Brother Bear: An Underrated Masterpiece For Storytelling

Intro 

I could put this one under my Love Beyond Romance series, because this is also one of the biggest movies about family love. But I feel this one deserves a post of it's own where we don't just dive into their love plot, but everything. This movie is still one of my favorites, and sometimes it's sad to see that people either don't like it, or have never heard of it. Sure, it's no Lion King, Beauty And The Beast or something, but it is a very fun and emotional movie. This is the first movie where I actually cried. I remember sitting in front of the TV as a little girl, with tears streaming down my face by the end.

So, let's analyze this movie, and let me explain why I think this is also one of Disney's greatest masterpieces in storytelling!

 A Story Told Through Generations

The movie starts off with a narrator like a lot of other Disney Movies have done. But to me, this one does it in a different, maybe better way. Most of the time you hear a narrator at the beginning of the movie and sometimes at the end. But they don't play a role in the story. They make no impact in the story, and you could just see it as a small part of the book being read at the beginning of the movie before really getting into the movie.

This intro is told by an actual character who plays a roll in the movie. Denahi, the middle brother of the three is old and tells the whole story to others. To me, this makes a different, and interesting impact. The magic of the world and how everything changes is very quickly explained by him and the movie wastes no time getting into the actual story.

 "But the greatest change I ever saw, was that of my brother... A boy, who desperately wanted to be a man."

That's it. That's all that is said in the short introduction to the story, and it's all that needs to be said. We shift into the past, letting the story tell itself, but I can definitely imagine Denahi telling the whole story. There is no secrecy about it either, like they sometimes do with revealing the narrator at the end. It's just him.

Writer's Note: To be honest, this is a great way to start a novel if it's done well. It would be fun to imagine someone telling the story in the book itself. Technically, if you use first person POV, it sounds like the main character is telling the story. But still, this is different. I believe there is one book I know where they've done something like this, which was one of the 'Disney's Twisted Tales' books. In this story, a boy makes up his own version of Tangled which he tells to his sick sister. I feel like, if you make a very short kind of prologue from someone's POV, and continue the story from the main characters POV, people could imagine the whole story told by the person in the prologue.

Three Brothers, Three Personalities

Of course we all know who the main character is in this story. The story is about Kenai, the youngest brother. But that doesn't mean the other two brothers cannot have a personality themselves. All of them have pretty distinct personality, and they don't just come from their totems they got.

Sitka is the eldest and also acts the most mature of the three. His totem is the eagle of guidance, but he is not simply a leader of the the people. He is there to take care of his brothers and keep them from getting into trouble. Whenever the other two fight, he separates them instantly.

Denahi is basically the classic big brother to Kenai at the beginning of the movie. Teasing and often annoyed with him. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about Kenai and Kenai doesn't care about him. They're just siblings who fight a lot, as siblings often tend to do.

Kenai is adventurous and reckless, often getting himself into trouble and doing some stupid things, which annoys Denahi even more. He does things like starting a stampede, or riding a mammoth, often getting himself into trouble. He is far too excited to become a man, but doesn't really know what it means to become a man.

Writers Note: Remember to give every single character in your novel at least SOME personality, even if they are just there for one chapter or a scene. It doesn't have to be spectacular, but everyone has some personality. For example in this movie: Sitka dies within the first fifteen minutes of the movie, but he still has made an impact. His personality is shown, their brotherly bound is shown, and that's what matters. If someone who is close to your main character dies or something happens to them, the reader should care at least a little bit.

A Change With A Lesson

If you look at the general three act structure of a story, Sitka's death marks the inciting incident of the movie. Both Kenai and Denahi morn their brother, but in a different way. Kenai is angry and upset, wanting to take revenge on the bear that caused Sitka's death. Even when Denahi tells him that killing the bear won't bring Sitka back, Kenai refuses to listen and goes to find the bear himself. He hates his totem, even tossing it aside, and he doesn't believe that a bear could ever love anyone or anything.

Writer's note: You could also count the moment Kenai gets his totem as the inciting incident. The totem is what everyone has to live up to to become a man. Kenai hates his totem from the beginning, especially because it is the Bear of Love. Throwing his Totem into the fire marks a refusal of the call. He doesn't WANT to follow his totem. He already didn't believe in it when he got it, and because Sitka's death was caused by the one animal that represents his totem, he hates it even more.

