise, and the first one overall to lack a love interest. She races against time to make right the result of her reckless behavior and mend the bond torn by pride. When Merida blatantly defies an ancient tradition, the consequences of her actions prove disastrous for the kingdom-and especially when innocent bystanders end up affected. They are still in disagreement, but are willing to accept each other.Voiced by: Kelly Macdonald, Peigi Barker (as a toddler), Ruth Connell (video games) Julie Fowlis (off-screen singing voice) Klodiana Keco (Albanian dub), Hiromi Hayakawa (Latin American Spanish dub), Amy Diamond (Swedish dub), Esther Thalia Casey (Icelandic dub), Alina Chinie (Romanian dub), Bérénice Bejo (European French dub)Īs the daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor of DunBroch, her life is weighted with responsibilities and expectations. But Mei and Ming show that while they are still at odds, they are open to meeting each other halfway. Not much is shown in Brave to indicate how Merida and Elinor’s relationship has changed from their story, other than a new sense of camaraderie. Despite this, there is still a mutual love and support from each of them that respects their characters and perspective. Ming does not want for Mei to live with the panda spirit unleashed and Mei is afraid of what it might do to their relationship. Mei developed from wanting nothing more than to please her mother to wanting to be her own person, growing up under the belief that to love and honor your parents is to do everything they ask and meet all their expectations.īoth films end with the mother and daughter having reached a new understanding, but Turning Red shows that there is still a fundamental disagreement that is not resolved happily like in Brave. Merida fought the patriarchy for her freedom, while Mei was explicitly fighting her mother for her newfound identity. 
The strain Merida was put under was by societal expectations and gender norms, personified by her mother. The dissonance of Turning Red’s relationship puts greater focus on the mother and daughter as individuals over the ideals they represent. Merida sought to change her position in life through her mom. The conflict between Merida and Elinor is rooted in how each of them feels about their culture’s customs and responsibility to the crown. In short, Merida’s relationship with her mother was a vessel for the greater adversity of her environment and status. The change Merida wanted for her own life and the struggle to achieve it manifested in her mother, who held the most power and influence over her fate.
Like most of the Disney princesses, she wanted more than what a life of royalty could grant her. In a time and culture where a princess was expected to show decorum and perfection, the fiercely independent Merida sought to fight for her own hand and not be tied down by any man or sense of royal duty.
Similar to characters like Belle, Jasmine or Mulan, Merida wanted freedom from the expectations pushed upon her by not only her mother, but by the traditions and societal pressure of her environment and era. In Brave, Merida’s motivation is rooted in the Disney princess tradition that precedes her.
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