Princess Merida, left, is the heroine of the Pixar movie that is set in the ancient Scottish Highlands
Update by news editor
11-06-2012
Highlands get 3D Disney makeover
New animated film to give Scotland £140 million tourism
boost
Scotland is set for a massive tourism boost thanks to a new
Disney movie due to premiere in America next week.
That's what Visit Scotland hopes, anyway, after spending £7
million on a worldwide advertising campaign linked to the film.
Brave, which comes from the team that made Toy Story, Up and
Finding Nemo, is set in the Highlands. Its heroine, Merida, is a
strong-headed princess and skilled archer who lives in the mythical
ancient kingdom of DunBroch.
Tourism experts hope the 3D film will inspire lots more people
around the world to come to Scotland. Visit Scotland estimates the
country will make £140 million from extra tourists.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond is even going to go to
the premiere of the film in Los Angeles next week, to try to bring
more attention its launch!
TV and cinema adverts linked to the film, which encourage people
to come to Scotland, will be shown all over the globe.
Parts of Disneyland and Disney World have even been turned into
the "Scottish Highlands"! Young guests can meet Merida and take
archery lessons with her at Florida's Magic Kingdom Park and the
Disneyland Park in California, in settings inspired by her
Highlands home.
"Brave is an amazing magical adventure with
larger than life characters - including Scotland itself. During our
research, we learned that everything in Scotland tells a story -
every stone, tree, mountain - which is why we are so proud that
this beautiful country is the backdrop of our film" said Mark
Andrews, director of Brave.
Brave will be shown in 72 countries around the world. It opens
in Scotland on 3 August.
Click here to have a go at our Brave missing words
activity
Lesson ideas and
suggestions
Join the Daily What News Facebook group
*NEW*
Watch us on the Daily What Newsround live on Glow
TV
Highlands get 3D Disney makeover
Review: Animation magic makes Scotland look like heaven
on earth
Cinema has had a soft spot for Scotland for a long time. But it
takes the sprinkling of a certain sort of animation magic to make
the place look like heaven on earth, as it does in Brave.
From the lava-like locks of its young heroine to the majestic
hues of the heather, Brave features every colour in the Scottish
rainbow and makes up some new ones too.
And there's a story to chew on that's thrilling, funny, and yes,
a little bit brave.
The film has some surprisingly spiky things to say about mothers
and daughters and escaping convention. This is intelligent, bold
work from the people who turned a rodent into a chef in Ratatouille
and sent a septuagenarian floating across the sky in Up.
Brave tells the story of Merida, a princess growing up in an
olde worlde Scotland. Voiced by the Scottish actress Kelly
Macdonald, Merida has so far enjoyed an idyllic upbringing, with
her strict mother (Emma Thompson) supplying the rules, and her big
daft father (Billy Connolly - perfect) the laughs. But now Merida
is to be married, an idea she takes to like a cat to the 100 metres
backstroke. Vowing to defy tradition, she little realises the
consequences coming her way.
The simple story suits the film's themes of loyalty and pride.
And the Scots characters, mercifully, speak in authentic Scots
voices and use real Scottish words such as "tattie-boggle" and
"manky".
Those prone to blubbing - you know who you are, dads - should
know that Brave is as ruthless in bringing a lump to the throat as
the Disney classics of old. Besides tears there will be gasps of
fright as well. But there's laughter and love and spectacle and
magic here too. What a sublime tartan Pixar has woven.
No wonder VisitScotland is excited. Scotland as heaven on earth.
Jings. Now all we need to do is get rid of the midges.
Brave will be shown in 72 countries around the world. It opens
in Scotland on 3 August.
Click here to have a go at our Brave missing words
activity
Lesson ideas and
suggestions
Join the Daily What News Facebook group
*NEW*
Watch us on the Daily What Newsround live on Glow
TV
adapted from article by
Phil Miller
read original story here