Turning Red vs. Brave: How Pixar Had Changed in the Last 10 Years? (Open Discussion)
I like to create this open discussion about how “Turning Red” appears to be an improvement over another film that had production issues, and that was “Brave”, formerly titled “The Bear and the Bow”.
As many know, Brenda Chapman was the initial director of Brave, until after butting heads with John Lasseter, she was booted off the project. She was replaced by male director, Mark Andrews. Originally, the film was supposed to focus on the mother/daughter relationship between Merida and Elinor, something that resonates with Chapman and her free-spirited daughter. As Andrews came on board, he was probably ordered by Lasseter and the Braintrust to make it more gender neutral. That means adding slapstick/humor, having a magic subplot, turning Elinor into a bear, which almost makes it look like Pixar is remaking Brother Bear. And also how Merida is characterized in rewrites, moreso a male’s perspective on female. How Merida is often seen as a brat. And how the film shifts focus on King Fergus and other male characters.
Turning Red, however, while one of the last films approved by Lasseter, got off the ground as soon as he and Catmull left Pixar. With new trust from Pete Docter, Domee Shi was able to complete her film the way she wanted. And it broke many of Pixar’s traditional formulas, especially the buddy picture (pairing of two) aspect. We see the film focus on Mei Lee, her friends, and most of all her relationship with Ming. And how Ming’s father wasn’t stealing the spotlight. We finally saw someone with a female perspective and it didn’t feel compromised. And the film itself is consistent with its tone and story. I guarantee if John Lasseter was still on board, he would replace her with a male director and the story would have been a mess. But instead, it is Pixar’s first film solely directed by a female and a women of color with no interference.
So, Turning Red or Brave?
I’ll leave the rest of the discussion to you on how both films compare and contrast in story, pacing, and characters.
I like to create this open discussion about how “Turning Red” appears to be an improvement over another film that had production issues, and that was “Brave”, formerly titled “The Bear and the Bow”.
As many know, Brenda Chapman was the initial director of Brave, until after butting heads with John Lasseter, she was booted off the project. She was replaced by male director, Mark Andrews. Originally, the film was supposed to focus on the mother/daughter relationship between Merida and Elinor, something that resonates with Chapman and her free-spirited daughter. As Andrews came on board, he was probably ordered by Lasseter and the Braintrust to make it more gender neutral. That means adding slapstick/humor, having a magic subplot, turning Elinor into a bear, which almost makes it look like Pixar is remaking Brother Bear. And also how Merida is characterized in rewrites, moreso a male’s perspective on female. How Merida is often seen as a brat. And how the film shifts focus on King Fergus and other male characters.
Turning Red, however, while one of the last films approved by Lasseter, got off the ground as soon as he and Catmull left Pixar. With new trust from Pete Docter, Domee Shi was able to complete her film the way she wanted. And it broke many of Pixar’s traditional formulas, especially the buddy picture (pairing of two) aspect. We see the film focus on Mei Lee, her friends, and most of all her relationship with Ming. And how Ming’s father wasn’t stealing the spotlight. We finally saw someone with a female perspective and it didn’t feel compromised. And the film itself is consistent with its tone and story. I guarantee if John Lasseter was still on board, he would replace her with a male director and the story would have been a mess. But instead, it is Pixar’s first film solely directed by a female and a women of color with no interference.
So, Turning Red or Brave?
I’ll leave the rest of the discussion to you on how both films compare and contrast in story, pacing, and characters.