The moment Kenai manages to kill the bear, he doesn't actually feel better, like Denahi had said from the beginning. But the damage is done, and the spirits take action. This is not simply like: "You don't want to follow your totem, so now you get to live as that animal." I don't think that the lesson is to learn what love is, but just to teach him what he has done. They change him into a bear, deliberately vanishing quickly the moment Denahi reaches the top of the mountain. They WANT Kenai to be hunted.

Though the story isn't about him, Denahi has an arc himself too. The moment he reaches the top of the mountain, what does he see? A bear, and his little brother's ripped clothes. There is only one thing anyone could imagine if you'd see that. He thinks he lost both of his brothers now. What's worse, the last time he saw Kenai they were fighting, and he remembers one of the last things he said.

"I don't blame the Bear, Kenai..."

Though it was in the heat of the moment, the implication was clear. He blamed Kenai for Sitka's death, at least a little bit. But now he is gone too, and Kenai's last words echo in his mind.

"A man wouldn't sit here and do nothing!"

His expression changes, and  he picks up Kenai's spear, standing with determination and vengeance in his eyes. He will avenge his brother, if it's the last thing he does. He is the antagonist now, but I wouldn't call him a villain. He isn't going on a rampage to kill everything in his path, just trying to avenge his brother. He just doesn't know the bear he is hunting down IS his brother.

Writer's Note: He is a minor character, but makes a good impact. This is honestly a perfect side plot for a side character. It would also be interesting if the main character was NOT part of the side plot, maybe even better. The side character would have their own agenda, and isn't just there to help or stop the protagonist. They have their own story as well.

Also, keep in mind, that an antagonist is not always a villain. An antagonist is someone who stands in the hero's way in some way. That doesn't mean it's a bad person. It could be someone with good intentions, but holding the hero back. Think for example of a strict parent, or over protective parent. They do love their kid, and they want what's best for them. But that doesn't mean they aren't holding the main character back. A villain deliberately stands in the hero's way and does everything in their power to kill or stop them.

Forced Into A New World

The classic story structure continues as Kenai wakes up as a bear. He is forced into a completely new world, and has to get adjusted to his new bear form. He's told to go to the mountains, where the light touches the earth and make things right. This is his 'quest' so to say. But Kenai still doesn't believe that he has even done anything wrong at all, so obviously, he has a lot to learn. This is a good way to force the character (and the reader) into a completely new world. Kenai knows nothing, and on his own he obviously cannot survive and walks himself into a literal trap very quickly.

 

This is the moment where we meet an important side character, Koda. His personality is instantly shown. Very talkative and imaginative, but also scared. He IS just a little kid after all. Kenai is annoyed by him very quickly and wants nothing to do with him. Even breaking his promise about going with Koda to the Salmon Run. But the moment Koda mentions he can see the lights touch the earth, he knows that he will have to go with him, because on his own he doesn't know how to get there.

 

Writer's note: This is a fun way to introduce companions to each other. Kenai doesn't like Koda, but he needs him to find what he is looking for. Koda needs Kenai to get back home because he got separated from his mother. Two very different characters have to work together to both get what they need and grow during their journey. Companions don't always have to get along from the beginning. They could be forced to work together in some way.

 

Slowly Growing And Understanding

In a classic Disney sense, we see some time progress through song. First Kenai is annoyed and hates the journey he as to take, but eventually starts to enjoy it a little more and you can see Koda growing on him. Of course, the two still sometimes argue and get annoyed with each other, but that is what friends and siblings do after all.

The first sight of Kenai starting to understand things from a different point of view is when they see the drawings that were made by humans. Especially the last drawing, where he sees a bear and a human. First he only sees the bear, staring at it and you can see hatred in his eyes. Even though he is a bear, he still hates them. Then Koda comes along, and sees a different picture.

"These monsters are scary... Especially with those sticks..."

You can see the expression in Kenai's eyes change as his eyes shift to the human in the carving. He looks at Koda, back to the painting, and starts to realize how he himself must have looked towards wild animals before he was turned into a bear.

Writer's note: This realization marks the start of his character development. He used to hate bears, and thought they were monsters. Hearing his little companion say it the other way around makes him realize that maybe the bears were just as afraid of him. This kind of character development is a strong one. There was a lie he believed in: Bears are monsters and they cannot feel love. He is realizing the truth of that Bears have feelings too and CAN love.

