A child princess called Merida lives in Medieval Scotland. Her family is the Dunbroch clan. It is her birthday and her father, King Fergus, gives her a bow and an arrow. Merida is very happy with it, but her mother, Queen Elinor, is not happy with the present, because ladies don’t use weapons. After that, a gigantic black bear, Mor’du, attacks the family. King Fergus defends the family, but he loses his left leg.
Merida is now an adventurous and free teenager. She lives in the castle with her three identical brothers, the naughty triplets Harris, Hubert and Hamish, but she is unhappy because she has to get married to one of the suitors, or boyfriends, from the different Scottish clans. Queen Elinor tells Merida the legend of a prince who refused to follow his father wishes and destroyed the kingdom. Pride is not good for people.
The lords of the clans arrive with the young first-born sons to compete in the Highland Games and win Merida’s hand. The clans are Macintosh, MacGuffin and Dingwall. Merida changes the rules of the games and wins the other boys in an archery contest. Queen Elinor is very angry with Merida and they have an argument: the Queen burns Merida’s bow and arrow and Merida cuts the Queen’s family tapestry.
Merida runs into the forest with her good horse Angus. In the forest, a trail of Will o’the wisps takes her to a hut. An old witch lives in a hut. She makes a spell and gives Merida a cake that can change her destiny. The cake transforms Elinor into a black bear. Merida goes back to the witch’s hut but she only finds a message: Merida must “mend the bond torn by pride” before the second sunrise or the spell will become permanent.