Ms Chapman, who modeled Merida on her 13-year-old daughter, Emma, creating her as a role model for little girls, said revealed that has given Bob Iger, president of Walt Disney International, 'a piece of my mind'.

Merida, the headstrong Disney princess with a frizzy mop of red hair and a knack for archery, was a welcome role model for little girls when Pixar released Brave last year.īut the spunky heroine, who was officially crowned Disney's 11th princess on Saturday, underwent a royal makeover which last week left many mothers furious and frustrated. It's horrible! Merida was created to break that mold - to give young girls a better, stronger role model, a more attainable role model, something of substance, not just a pretty face that waits around for romance.'Ĭhapman, the first woman to win an Academy Award for an animated feature, said she has added her name to a petition with more than 50,000 signatures that has gone viral on the female empowerment website 'A Mighty Girl,' joining other mothers outraged by Disney's sexualization of her headstrong young Scottish heroine, an expert archer with a head of wild, curly red hair and a mind of her own.Ĭhapman had modeled the character after her 13-year-old daughter Emma, intending her as a strong independent role model for little girls.Brenda The Brave writer and co-director has publicly criticized Disney's controversial makeover of the film's feisty heroine, Meridaīrave writer and co-director, Brenda Chapman, has publicly criticized Disney's controversial makeover of the film's feisty heroine, Merida, as 'a blatantly sexist marketing move based on money.' 'When little girls say they like it because it's more sparkly, that's all fine and good but, subconsciously, they are soaking in the sexy 'come hither' look and the skinny aspect of the new version. Her dress has been upgraded, her waist thinned, she now wears makeup, and her hair looks less wild and more, um, 'expensive.' Brenda Chapman, the creator and co-director of Brave, does not like the makeover one bit.Ĭhapman fumed. Disney has crowned Merida, the heroine of the 2012 Disney/Pixar movie Brave, as the 11th official 'Disney Princess' In the process, Merida has undergone an image makeover to better fit in with the group.

Merida brave makeover