Make room for Oscar on the mantelpiece! Pixar's Brave won Best Animated Feature at the 85th Annual Academy Awards held February 24 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Accepting the award was Director Mark Andrews, CCA Animation faculty member, and Brenda Chapman, codirector.

Wearing one of his trademark kilts, Andrews was ebullient as he thanked Pixar's leadership and the producer of the film, Katherine Sarafian. He also extended his gratitude to Chapman for developing the story. Brave is the first film Andrews has directed.

Disney and Pixar's joint effort Brave tells the tale of Merida, a headstrong Scottish princess who is set on defying customs to determine her own path, refusing to take the pragmatic and dignified route of her mother, Queen Elinor. (Chapman has said that the mother-daughter relationship between Merida and Queen Elinor was largely inspired by her own relationship with her daughter.)

More Awards for Brave

Brave also won best Animated Feature at the Golden Globe Awards in January and Best Animated Film in February at the BAFTAs, often referred to as the British version of the Oscars.

CCA Alum Also Worked on Film

CCA alumnus Steve Purcell is also listed in the credits as codirector and one of the screenwriters on the film. Steve was featured in a recent issue of the college magazine Glance.