Walt Disney Animation Studios Part 44: Brother Bear

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Series Intro: This is Part 44 of a multi-part retrospective of Walt Disney Animation Studios' endeavors.

Official Title: Brother Bear
Release: November 1, 2003
Running Time: 85 minutes
Estimated Cost: unavailable
Estimated Revenue: $250.40 million
Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Plot Summary:
Kenai, an American Native in a pre-historic North America, has trouble accepting his spirit guide, a bear for love. He tries to prove that he is stronger than “love” and chases after a bear, that results in the death of his oldest brother, Sitka.
Sitka, from the spirit world, turns Kenai into a bear after his fight with the bear. Kenai’s other brother, Denahi, thinks the turned Kenai is the bear that killed Kenai, and vows revenge against it.
Kenai discovers he must go to the mountain to where the sprits can be found and ask Sitka to return him to his human form. On his way to the mountain he befriends a young bear, Koda, and some moose, Rutt and Turk. The four are on the run from Denahi.
The four split up so the bears can meet the other bears for the salmon run. Kenai realizes that he killed Koda’s mother. And when he tells Koda this, Koda leaves him. Koda runs into Rutt and Turk (who had been fighting) and they make up encouraging Koda to make up with Kenai.
All is revealed in a big fight between Koda, Kenai and Denahi. Sitka turns Kenai into a human at the last second, before being stabbed by Denahi. But when Kenai sees how sad Koda is, he asks Sitka to return him to the bear form.
Kenai is now considered a man by his tribe and his paw print is placed on the wall of all the hands of the men. Kenai has truly learned how to show love through his animal spirit.

Songs:
Not a musical but some really nice songs by Phil Collins

Plot Rating: 4 stars out of 5
A buddy movie with a much more serious plot that Emperor’s New Groove. these buddy movies are really good.

Animation Rating: 4 out of 5
Most of the film was beautiful. I enjoyed watching it (there were just a few places where the CG effects became distracting – the fish is the most stand out place). This was the final fillm to be drawn at Disney MGM Studios in Orlando.

The Test of Time:
A direct to video sequel and a few video games, but I don’t see this around the parks or in merchandizing.

Through the Modern Lens
It was a nice movie, with a great plot. Not much to say about it.

Next Up:
Home on the Range