Pixar’s latest animated feature, Brave, opened this weekend in the US and, as expected, it topped the box office – as if we had any doubts that it would.

The film has been getting brilliant reviews, and after catching it at the Edinburgh International Film Festival earlier this month, Jamie pegged it as the best animated feature of the year in his review, so definitely promising stuff.

A new featurette giving us a look at Pixar’s venture to the Scottish Highlands has debuted on Apple, with interviews from all the top folk involved with the project, including John Lasseter himself.

“Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).”

Directed by Mark Andrews (head of story on The Incredibles) and Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt), the film features a terrific cast lending their voices to the film, including Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson.

Brave is in cinemas now, if you’re reading this in the US, having had a very good opening weekend. In the UK, we’ve got slightly longer to wait, with its Scottish release set for 3rd August, and the rest of the country getting it on 17th August – mark your calendars: this is looking brilliant. Enjoy.

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