Merida (Brave) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merida |
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| Brave character | |
Merida as she appears in Disney/Pixar's Brave
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| First appearance | Brave (2012) |
| Created by | Brenda Chapman |
| Portrayed by | Simone Shanahan |
| Voiced by |
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| Information | |
| Affiliation | Disney Princesses |
| Title | Princess of DunBroch |
| Family | King Fergus (father) Queen Elinor (mother) Princes Harris, Hubert and Hamish (younger brothers) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
Princess Merida of DunBroch is the main character of the 2012 Disney Pixar movie Brave. She became the 11th Disney Princess on May 11, 2013. Merida was the first Disney Princess created by Pixar. She is also a main character in the video games Brave and Temple Run: Brave. You can also play as Merida in the Disney Infinity game series.
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Merida's Story in Brave
Merida lives in the magical Scottish kingdom of DunBroch. Her family includes her mother, Queen Elinor, her father, King Fergus, and her three playful younger brothers: Hamish, Hubert, and Harris.
Queen Elinor tries to teach Merida how to be a perfect princess. However, Merida loves to ride her horse, Angus, through the Highlands. She also enjoys practicing archery and sword fighting, skills she learned from her father.
A Royal Marriage Decision
One evening, Merida learns that the lords of other clans want their sons to marry her. These sons arrive, but Merida does not like any of them. To win her freedom, Merida decides to compete in an archery contest for her own hand in marriage. She wins the contest herself, which makes her mother very upset.
Merida runs away and finds a magical will-o'-the-wisp. These glowing lights lead her to a witch's cottage. Merida asks the witch for a spell to change her fate. The witch gives Merida a special cake.
The Bear Transformation
Merida gives the spell cake to her mother, Queen Elinor. But instead of changing Merida's fate, the cake turns Elinor into a large black bear! Merida quickly helps her mother escape the castle. This is important because her father, King Fergus, is a famous bear hunter.
Merida and Elinor, who still thinks like a human, go back to the witch's cottage. The witch has left a message in her cauldron. It says the spell will become permanent by the second sunrise. To break it, Merida must "mend the bond torn by pride."
Mending the Bond
The next day, Merida and her mother start to get along better. They work together to find food. Later, a fierce bear attacks Merida. She soon realizes this bear is actually her mother!
More wisps appear and lead them to old castle ruins. Merida discovers that a prince from her mother's story also received a similar spell from the witch. This wicked prince became a terrible demon bear named Mor'du. Mor'du suddenly attacks Merida, but Elinor saves her.
Merida convinces her mother that if they don't break the spell, Elinor will become a wild bear forever, just like Mor'du. Merida then understands what "mend the bond torn by pride" means. It means fixing the family tapestry, which she had damaged during an argument with her mother.
Breaking the Spell
They rush back to the castle. King Fergus and the clan lords are fighting over Merida's marriage. Merida steps into the great hall and stops the fight. She gives a powerful speech, telling the clans that they must restore their friendship. She also says that the lords' sons should be free to marry whoever they choose. The lords agree.
While everyone celebrates, Merida and Elinor go to the tapestry room to fix the torn tapestry. King Fergus enters Elinor's room and finds it messy. In shock, he goes to the tapestry room and sees Elinor as a bear. Thinking she is Mor'du, Fergus attacks Elinor. Merida blocks his way, and Elinor escapes.
Fergus holds Merida back and chases Elinor with the other clans. Merida's brothers, who also turned into bears after accidentally eating the spell cake, help her escape. Merida rides after her father into the forest, fixing the tapestry as she goes.
Merida saves her mother just before Mor'du appears. Mor'du overpowers the clans. Elinor defeats Mor'du by smashing him against a tall stone pillar. The pillar falls and crushes Mor'du, which releases the prince's spirit.
Merida finally understands the witch's riddle. She places the fixed tapestry over Elinor. As they hug, Elinor suddenly turns back into a human, and so do the triplets! The family is happily together again.
Merida in Video Games
Merida is the main character in the game Temple Run: Brave. This game is a spin-off of the popular Temple Run game. It was released on June 14, 2012, just before the movie came out. Merida and her father, King Fergus, are the only characters you can play as in the game.
Kelly Macdonald, who voiced Merida in the movie, also voiced her for the video game version of the film. Merida is also a playable character in Disney Infinity and Lego The Incredibles.
Other Appearances
You can often meet Merida at different Disney parks. She is usually found in Fantasyland. At Disneyland Park, she meets guests near the It's a Small World ride. She also sometimes appears at the World Showcase in Epcot.
In 2016, Merida started meeting guests at Hong Kong Disneyland. This was part of the park's 10th anniversary celebration.
Merida in Once Upon a Time
Merida appeared as a recurring character in the fifth season of the TV show Once Upon a Time. Scottish actress Amy Manson played Merida.
In one episode, Merida rescues her brothers with help from Belle. In another episode, it is shown that Mulan taught Merida how to fight. Merida later teamed up with Mulan and Ruby. They fought against King Arthur and Zelena, the Wicked Witch of the West. This happened before Merida was crowned queen of DunBroch, as King Fergus had been killed by Arthur a few years earlier.
Merida in Sofia the First
Merida also appeared in an episode of the TV show Sofia the First. In the third-season episode "The Secret Library," Merida helps Sofia through a magical amulet.
Merida in Ralph Breaks the Internet
Merida appeared in the movie Ralph Breaks the Internet alongside other Disney princesses. Kelly Macdonald returned to voice her. In the movie, the other princesses found it hard to understand Merida because she was from another studio.
