Overview
In Walt Disney Pictures' feature BROTHER BEAR, beautiful animation of the Pacific Northwest complements an upbeat musical score that includes songs by Phil Collins and Tina Turner. From snowcapped mountains and glaciers to lush springtime forest scenes, the colorful drawings are dazzling and dreamlike. Children will especially enjoy the animals in the film. There are rivers full of leaping salmon, forests inhabited by squirrels and chipmunks, and processions of giant wooly mammoths. The story carries messages about the power of friendship and community, the difficulty of losing a loved one, and the highs and lows of growing up. Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) is a boy who longs to become a man but must learn a valuable lesson before he can achieve the maturity it requires. At a tribal ceremony the spirits give him the symbol of the bear, which stands for love. Then, through a series of events, he is transformed into a bear. Kenai must brave the wild, with only a little bear-cub brother, Koda (Jeremy Suarez), to guide him. In their travels, Kenai and Koda meet a couple of hilarious moose (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) who provide comic relief to this otherwise heartrending family tale.
Awards:
Main Cast & Crew:
Aaron Blaise - Director
Robert Walker - Director
Joaquin Phoenix (voice)
Jeremy Suarez (voice)
Jason Raize (voice)
Rick Moranis (voice)
Dave Thomas (voice)
Michael Clarke Duncan (voice)
D.B. Sweeney (voice)
Joan Copeland (voice)
Harold Gould (voice)
Estelle Harris (voice)
Details
- Format: DVD (Special Edition)
- Run Time: 85
- Color Format: Color
- UPC: 786936224023
- Genre: Family
- Rating: G (MPAA)
- Release Date: March 2004

Movie Reviews
Notes:
Theatrical Release: November 1, 2003 (LIMITED)
Reviews:
"BROTHER BEAR is a sweet celebration of brotherhood in its many forms. It gently encourages human communion with animals, nature and our fellow man..." - 10/24/2003 USA Today, p.6E
"...The best thing about BROTHER BEAR is the richness and fluidity of its visuals..." - 10/25/2003 Los Angeles Times, p.C1
"...The colors grow resplendently rich..." - 10/20/2003 Variety, p.41
"[T]he majestic Pacific West setting is strongly portrayed." - 12/31/2003 Sight and Sound, p.39-40
"It's ambitious in its artistry, incorporating images from prehistoric cave paintings and playing with the screen width." - 10/31/2003 Chicago Sun-Times, p.36
"Sweepingly beautiful animation combines with timeless themes of family and a hefty serving of Canadian jokes in this surprisingly affecting picture." - 04/01/2004 Premiere, p.96
