The Pixar influence was immediately seen in a new wave of Disney CGI features such as 2008's Bolt and this year's Wreck-It Ralph, which abandoned the musical style for a fresher approach. We routinely use different art styles with our characters and this rendition of Merida in her party dress was a special one-time effort to commemorate her coronation.'ĭisney bought Pixar, the makers of the Toy Story films, in 2006 with the smaller firm's John Lasseter taking over as creative head of both studios. 'To give young girls a better, stronger role model, a more attainable role model something of substance, not just a pretty face that waits around for romance.'Ī Disney spokesperson said that the design was always intended to be a one-off: 'The artwork used on Merida's official social media sites has always been the imagery from the movie. Merida was created to break that mould,' she added. 'When little girls say they like it because it's more sparkly, that's all fine and good but, subconsciously, they are soaking in the sexy 'come-hither' look and the skinny aspect of the new version,' Chapman said.

Chapman, who was replaced by Mark Andrews halfway through the production of Brave but maintained a co-director's credit, described the new Merida as 'atrocious' in an interview with her local newspaper, the Marin Independent Journal.

Brave merida artwork