Summary

Brother Bearco - director Aaron Blaise expose the extensive research behind theDisneymovie . expel in 2003 , the animated movie revolved around an Indigenous tribesman who is transformed into a bear after killing the one that had slain his buddy , and come to empty the error of his ways . Featuring an ensemble cast led by Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Suarez , the movie only garnered mixed review article from critic and was a modest box seat function success , gross over $ 250 million against its $ 46 million production budget .

Just over 20 years after the movie hit theaters , Aaron Blaise sit down in the latest installment ofCorridor Crew’sAnimators Reactseries to muse on the creation ofBrother Bear .

The co - director , as seen in the telecasting above , mull on the extensive research that he and his creative squad venture on in create the 2003 movie , let in a trip-up to Alaska to more dependably depict the state ’s landscapes and wildlife . The team also sought to find a way to use the movie ’s themes to explore the - then - ongoing domestic turmoil following 9/11 and the racial prejudices that spring up after the attacks .

How Rachel Zegler’s

Why Brother Bear Was An Important Movie For Disney

Though not as well - remembered as the likes ofLilo & StitchorThe Emperor ’s New Groovefrom the same era , Brother Bearactually marked a reasonably important chapter in Disney ’s 2000s history . The movie was loose a class afterTreasure Planet , the sci - fi twisting on Robert Louis Stevenson ’s beloved novel of the same name , which rise to be a major box office turkey , grossing just shy of $ 110 million against its $ 140 million production budget , despite its modest reviews . In between the said Disney movies wasAtlantis : The Lost Empire , which was likewise deemed a loge office underperformer .

Atlantis : The Lost EmpireandTreasure Planethave both garnered pregnant cult followings since their releases , with calls for resilient - action adaptation of both motion-picture show .

More than its boxwood office operation , however , wasBrother Bear ’s more unique portraying of Indigenous culture that marked an important step for Disney . The studio’sprior attempt to do so wasPocahontas , which , though deemed a hit at the clip and see a classic by some who grew up with it , has since been re - valuate as a poor attempt with its problematical depiction of its nominal character and her tribe . ThoughBrother Bearmay not have gone as deep with its ethnic authenticity as it could ’ve , Blaise and his team ’s efforts feel far well than those of the 1995 movie .

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

These efforts to better stay authentic to other cultures would expand beyondBrother Bear ’s release with much more acclaimed affairs , including the Polynesian - focusedMoana , theSoutheast Asia - setRaya and the Last Dragonand Colombia - setEncanto , among others . While it could be argued that Disney ’s early success withMulanwas a better template for the studio to hazard into said representative storytelling , it ’s difficult to abnegate that the Phoenix - led 2003 motion picture was another positive effort in their agency to do so .

seed : Corridor Crew

Keanu Reeves looking over one shoulder as John Wick in Ballerina

Kenai as a bear and transforming back into human form in Brother Bear