Take a deep dive into the history of Princess Merida, the star of Disney and Pixar’s Brave.

Unmissable thanks to her vibrantly-hued hair, thick Scottish accent, and incredible skill in archery, Princess Merida is one of Disney’s most memorable princesses. She’s also one of the most recent additions, since she officially joined the ranks of her fellow Disney Princesses in 2012 with the release of Disney and Pixar’s Brave.

Merida has become a favorite of movie-watchers and Disney fans for more than a decade. Whether you’ve just discovered the magic of Brave or are a longtime fan of Princess Merida, we’re sharing everything you need to know about her below.

Who is Merida?

Photo by CJ Ayd

Princess Merida is the protagonist of the 2012 Disney/Pixar film Brave. She’s a member of the celt clan Dunbroch and the daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Merida is also the sole daughter of the family – she has three younger triplet brothers (Harris, Hubert, and Hamish).

The sole Scottish Disney Princess, Merida became princess number 11 nearly a year after Brave debuted, officially joining the ranks in 2013. 

Although Merida’s story is set in Medieval Scotland, hers is one with a modern take on the classic princess tale. Instead of focusing on love and an interested suitor like so many of the princesses before her, Merida repairs her relationship with her mother, making family the central focus. And it’s no surprise that she’s fast become a favorite: What little girl hasn’t dreamed of being an awesome archer?

Merida is often considered a “breath of fresh air” among her fellow princesses. She’s headstrong, skilled in archery as well as spears, sword fighting, and even horse racing. Outgoing and somewhat forceful, she’s far from a damsel in distress. Most importantly, though, Merida wants a say in her own destiny.

Disney’s Princess Merida: Fun Facts

• Despite her Scottish background, Merida’s name is actually Latin in origin
• Merida’s iconic curly red hair posed a unique challenge for Pixar animators, so much so that it required a complete renewal of Pixar’s animation system – the first in 25 years
• Speaking of Merida’s hair, her curls were comprised of 1,500 separate strands for a total of approximately 111,700 individually-animated hairs
• While Merida is Pixar’s first female protagonist, she’s not the studio’s first princess; that honor goes to Princess Dot from A Bug’s Life
• Merida is the first Disney Princess to have a brother…
• … and Merida is also the first Disney Princess to not have a love interest

Merida in Disney and Pixar’s Brave

As you might expect from a princess who bucks tradition and doesn’t readily do what’s expected of her, Merida’s debut in Disney/Pixar’s Brave was a landmark moment. She’s the first ever female protagonist in a Pixar film, as well as the first official Disney Princess to be created by Pixar.

And unlike many of the princesses before her, Merida’s tale is one that isn’t inspired by classic fairy tales. Instead, her story was created by Brenda Chapman, who drew on her relationship with her own daughter. 

Brave premiered on June 22, 2012 in the United States. Despite experts’ assumptions that a “princess story” might not resonate with Pixar’s audience, it outperformed expectations and won over audiences. Merida’s story of defying family expectations and traditions, but then working to repair her familial relationships, resonated with viewers across age groups. 

In the film, Merida is to be betrothed to the son of one of her father’s allies in order to strengthen the DunBroch clan’s alliances. But Merida refuses to obey the rules, announcing that she will compete for her own hand, as the firstborn of her own clan. After arguing with her mother, Merida transforms her into a bear and discovers that in order to reverse the spell, Merida must repair their bond “torn by pride.” With the help of her brothers (who have also been transformed into three adorable bears), Merida reconciles with her mother – and the two forge an improved relationship.

Brave: Fun Facts

• Before the film premiered, it underwent a name change; Brave was originally titled The Bear and the Bow
• Pixar created new, original tartan patterns for three of the four fictional clans featured in the film, and the Clan DunBroch pattern was registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans
• Brave won the prestigious Best Animated Feature award at the 85th Academy Awards in 2013
• Wondering how the animators snuck the iconic Pizza Planet truck into Brave? Well, it’s appeared in every Pixar film… so take a close look at what’s in the witch’s hut during your next rewatch

Where to Find Merida in Disney Theme Parks

Photo by CJ Ayd

Merida at Walt Disney World

You can find Merida at the following locations within Disney World:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom): A princess-themed character dining experience in Fantasyland
• Disney Friends Adventure Cavalcade (Magic Kingdom): A character-filled journey from Frontierland through Liberty Square down Main Street, U.S.A. daily
• Liberty Square Gazebo (Magic Kingdom): Merida occasionally appears on the schedule for this character meet and greet location, but not frequently

Merida at Disneyland

You can find Merida at the following locations within Disneyland:

• Fantasy Faire area in Fantasyland: Merida doesn’t appear often, but she may be spotted walking around this regal area from time to time

Merida at Disneyland Paris

You can find Merida at the following locations within Disneyland Paris:

• Disney Stars on Parade (Disneyland Park): Catch Merida along with other beloved Disney characters on colorful floats during this daytime parade

Merida at Tokyo Disney Resort

Merida does not currently appear at either of Tokyo Disney Resort’s theme parks.

Merida at Shanghai Disneyland

You can find Merida at the following locations within Shanghai Disneyland:

• Meet Disney Royalty at Enchanted Storybook Castle: Meet beloved Disney Princesses like Merida at this Fantasyland character meet and greet location

Merida at Hong Kong Disneyland

You can find Merida at the following locations within Hong Kong Disneyland:

• Mickey and the Wondrous Book: A stage show in Fantasyland that features Merida along with an extensive cast of other Disney characters

Merida at Sea: Disney Cruise Line

Merida doesn’t often appear on Disney Cruise Line sailings, but since character appearances change often onboard the fleet’s ships, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

You’re most likely to run into Merida onboard if you’re sailing in her area of the world. Sailings that visit European ports (and leave from Southampton) tend to feature Merida more often than Caribbean, Alaskan, or other itineraries because they’re naturally closer to her home country of Scotland.