Oh, Brother Bear is just so sad! I have a hard time watching it because it just pulls on all the heartstrings. I love the soundtrack though; I think it is quite underrated because I honestly forgot how fantastic it is until I rewatched Brother Bear for this blog post.
Premiered on: October 20, 2003 at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City
Directed by:
Aaron Blaise
Robert Walker
Produced: Chuck Williams
Based on: Original Story
Sequels: Brother Bear 2 (2006)
Cast:
Joaquin Phoenix – Kenai
Jeremy Suarez – Koda
Rick Moranis – Rutt
Dave Thomas – Tuke
Jason Raize – Denahi
D.B. Sweeney – Sitka
Joan Copeland – Tanana
Michael Clark Duncan – Tug
Estelle Harris – Old Lady Bear
Harold Gould – Narrator
Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley – Narrator
Supervising Animators:
Ruben A. Aquino
Byron Howard
James Young Jackson
Alex Kupershmidt
Music by:
Phil Collins
Mark Mancina
Songs:
“Look Through My Eyes”
“Great Spirits”
“Welcome”
“Transformation”
“No Way Out”
“On My Way”
Academy Awards: Best Animated Film (nomination)
The Story:
Brother Bear begins with a spark that turns into a fire. Through the fire, the title card appears. A narrator says that the story begins long ago, when great mammoth’s ruled the lands. The story is of his two brothers and himself. He is telling the story to the young people in the village. He continues to say that when they were young, they were taught that the world was made of magic and that source of magic was the ever changing lights that danced across the sky. The northern lights are shown. The Shaman woman of the village would say that the lights are spirits of their ancestors who can make the changes in the world such as winter into spring. But the greatest change he ever saw was that of his brother. Of a boy who wanted to be a man.
Kenai is running towards his brothers and is telling them to get down. They hide behind their kayaks as a herd of caribou stampede overhead. Denahi tackles Kenai before Sitka tells them to knock it off. Kenai thinks that after today, Denahi won’t treat him like that anymore because of the ceremony. But Denahi thinks that he will always be their baby brother. Sitka reminds them that the sooner they catch the fish, the sooner they can get to the ceremony. Kenai beats them both to the river and asks what they are waiting for. His brothers join him.
The song “Great Spirits” plays as the brothers paddle along the river as nature is shown around them. The brothers help each other along their journey. They climb over a mountain and slide down the snowy side in the kayaks. Tanana the Shaman woman is walking through a field filled with buffalo and the great spirits give her a totem. Sitka and Denahi catch some fish but Kenai on a mammoth knocks the fish out of the net. Eventually they make it to their village.
The village children are very happy to see Kenai and they ask if he is excited about getting his totem. Kenai thinks that he will probably get a saber-tooth tiger for bravery or strength or greatness or something else that fits him. Denai suggests a mammoth for his fat head. Then everyone is excited because Tanana is back. Kenai ties the fish up in a basket in a tree so a bear doesn’t get it but the basket falls down. He decides to just leave it so he is not late for the ceremony.
The ceremony is starting and everyone is dancing. Tanana starts a big fire. She explains that when each of them comes of age, the great spirits give them each a totem that will guide them. She calls Kenai up and he eagerly runs up. Tanana asks if he is nervous and Kenai responds that he is excited. She says that he should be as his totem is a good one! She has been to the mountains where the lights touch the earth and the great spirits revealed to her that Kenai’s totem is love. He is very disappointed but Tanana excitedly hands him a necklace of his bear totem. Sitka and Denahi laugh at Kenai and he asks if anyone wants to trade. Tanana is upset and says that there will be no trading. She declares that love is the most precious totem. Love will guide is way and one day he will be a man and place his mark next to those of the ancestors. She indicates to a rock wall that is filled with handprints. Everyone cheers for Kenai.
After the ceremony, Kenai is walking through the forest when Denahi finds him and teases him. He calls Kenai “lover boy.” He gives him a flower crown and says that now when he skips around loving everyone, he will smell so sweet. Sitka comes and tells Denahi to go to take care of the fish. Kenai is annoyed with Denahi and Sitka reassures him that just because Denahi’s totem is wisdom, he is not always wise. They watch Denahi make a fool of himself in front of some girls. Kenai comments that the spirits must have messed up on both of their totems. Sitka admits that he thought the same thing at first about his totem of the eagle of guidance. Now that he is older, he realizes that means being a leader and keeping an eye on Denahi and Kenai. He says that they have to be patience because when Kenai lives by his totem, he will get his handprint on the wall.
