It’s been a couple of months since we’ve had anything to share on Disney/Pixar’s Brave. Today we have a couple of new images, just as lush and colorful as everything else we’ve shown you. Did you know that it apparently took two years to get the precise amount of frizz and curl in that riotous red mane of Merida's?

Merida is a Scottish princess and Brave is her story. Merida defies her parents by pursuing an interest in archery, but inadvertently jeopardizes her father's kingdom in the process. And Disney/Pixar want you to she’s not your ordinary animated princess and her story, the first for the studio to feature a female protagonist, is not your ordinary  animated fairy tale.

Merida’s bow and arrow, of course, get her into big trouble with her parents King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) when she defies custom and enters a tournament, which in turn brings calamity to the whole of the Scottish highlands, where she lives. On her mission to right the wrong, Merida tangles with some Scottish lords (Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd and Robbie Coltraine) and seeks guidance from a mysterious crone (Julie Walters).

Co-director (with Brenda Chapman) Mark Andrews told the LA Times, "We didn't just want to do another fairy tale or another princess movie. Her being a princess is just part of the stakes, an element of her character. It's more about this teenager transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Merida is this outdoorsy, courageous, actiony girl whose mom wants her to be the way her mom wants her to be. Merida wants to decide for herself who she is, not be who the world wants her to be. Facing who she really is, that's the true definition of bravery."

Brave charges into theaters in the US and Canada on June 22 and in the UK on 12^th  August.

Tis the season for animated and “family” (which usually means “kiddie”) oriented fare, with the holidays soon upon us.  We’ve seen or will see in the next few weeks, the likes of Arrietty, Puss in Boots, Happy Feet 2, Arthur Christmas and  The Muppets. Even Martin Scorsese’s Hugo could arguably go into this category. As much as I loved Puss, as much as I’m looking forward to the others, there is an animated film that I am really excited about and it’s still months away.  Disney Pixar’s Brave, features Pixar’s first female heroine, Merida, the wee lass with the masses of flame ginger hair and an indomitable spirit.

Brave is almost certain to be visually stunning. We’ve seen a teaser and a few images, all of them as breathtaking as any travelogue for the Scottish Highlands. Here are three new images, two of which give us glimpses of some of the characters we can expect to see: King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), as well as who I can only assume are Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltraine) and Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd)

The story is this: Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Brave opens June 22 in the US & Canada and not until 17 August in the UK (although surely a premiere in the north of Scotland is in order before then.)

Funnyman Craig Ferguson and his wife Megan are expecting a baby! He Tweeted yesterday:

“Holy crackers! Mrs F is pregnant. How did that happen?” “Oh yeah I know how. Another Ferguson arrives in 2011. The world trembles.”

That is so awesome! To me he is one of the funniest men on television and he’s hot.  He has a son 9 year-old Milo Hamish from a previous marriage.  He and Megan have been married since December 2008.

Congratulations to the happy couple.

Photo:  Apega/WENN

But Gerard Butler has some help from Craig Ferguson and America Ferrera who are at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘How To Train Your Dragon‘ a 3D animated movie about:

A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely owner of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed

The film also features the voice of Jonah Hill (at the premiere), and Kristen Wiig (SNL fame).  At the premiere:

• T.J. Miller
• Jay Baruchel
• Bonnie Arnold
• Fred Willard
• Kim Raver
• Eden Sher
• Wayne Brady
• Terri Seymour
• Logan Miller
• Eden Sher
• Tori Spelling
• Dean McDermott

Methinks Gerard Butler’s Dragon is hardly trainable.  Just saying.

Pictures after the break

(more…)

Craig Ferguson hits the ATM with his wife in West Hollywood.  Man I wonder what his bank balance is.

Sean Paul leaves a restaurant after having lunch with friends in Hollywood

Ne-Yo, Bruce Willis and Jack Hanna are all outside the David Letterman studios in New York.  Jack Hanna always cracks me up when he is on David Letterman.

Nick Nolte leaves a medical centre in Beverly Hills.  I’m going to be nice.

John Elway has lunch with his family in Beverly Hills

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Photos:  Apega/Agent47/HRC/WENN

Mila Kunis plays Snooki in this Jersey Shore spoof from The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.  Tom Lennon plays The Situation, Nick Lachey plays Ronnie and Craig Ferguson plays ‘Mario‘.  It’s pretty funny.

I can not bring myself to watch Jersey Shore but I know it’s getting quite the viewership.  Do you watch?