The next scene shows more development. He is shocked and hurt that Denai wants to kill him, knowing it is absolutely not like him. He doesn't want to hurt him, but if he doesn't defend himself, he will be killed, and Koda could be too. He makes sure Koda is fine. But when Denahi is falling into the water with the log, he tries to grab it either way.

After the scene, Kenai is still conflicted about the whole thing. Koda wonders why they are chased, and Kenai keeps telling himself the same lie he believed before, still a little in denial. They're bears, and most bears will take any excuse to attack.

"But Kenai... He attacked US..."

 This is also a realization for Kenai. They didn't do anything, Denahi just attacked them and as far as they know, for no reason at all. If this was written in a book form, I could imagine Kenai slowly realizing how he attacked the bear first two times in a row. First, because of some fish, then because his brother had died in the first fight.

Writer's note: This could be considered a moral view point that could be seen from both sides in a book or movies. People think wild animals are bad. Wild animals think people are bad. Both have a reason to believe it... So who is actually right? A message like this in a book could be very powerful, and readers would have their own point of view about it too.

From Feeling At Home, To The Shocking Truth  

 Kenai and Koda make it to the Salmon run, and though Kenai is first insecure and doesn't feel like he belongs, the bears instantly want him to feel at home. Every bear belongs here. For a moment, Kenai has found a new family, and a lot of friends. He sees the way he used to be with his brothers. 

But of course, this isn't the end of the movie, so the happiness cannot last right now... As they are telling stories, Koda finally gets to tell the story about how he lost his mother. As he tells the story, Kenai suddenly realizes the truth. Flashes of what he has done are shown as Koda tells the story. The bear he killed, was Koda's mother...

The moment Kenai tells Koda about what he did, was the moment I cried my eyes out. And not only when I saw it the first time, but this scene still gets me, especially with the song they play over it. I could probably have connected the dots of the bear being killed, and then meeting Koda who got separated from his mother, but that idea hadn't crossed my mind. 

Writer's note: They did kind of foreshadow this twist, and some people might have gotten it. But it was subtile enough for it to be not obvious. This is a good way to foreshadow something in your story. Leave clues in the story. And when you reveal the twist, the best reaction from a reader you can get would be like: "How did I not see this, it was right there!" Or they specifically go looking for the clues you scattered throughout the story. To be honest, maybe they could have scattered a few other clues, but we'll have to remember it's a Disney Movie.

A Choice To Be Made

Kenai leaves when Koda runs away, having no where else to go but to the mountains and get himself turned back into a human. Sadly, Sitka has lead Denahi to the mountains too. This is the moment he really fights back, but also tries to run away. Basically just the same situation as it was at the beginning of the movie, but now it is him who is chased by a hunter. When Koda tries to save him, Denahi is only after his spear which Koda tries to take away, but Kenai goes after them, trying to stop it. I feel, if Denahi had managed to catch Koda, Kenai really would have hurt him. Not because he wanted too, but because he had too. 

 

Finally he is transformed back into a human. Denahi is shocked, dropping his spear as he realizes that he has been hunting his own brother all along. Kenai can go home now. He is reunited with his brother and they can go home together. But seeing Koda changes his mind. The little cub doesn't have anyone who can take care of him... He needs Kenai, and he knows it.

 

His decision to remain a bear was a touching and sweet ending to the whole movie for me. Denahi knows his little brother is happy and alive. And of course, just because he is a bear, doesn't mean they never see each other again. They are three brothers again like they used to be. Sitka and Koda's mother are at peace watching their family be happy and be taken care of.

 

Writer's note: Just because the protagonist chooses to stay in a different place where they started, or even in a different form, doesn't mean the connections they had before are gone. Even though they have a new life and a new home, they can still see each other. They can still write to their family and friends, or just visit every once in a while. Keep in mind that deciding to stay somewhere, doesn't mean that they aren't allowed to leave.

Conclusion

Like I said, this story is still one of my favorites, and it has an amazing plot with character arcs. A beautiful movie about family, and what love really means.

What do you think of the movie? Had you seen the twist coming, or were you just as surprised as I was? Are there any movies you think are an underrated masterpiece yourself? Let me know what you think! 

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