The Evolution of Disney Animated Movies: Examining the Legacy of 'Brother Bear'

Article Summary

Disney's animal films tell stories of personal growth and maturity through the use of animals in the wilderness, exploring heavy concepts like death and loss.

The films mentioned possess a timeless and morally complex nature, granting wild animals profound human emotions and mirroring our own humanity.

Brother Bear, the final Disney film of its genre, celebrates the transformative power and the significance of life and love through its animal symbolism.

In the 90s, Walt Disney Animation dominated the world of animated blockbusters with films like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Mulan. However, as they entered the new millennium, the studio aimed to reinvent themselves and create films that were different from their previous successes. Movies like The Emperor’s New Groove, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Lilo and Stitch, and Treasure Planet marked a creatively experimental era for Disney Animation, where they focused on unique art direction, tones, and themes to set themselves apart from their competitors, Pixar and DreamWorks, who were gaining popularity with CG animation.

While this period of pushing boundaries and artistic reinvention was exciting, it also marked the end of a classical genre of Disney animated films - the wildlife morality epic. Brother Bear, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary and was nominated for an Academy Award, was the studio's 44th animated feature and the final film produced at the Orlando studio located in Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios park. Directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker, the film tells the story of Kenai, a young Alaskan tribesman voiced by Joaquin Phoenix, who is transformed into a bear as punishment for killing a mother bear. While previous Disney films had featured animal characters in nature, Brother Bear represented the culmination of a genre that used animals and their experiences in the wilderness to convey stories of personal growth and maturity.

Image via DisneyBrother Bear

Joaquin Phoenix stars as Kenai, a young Indian brave who harbors a deep animosity towards bears. Tragedy strikes when Kenai's brother, Sitka (D.B. Sweeney), is killed by one of these creatures. Seeking revenge, Kenai takes the bear's life, only to discover that he has been magically transformed into a bear himself. As if this weren't enough, Kenai's remaining brother, Denahi (Jason Raize), becomes determined to avenge Sitka by hunting down the bear that Kenai has become. With his only chance at regaining his human form lying in a mystical mountain, Kenai forms an unlikely bond with a bear cub named Koda, who becomes his guide on the arduous journey to their shared destiny.

Release Date October 23, 2003Director Aaron Blaise, Robert WalkerCast Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Jason Raize, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, D.B. SweeneyMain Genre Animation

'Brother Bear' Follows a Long-Standing Relationship With Disney Storytelling and Animals

Disney's animal films not only showcase the artistry of nature and animal personalities, but they also delve into profound themes of morality and mortality. Unlike the romantic fairy tales centered around human characters, movies like Brother Bear, Bambi, The Lion King, and Tarzan utilize animal characters to explore the challenges of growing up, the importance of family and friendship, and the beauty and dangers of the natural world. While Disney's princess narratives revolve around dreams, true love's kiss, and wishing upon a star, these animal films touch upon more grounded and humanistic stories. What sets them apart is their brave exploration of heavy topics such as death, loss, and the fragile nature of life. Despite featuring animated animals and caricatured creatures, Brother Bear, Bambi, and The Lion King confront the harsh realities of life in the wild and how they resonate with the human experience. In contrast to the princess films, Disney's animal fables tackle bigger concepts beyond romance and dreams, encompassing one's role in the world and how individuals cope with them.

Grief and grappling with identity are particularly prevalent in these types of films, like Simba and Tarzan’s acceptance of responsibility when faced with tragedy, Mowgli and Bambi’s triumph over fear, and Kenai’s shift in perspective on how to let compassion guide his life. In contrast, movies such as Robin Hood and Zootopia may feature a variety of animal characters, but their worlds and themes more explicitly imitate human history and politics, creating a human-focused narrative that renders their animal appearances almost irrelevant. Disney’s animal characters are intentionally liberated from the expectations of human life, allowing them to embody relatable human characteristics and emotions through naturalistic animal behavior. By recognizing the humanity in the lives and stories of animals, profound human narratives and complex characters emerge. Disney’s animal epics leverage the connection between humanity and nature to capture the highs and lows of accepting responsibility and facing adversity within the "circle of life".

The Story of 'Brother Bear' is Timelessly Human

Brother Bear showcases the ability of Disney to delve into profound themes using animal symbolism. The movie celebrates the significance of change and transformation, both in nature and spirituality. When Kenai impulsively kills a bear out of revenge for his brother's death, he undergoes a literal and figurative transformation, becoming a bear himself. This new perspective opens his eyes to the value of animal life and his personal totem of love. Initially driven by vengeance, Kenai forms a bond with an orphaned cub named Koda, ultimately realizing the importance of life and the power of love.

Love was not the motivation behind Kenai's initial actions, but it becomes the driving force behind his choice to remain a bear and embrace life with Koda in the wilderness. Through his experiences as an animal, Kenai learns humility, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Brother Bear takes a raw approach in exploring the dynamics between humans and animals, reminiscent of Disney classics like Bambi, and the conclusion of Kenai's journey echoes the studio's other animal-themed epics, portraying humans and animals as spiritual equals.

Brother Bear stands out as a Disney animated feature for its ability to effectively convey deep human emotions through its portrayal of wild animals. The film demonstrates Disney's storytelling philosophy by emphasizing how animal characters are influenced by their environment, including their connection to nature and humanity. This unique approach allows movies like Brother Bear and The Lion King to possess a timeless and morally complex quality that sets them apart from typical Disney stories. Brother Bear distinguishes itself as the last Disney film of its kind to solely focus on animal allegory rather than humans mimicking animal behavior. By exploring how animals mirror our own humanity, Disney brings forth the most profoundly human experiences on the screen. Experience Brother Bear on Disney+ in the U.S.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up watching Disney animated movies, and they have always held a special place in my heart. I remember being captivated by the beautiful animation, the memorable songs, and the heartwarming stories. However, as I got older, I started to appreciate the deeper themes and messages that these movies conveyed.

One of my favorite Disney animated movies is Brother Bear. This movie tells the story of a young man named Kenai who is transformed into a bear as punishment for killing a bear. Kenai must then learn to live as a bear and experience the world from a different perspective. This movie explores themes of revenge, forgiveness, and redemption. It teaches us that it is important to see the world from others' perspectives and to learn from our mistakes.