Merida

Merida will be the protagonist in the upcoming film ''Brave. ''She is also the first female protagonist in a Pixar film.

Brave
Passionate and fiery, Merida is a headstrong teenager of royal upbringing who is struggling to take control of her own destiny. She feels most at home in the outdoors honing her impressive athletic skills as an archer and swordfighter, and racing across the magnificent Highland countryside with her faithful horse, Angus. With a spirit as vibrant as her untamed hair, Merida also has a softness of heart, especially when it comes to her wee triplet brothers. As the daughter of the King and Queen, her life is weighted with responsibilities and expectations, causing her to yearn to preserve her freedom and independence. When Merida blatantly defies an ancient tradition, the consequences of her actions prove disastrous for the kingdom. She must race against time to make right the result of her reckless behavior, her journey compelling her to look inside to discover the meaning of bravery and reveal her true fate.

Trivia

 * Merida has more than 1500 individually sculpted, curly red strands that generate about 111,700 total hairs.
 * If Merida’s curls were straightened, her hair would be four feet long and reach the middle of her calf.
 * With five dresses, plus a cloak, quiver, hand wrap and necklace, as well as torn dresses, Merida has a total of 22 different costumes. She also has five different hairstyles.
 * Brenda Chapman came up with the concept of the Merida character as a combination of a daughter and a friend.
 * Reese Witherspoon was originally casted to voice Princess Merida, but was replaced due to scheduling issues.
 * Princess Merida is the first female protagonist in a Pixar feature film.