Awards season is fully underway with film circles and organizations announcing their top picks for 2012. While most of the prominent groups look at film as a whole, there are some that look at specific forms of film such as ASIFA-Hollywood, which awards prizes in animation at the Annie Awards. Nominations were announced this morning, and Brave is tied for the lead, garnering a total of 10 nominations. View the full list of nominees for the 40th Annual Annie Awards after the break!
Brave News
Two More ‘Brave’ Awards Ads Published
The high-profile New York Film Critics Circle is announcing its picks for the year today, which means the awards season has now begun. Historically, Disney has promoted Pixar’s feature films during the season by publishing ‘For Your Consideration’ ads, the first of which we saw for Brave recently. Two more FYC ads have emerged, made up of two memorable and visually striking moments from the film. Take a look at them after the break!
First ‘Brave’ Awards Ad Unveiled
With the holidays around the corner comes the realization that awards season is rapidly approaching, which has studios scrambling to keep their films on voters’ minds. The most common approach for that is for studios to publish ‘For Your Consideration’ ads, which gently remind potential voters that their films should be in the running. Pixar’s Brave, which will likely be seriously considered for nominations in the animated feature and music categories, recently saw its first ‘FYC’ ad pblished and you can see it after the break!
More ‘Brave’ Easter Eggs – A113, The Late Joe Ranft
Pixar films are renowned for their compelling characters as well as their gorgeous animation. The studio is also known to have a bit of fun, hiding “easter eggs” in hard-to-find places that can often only be found on repeat viewings. In Brave, the latest film from the animation powerhouse, audiences quickly found two hidden references that we have come to expect in all of its feature films – the Pizza Planet truck and a nod to the next film down the line (in this case, Monsters University). However, the A113 code that has appeared in every one of Pixar’s feature films has proven to be elusive – until now, that is. Take a look at the find after the break!
‘Brave,’ ‘Pixar Shorts Vol 2’ Blu-ray And DVD Now On Sale
There is often a tremendous amount of creativity seen in Pixar shorts, as the shorter time length allows for directors and other members of the production team to experiment with technology and varied art styles that may later be utilized in the far lengthier format of feature films. It is fitting to see the Brave Blu-ray and DVD released alongside Pixar Short Films Collection Volume 2, for it is indicative of the relationship that we have come to expect between feature films and shorts released by Pixar – one is always accompanied by the other in theaters.
First Look: ‘Brave’ Short ‘The Legend of Mor’du’
The demon bear Mor’du was shrouded in mystery throughout much of the story in Brave. As director Mark Andrews and his team developed the character, it became clear to Andrews that the bear should be a monstrous figure that posed a very real threat to Merida, her family, and the rest of the kingdom. If you wanted to learn more about the deadly beast, you will be able to get a better look at it in a new short entitled The Legend of Mor’du that is being included on the feature film’s home video release. After the break, find the first two images from the short that provide us with a look at the film’s unique art style.
‘Brave’ Expanding To Wide Release For Labor Day Weekend
Domestically, Brave has already grossed well over $200 million, placing it around the middle of Pixar’s films when ranked by box office. Internationally, the film has taken in a total of about $450 million, continuing the worldwide success that the animation studio has enjoyed. The film’s theatrical release in North America was beginning to come to an end, playing in just 450 theaters last weekend, but Disney has announced that it will send Brave back into wide release for one weekend only.
‘Brave’ Blu-ray/DVD Special Features Include All-New Short
Aside from the increase in video and audio quality, the jump from VHS to DVD was amazing for its focus on providing special behind-the-scenes features that are now considered customary. Actually, special features have become expected to the point that when they are missing, the box set is dubbed as shallow. Blu-ray discs have the potential for much more with their exponential increase in storage space and Disney and Pixar seem to be taking advantage of that, as Brave on Blu-ray has over 20 special features, including a brand new short that gives us more of the demon bear Mor’du. Find a complete listing after the break!
‘Brave’ Blu-ray/DVD Sets Hit Retail On November 13
Brave‘s box office run is beginning to run down, with the release of Finding Nemo 3D on the horizon. However, the latest animated film from Pixar is not out of the spotlight yet, as its home video release is just around the corner. Disney/Pixar has announced that Brave will be arriving on Blu-ray/DVD combo packs on November 13 and has released a trailer to accompany the news. Take a gander after the break!
Original ‘Brave’ Director Brenda Chapman Says Being Replaced Was “Devastating”
Almost two years ago, word leaked out that Brenda Chapman, who was to be the first woman to head up a Pixar film, had been replaced as director of Brave. The reasoning provided by Disney for the removal was “creative differences.” Chapman stayed at the animation studio while Brave was in production, but then quietly headed for the exit after the film was released in theaters. For the first time, she is speaking out about her removal, describing it as “devastating.”
