Pixar’s Brave 2 returns us to the mist‑shrouded Highlands of medieval Scotland, delivering an emotionally satisfying sequel that deepens the original’s themes of courage, family, and self‑discovery while embracing a grander adventure scale.
It has been five winters since Princess Merida (once again voiced with fiery gusto by Kelly Macdonald) mended the bond within her family. Now crowned as Clan DunBroch’s official heir, she confronts a new turmoil: an age‑old prophecy warns that “when northern lights meet rising flame, the Highland crown will fall.” To protect her realm, Merida embarks on a perilous quest across the Grampian Mountains, accompanied by the newly knighted but hapless Lord MacGuffin Jr. (Richard Madden) and the irrepressible witch Willow (Emma Thompson, clearly enjoying herself). Their journey reveals forgotten clans, shape‑shifting spirits, and a revelation that the prophecy may be tied to the ancient magic Merida once unleashed.
While the stakes feel larger—there’s even a climactic siege on Castle DunBroch—the narrative never strays far from its heart: a daughter’s struggle to balance destiny with self‑determination.
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Kelly Macdonald remains pitch‑perfect as Merida, conveying newfound wisdom without losing the heroine’s trademark spark.
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Richard Madden provides warm humour as MacGuffin Jr., whose earnestness makes him an ideal foil for Merida’s impulsiveness.
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Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson reprise their parental roles with tenderness and wit, grounding the fantastical story in relatable generational friction.
Pixar’s ensemble chemistry once again shines, and the banter—particularly between Merida and her three mischievous brothers (all voiced by actual Scottish twins)—is laugh‑out‑loud funny.
Technically, Brave 2 is a marvel. Advances in Pixar’s RIS‑based rendering pipeline make Merida’s curls even more realistic and enable breathtaking aurora sequences that merge Celtic knotwork motifs with swirling spectral light. The forest sprites and ancestral spirits are animated with a semi‑translucent, painterly texture reminiscent of Celtic illuminated manuscripts—an inspired melding of folklore and digital artistry.
Composer Patrick Doyle returns, fusing Gaelic folk instruments with a full symphonic palette. The standout track, “Torch of the North,” marries uilleann pipes and a 120‑piece choir, underscoring the film’s emotional crescendo. Scottish vocalist Julie Fowlis contributes two haunting ballads that bookend the narrative and subtly echo Merida’s inner journey.
Like its predecessor, Brave 2 champions bravery beyond the battlefield. This time the focus shifts to emotional courage: acknowledging ancestral mistakes, redefining leadership, and embracing vulnerability. The screenplay cleverly parallels Merida’s rite of passage with Scotland’s own transition from clan rivalry to confederation, giving the adventure surprising political resonance without sermonizing.
A subplot involving rival Clan Caerwyn feels underdeveloped, and the final battle’s brisk pacing leaves little room for quieter character beats. Yet these are minor blemishes in a film that otherwise balances spectacle and intimacy
