Animated films have seen a resurgence of late, especially when it comes to computer-generated motion pictures. Whether it be a Pixar film like ?Finding Nemo? or a Dreamworks gig like this summer?s ?Shrek 2,? it seems that the fine art has been rediscovered by moviegoers and studios alike.
Yet the king of said art, Walt Disney Pictures, has seemed relatively quiet during this resurgence, with Pixar carrying the brunt of its animated adventures? success. Several of Disney?s animated films have essentially come and gone, including ?Tarzan? and ?Pocahontas,? leaving some to wonder whether Disney could recapture the magic with traditional animation. Well wonder no more, because with ?Brother Bear,? Disney has not only recaptured the magic, but regained its crown as the master of traditional animation.
Like many of the classic Disney films, ?Brother Bear? tells a coming-of-age story, this one set smack dab in the middle of Mother Nature. After being transformed into a bear, the Inuit boy Kenai is forced to see life from the furry perspective of his spirit totem, helping not only himself to become a true ?man,? but also to form a lasting bond with a cub whom he befriends during his journey.
Although several story elements and many plot scenarios seem borrowed from ?Ice Age? ?Shrek,? ?Brother Bear? manages to take the basic concepts from those two animated films and meld them perfectly into its own, distinct tale. Part comedy, part musical and part drama, the film is an animated masterpiece, and it?s obvious that the five years Disney put into creating this film was well worth the investment. While the film does follow the classic Disney pacing of family drama, individual confusion, musical adventure and eventual triumph, the process is an absolute joy to watch, and the conclusion is even somewhat surprising.
No Disney animated film would be complete without comedy, and the comic relief in ?Brother Bear? comes in at just the right times in the form of two Canadian moose, Rutt and Tuke. Nor would it be a truly memorable Disney experience without an outstanding musical backdrop, and Phil Collins has pulled out all the stops to create one of the best Disney soundtracks since Elton John worked on ?The Lion King.?
But the quality of the animation is where ?Brother Bear? draws its most earnest line in the sand, almost as a dare to other traditional animators to try and best it. From the character animations to the phenomenal environments to the special effects associated with the forces of the (super)natural, ?Brother Bear? is one of the prettiest, most polished and perfectly conceived animated films ever. This is one film that?s destined to be a Disney classic.
The two-disk DVD set, which will be available March 30, provides several entertaining bonus features to round out this must-have movie. The first is a feature-length commentary, but not in the traditional ?talking heads? director/producer sense. Instead, the commentary is provided by Rutt and Tuke, the two comedic moose from the film. The second bonus is a series of animated outtakes similar to those you often see at the end of a Pixar film. Had it not been for their inclusion on the DVD, these scenarios would never have met consumers? eyes, and although several outtakes are a bit forgettable, a few scenes that poke fun at their ?natural? setting and make it well worth a watch. You?ll also find music videos, games and a new/deleted song among the DVD extras.
Fans of The Magic of Disney Animation tour at Disney-MGM Studios will also be pleased with the ?Paths of Discovery: The Making of ?Brother Bear.?? This behind-the-scenes bonus feature takes viewers from the initial story concepts and character designs through on-location research and final animation. I?ve personally always been a sucker for seeing how an animated film goes from start to finish, including incorporating the art with the audio, and I count myself among the fans of the tour listed above. If you have any interest whatsoever in animation, this bonus is a fantastic addition to the DVD.
Ironically, though, the most memorable DVD extra is the inclusion of deleted scenes, and it?s the presence of one deleted scene that really steals the show. I won?t spoil the surprise in the space of this review, but let?s just say that your experience with Murri the Squirrel will make you wonder why the scene never made the film in the first place. It?s absolutely hilarious, and Disney was wise to include it on the DVD, even if it?s in a wire-frame rather than fully animated presentation.
From top to bottom, film to extras, Disney?s ?Brother Bear? is an animated marvel on DVD. This film alone restores my faith that traditional animation is far from dead, and in many respects can surpass computer-generated movies in its character and personality. If you have kids, this is a must-own DVD, and if you?re sans-children, ?Brother Bear? is still enjoyable enough to warrant a purchase. Heck, go find a child to babysit if you need to justify watching a ?kid?s movie.? ?Brother Bear? is just that good.