The two brothers stumble upon bear tracks and find Denahi and others where the fish used to be. Denahi is very angry at Kenai for not properly tying up the fish and Sitka tells him to knock it off; they can make another basket. Denahi refuses; he argues that it took him two weeks to make it so Kenai should make the new one. He thinks his younger brother is always messing up so Kenai grabs a spear and says he will go get the basket. He follows the bear tracks.
Kenai climbs up a mountain and finds the basket completely broken. He hears a growl and throws rocks at the bear. Denahi and Sitka are looking for him and they hear Kenai yelling. They see him fall down a cliff. Sitka goes to help him but Kenai tries to warn him that the bear is behind him. Denahi throws rocks at the bear to distract the bear from Sitka and Kenai. They then run over to Denahi to help him. Denahi falls and Kenai helps him up while Sitka fights the bear. The bear knocks Sitka down and walks over to Kenai and Denahi struggling. Sitka uses his spear to stab into the ice which cracks it. He and the bear both fall into the icy river below. The bear makes it out alive and runs away. Denahi and Kenai go down to the river to find Sitka but they cannot. They only find his broken spear and some clothing.
The village has a memorial for Sitka.
Kenai makes a spear and gathers some rocks. He tells Denahi that they are going to go after the bear but Denahi thinks that it would be wrong to. Kenai says that Sitka is dead because of that monster but Denahi tells him that he does not blame the bear. He tells his brother that killing the bear will not make him a man and that he should follow his totem. Kenai thinks that love means nothing and Denahi warns him not to upset the great spirits. Kenai leaves and sees Tanana. He rips off the bear totem and throws it on the ground. Tanana picks it up and Denahi tells her that he must stop Kenai and takes the bear totem.
Kenai is tracking the bear through the forest and finds the bear. He is unprepared as he doesn’t have his spear. He tries to reach his spear but the bear picks up his scent and starts to growl. Kenai yells and grabs the spear but the bear starts running away. He chases the bear and corners it against a cliff. Denahi is getting close to Kenai and the bear. Kenai fights the bear and is losing when Denahi sees him up on the mountain. He runs to help. Kenai kills the bear and climbs out from underneath the body. He yells loudly. Denahi follows the sound but did not see what happened.
The great spirits descend on Kenai, who is very scared. “Transformation” plays as animal spirits in the northern lights dance around him. Kenai sees Sitka in the spirits. The bear’s body is turned into a spirits and Kenai is lifted up by an eagle as well. He is then turned into a bear. Kenai as a bear is lowered back down to the mountain top as Denahi is still trying to reach him.
The rain starts as Denahi reaches the top of the mountain and only sees the bear. He thinks that this bear has killed Kenai and Kenai is very confused at being a bear. He falls off the cliff and into a river below. Kenai is swept away in the storm.
Back on the mountain, Denahi sadly grabs Kenai’s ripped pieces of clothing and remembers the argument he had with his brother. He then grabs the spear and ties the bear totem to it.
It is daytime and eyes open and take in the forest. Tanana comments that Kenai has decided to join the living and has quite the bump on his head. He tries to tell his story to Tanana but she interrupts and says that she doesn’t speak bear. Kenai looks at his reflection in the water and freaks out! He starts yelling and yelling. Tanana tries to settle him down and finally throws a boot at him. She says that Sitka did this and that he must have something really big planned for him to get a new perspective. She says that he got himself into the mess and if Kenai wants to change back, he must take it up it Sitka’s spirit. He will find Sitka on the mountain where the lights touch the earth. He will help Kenai make up what he has done wrong. Kenai doesn’t think that he has done anything wrong but Tanana has disappeared.
He hears some chipmunks arguing and is very surprised that they can talk! The chipmunks just slowly back away before running away in fear. Kenai realizes that all the animals around can talk, including two nearby moose.
The moose try to run from Kenai but they end up getting their antlers stuck together. They duck down and pretend to not be there. Kenai finds them and they beg him not to eat them. The moose start to insult each other and then introduce themselves as Rutt and Tuke. They call him bear but Kenai informs them that he doesn’t like being called “bear.” The moose correct themselves and call him “Mr. Bear.” He asks Rutt and Tuke if they know where the lights touch the earth but they do not. Kenai tries to explain that he was magically transformed into a bear but the moose think that he is crazy. They pretend to understand by saying that they aren’t actually moose but squirrels or purebred wolverines. Kenai starts to leave and the moose warn him not to go that way but can’t remember why so Kenai brushes them off and leaves. He then gets stuck in a trap.
