So far this year we've learned that if you want to make a big hit movie, you gotta do two things.  The first is make a good movie.  The second is include some archery in your good movie.  Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of The Hunger Games, wielded a bow, as did Hawkeye in The Avengers.  Now, the latest from Pixar, Brave, stars a medieval Scottish archer, and the movie has debuted in first place, while the ac-twirling American president in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, opened less impressively in third place.

Opening in theaters on June 22nd is a new 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures called Brave. The movie was directed by Mark Andrews (John Carter) and Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt), and features the voice-acting of Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men), Julie Walters (Gnomeo and Juliet), Billy Connolly (The X-Files: I Want to Believe), Emma Thompson (Men in Black 3), Kevin McKidd (Bunraku), Craig Ferguson (How to Train Your Dragon), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2), and John Ratzenberger (Cars 2).

IAR's managing editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with director Mark Andrews, and producer Catherine Sarafian to talk about their work on Brave. The filmmakers discussed the project's two specific tones, whether it is a Pixar film or a Disney movie, the importance of casting real Scottish actors, and Andrews' own kilt. 

Opening in theaters on June 22nd is a new 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures called Brave. The movie was directed by Mark Andrews (John Carter) and Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt), and features the voice-acting of Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men), Julie Walters (Gnomeo and Juliet), Billy Connolly (The X-Files: I Want to Believe), Emma Thompson (Men in Black 3), Kevin McKidd (Bunraku), Craig Ferguson (How to Train Your Dragon), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2), and John Ratzenberger (Cars 2).

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Kelly Macdonald to talk about her voice-work on Brave. The actress discussed the new film, why Merida is not your average Disney Princess, how she rebels against her responsibilities, her relationship with her mother, themes of growing-up, why the movie will also appeal to boys, Pixar's digital recreation of the Scottish countryside, and how director Mark Andrews helped Macdonald with her performance in the recording sessions. 

It's always good to see new features from Pixar rolling into theaters, but the biscuit wheels on that annual gravy train are the inevitable teaser trailer for the next project from the animation studio.  In the case of this week's Brave, the film will include an attached trailer for Monsters University.  Not only has the teaser for Monsters University arrived online in advance of Brave's Friday opening, but Disney and Pixar have dropped four slightly different versions of said teaser, as well as four still images for those who don't dig on, you know, movement.

Opening in theaters on June 22nd is a new 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures called Brave. The movie was directed by Mark Andrews (John Carter) and Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt), and features the voice-acting of Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men), Julie Walters (Gnomeo and Juliet), Billy Connolly (The X-Files: I Want to Believe), Emma Thompson (Men in Black 3), Kevin McKidd (Bunraku), Craig Ferguson (How to Train Your Dragon), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2), and John Ratzenberger (Cars 2).

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Craig Ferguson to talk about his voice-work on Brave. The actor and late-night talk show host discussed the new film, the inspiration for his character's accent, what he's learned from voice-over acting that he has applied to the rest of his career, only wanting to do an "adequate job," Lord Macintosh's contentious relationship with his son, Pixar's interpretation of the Scottish landscape, and his favorite Pixar film ... besides Brave. 

Synopsis: Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh and cantankerous Lord Dingwall. Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

With almost a month to the day until Brave arrives in theaters, you can expect to spend the next thirty-odd days inundated with new promotional material for Pixar's latest, the animation powerhouse's first non-sequel since Up back in 2009.  A new clip, for example, promotes the Disney release with aplomb, hinting at the still-mysterious story whilst sticking to character, character, character.

Three new images from Pixar's next feature, Brave, have arrived online for your viewing pleasure.  For quite some time, this film was being made under the working title The Bear and the Bow, and both formerly-eponymous elements are on display in these new stills. 

Princess Merida is lining up a shot with her bow in the first image.  In the second marvelously-lit still, she's airborne between a friendly-looking bear and a rather intimidating bear claw.  Then, in the third, we see a trio of teeny, tiny little bearcubs who suspiciously resemble Merida's mischievous little brothers.  They're also so cute you'll want to puke skittles just looking at them.

Henry Selick and Neil Gaiman are two great tastes that taste great together.  This much they proved with Coraline, Selick's 2009's adaptation of the children's book by Gaiman, the author who pioneered comic book respectability in the 1980s and now dabbles in screenwriting when he's not being a literary badass.  Selick will once again bring Gaiman's words to the screen, as Disney has hired the current master of cinematic stop-motion to direct an adaptation of Gaiman's novel The Graveyard Book.

Disney has released a third full theatrical trailer for Pixar's latest animated endeavor, Brave.  Because the thoroughly impressive trailer somehow isn't enough, there's also a lighthearted little new clip that clocks in at under a minute and gives a sense of the story's lighthearted supporting characters.