Koda the cub timidly approaches Kenai and asks if there are any hunters around. Kenai says that there isn’t so Koda excitedly jumps out at him. The cub brags that he could smell the trap from a mile away so Kenai must feel pretty embarrassed. Koda grabs a stick to try to help Kenai get down but he ends up just hitting the other bear with it. Koda comes to the conclusion that the only way Kenai can get down is by chewing his own foot. Kenai insists that he does not want any help and just needs the stick. He makes Koda put the stick back exactly where it was before the cub picked it up. Koda does and then begins telling stories about climbing trees as Kenai is struggling. Kenai asks if Koda has someplace else to be and Koda tells him about the salmon run. Kenai says that if Koda can magically get him down, he will go to the salmon run with Koda. But if Koda cannot, than he must go away.
Koda is easily able to get Kenai down. Koda immediately states that they are going to be traveling by day and sleeping at night. His bedtime is an hour after sunset. Koda then smells something and says that they need to run. Denahi creeps up and Kenai tries to tell Denahi who he is but Denahi does not understand the growls. Denahi tries to kill him and then ends up chasing him. Kenai hides in an ice cave and finds Koda inside.
Kenai asks why they are being chased and Koda says that is what they do. Kenai then tells the cub that he is not taking him to the salmon run. Koda is very sad about this and says that he got separated from his mom and is very scared of the hunter. Koda tries to convince Kenai by saying that the salmon run has lots of fish and they can see where the lights touch the mountain. This gets Kenai’s attention and he reluctantly agrees as long as Koda does not slow him down. They will leave first thing in the morning. Koda cuddles up against Kenai to sleep but Kenai pushes him away.
In the morning, Rutt and Tuke declare that they have lots to get done that day. They get started right away at eating grass.
Denahi is still searching for the bear and he finds the ice cave. Koda is making funny faces with his reflection in the ice. Denahi approaches where the bears where sleeping but they are not there anymore. Koda is outside making faces on a small piece of ice away from the cave. The two bears are on their way already.
Rutt and Tuke see Denahi and run away in fear.
In a field, Koda is telling Kenai about how he was going to save the story of how he got separated from his mom for the salmon run but he will tell Kenai. Koda starts by saying it was the 5th or 6th most coldest day of his entire life. Kenai insists that he should most definitely save the story. He also says that Koda should stop talking so Koda says that he will sing instead. Koda sings “On My Way.” Kenai wants him to stop singing. They continue on their journey and Kenai is quite annoyed with Koda the entire way. At night, Koda again tries to cuddle up but Kenai moves away. Eventually, Kenai starts to enjoy Koda’s company.
Rutt and Tuke catch up with the bears and warn them about the hunter. They want to hang out with Kenai and Koda because if the hunter comes, the bears can just eat him. Kenai doesn’t think that the hunter will find them but the moose point out the bear tracks that they left behind them. Kenai gets a different idea to ride on mammoths to cover their tracks. Other forest animals join in and climb on the mammoths.
At night time, Koda is talking and talking again. They see the northern lights and the great spirits in them. Kenai is surprised that Koda knows about the spirits and he tells the cub that his brother is a spirit who was killed by a monster. Koda asks what his brother’s name is and then thanks Sitka because he would have never met Kenai without him. Koda says that he has always wanted a brother.
The moose play I Spy and give clues such as: green, tall, bark, vertical log so that the answer is always a tree.
In the morning, Kenai asks Koda where they are but Koda doesn’t know. They leave the mammoths and the moose behind and continue their journey. Koda continues his stories but Kenai doesn’t care about them. They come across some cave drawings and look at one of a man fighting a bear. Koda comments that those monsters are very scary, meaning the man.
They then continue on their way and Kenai lets Koda ride on his back. They stop to ask a pair of mountain sheep for directions but the sheep just yell at their echos to keep quiet. Koda realizes that he does recognize where they are and knows that the salmon run is nearby.
They have to first make it through a hot lava field and then Koda races ahead. Kenai cautiously walks through before Koda jumps out and scares him. Kenai tries to scare Koda back but it doesn’t work. Denahi then appears and throws a spear at the bears. Kenai protects Koda and they reach a log bridge that will lead them to safety. Denahi follows and Kenai throws Koda across the rest of the way. Denahi knocks the log down but Kenai is able to make it to the other side just in time. Denahi is very angry and tries to leap across. He doesn’t make it, despite Kenai trying to help him up. Denahi falls into the river and floats away. Koda doesn’t understand why the hunters hate bears. Kenai says it is because bears are killers but Koda doesn’t agree. Kenai says that most bears look for any reason to attack humans and Koda points out that it was Denahi who attacked them.
The two bears then realize that they have made it to the salmon run. Kenai is terrified of the other bears who all think he is crazy. Koda is very excited to see his old friends. Koda shows Kenai the mountain where the lights touch the earth and then tells everyone all of the weird stuff that Kenai does. Kenai takes Koda aside to talk. He says that he must get going and that he won’t be coming back. Tug the bear overhears and is very surprised that Kenai is leaving already. Kenai says that he doesn’t belong there and Tug says that every bear belongs. The song “Welcome” plays as the bears fish for salmon though Kenai is very bad at it.
It is then story time and the bears each share something interesting that happened to them that year. They pass around a fish and whoever catches it is the one who can tell their story. Tug starts by saying that he was finally able to knock over the tree that was blocking the view from his cave. Koda keeps trying to catch the fish but other bears get it first. Kenai then catches it and says that the most interesting thing that happened to him was a long journey with the biggest pain in the neck. He finishes off by also calling Koda his little brother.
Koda finally gets the fish and gives a short synopsis of how he watched his mom locked in a life or death struggle. The other bears want to hear more so Koda begins with it was the 5th or 6th most coldest day of his entire life. His mom told him to hide and be quiet because she sensed something. A hunter then suddenly appeared and backed her up against a glacier. Kenai is realizing that Koda’s mom was the bear that he killed. He is remembering what happened as Koda is telling the story. He starts to panic and leaves the group.
Kenai notices the northern lights before going off to sleep by himself. Later, Koda sneaks up and tries to scare him. Kenai then tells Koda that he has something to tell the cub. It starts to snow around them as Kenai says that the story is kind of about a man and kind of about a bear but mostly about a monster. The song “No Way Out” plays and Koda says that he doesn’t like this story. Kenai tries to explain that his mom is not coming back. Koda runs away and hides up a tree. Kenai follows and tries to apologize but he can’t find Koda.
Denahi is trying to keep warm in the snow by a small fire. The fire is blown out and he says out loud that he is sorry to Kenai. He asks Sitka for help. Sitka as an eagle appears and gets Denahi to follow him.
Rutt and Tuke are arguing about how Tuke totaled a mammoth. The come across Koda and Rutt wants him to be his new brother because he is so mad at Tuke. Tuke reminds him of all the brotherly things he has done for Rutt and they make up. The two moose walk away.
Kenai is climbing up the mountain in the snow storm. He is calling for Sitka and thinks he sees the eagle but it is Denahi. They fight and when Denahi is about to stab Kenai, Koda jumps out and save him. Koda runs away with Denahi’s spear and the human chases the cub. Kenai chases Denahi and Sitka suddenly appears. The northern lights flash.
The snow on the mountain top melts and Kenai is changed back into a human. The eagle turns into spirit Sitka and a confused Koda is watching all of this. Kenai goes over and says to the cub to not be afraid and they hug. Sitka then gives Kenai his totem and Kenai tells him that Koda needs him. Denahi jokes that Kenai did look better as a bear. He says that no matter what Kenai chooses, he will always be his little brother. They hug and Kenai is turned back into a bear. They hug again and spirit Sitka joins them. Koda is hugging his mom, who is also a spirit. The two spirits then take off into the northern lights. The two bears and Denahi play.
At the village, there is a celebration happening. The narrator says that Kenai went on to live with the bears but he did teach him that love is very powerful. The narrator then says that he passed on the wisdom to the rest of the village. The ceremony happening is of Kenai putting his paw print up on the wall.
The reprise of “Great Spirits” plays and then the title card is shown again.
The end credits play as different clips of Rutt, Tuke, Koda, Kenia, and the mountain sheep play. Then the song “Look Through My Eyes” plays.
At the end, Koda comes on screen and says that no fish were harmed during production as a fish behind him is being hunted by a bear. Koda is trying to get the camera to cut.
Trivia:
- This was the third and final feature film to be produced at the Disney-MGM Studios.
- Originally the story was going to be based on King Lear by Shakespeare.
- The DVD special features includes an animated blooper reel similar to the ones Pixar made for A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, and Monsters Inc.
- In the German dubbed version of Brother Bear, Rutt and Tuke are named Benny and Bjorn after the members of ABBA.
- Similar to Tarzan, Phil Collins sings his songs from this film in many different languages.
- The song “Welcome” was used in the Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams during Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.
- Research teams traveled to Alaska, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Sequoia National Park.
- The mountain sheep are named Cliff and Roc.
Representation in the Disney Parks:
There is very little representation of Brother Bear in the Disney Parks. Koda was a part of the Chip n Dale’s Critter Breakfast at the Grand Californian Hotel but that has recently changed to Mickey’s Adventure Breakfast at the Storyteller’s Café. Brother Bear is represented at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure.
Check out the other films of Disney’s Post-Renaissance Era:
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