History YMMV / BrotherBear

** In the Polish dub, Kenai is voiced by Bartosz Obuchowicz. This wouldn't be the last time when [[Main/CastingGag he will voice]] [[WesternAnimation/WalkingWithDinosaurs a prehistoric animal living in Alaska]], or a [[WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish a talking bear]]. Crosses into {{Main/Heartwarming In Hindsight}} if you had grow up with the movie and its sequel, and you're hearing Kenai again, through Patchi and Baby Bear.

* HilariousInHindsight: In the french-speaking version, the song ''On my Way'' is translated as ''Je m'en vais'' (which means ''I go away'' in french). However, in 2016, French singer [[Music/{{Vianney}} Vianney]] also sings a [[https://youtu.be/eLYyCFuPCX8?si=H6zLakoe2mKT7qsD song whose title is ''Je m'en vais''.]]

* HilariousInHindsight: In the french-speaking version, the song ''On my Way'' is translated as ''Je m'en vais'' (which means ''I go myself on my way'' in french). However, in 2016, French singer [[Music/{{Vianney}} Vianney]] also sings a [[https://youtu.be/eLYyCFuPCX8?si=H6zLakoe2mKT7qsD song whose title is ''Je m'en vais''.]]

* HilariousInHindsight: In the french-speaking version, the song ''On my Way'' is translated as ''Je m'en vais'' (which means ''I go myself on my way'' in french). However, in 2016, French singer [[Music/Vianney Vianney]] also sings a [[https://youtu.be/eLYyCFuPCX8?si=H6zLakoe2mKT7qsD song whose title is ''Je m'en vais''.]]

* VindicatedByHistory: For a long period of time, it was considered one of Disney's weakest films, with some even ranking it alongside ''WesternAnimation/HomeOnTheRange'' and ''WesternAnimation/ChickenLittle'', with complaints about anachronistic dialogue, a predictable plot, and unlikeable characters. In more recent years, however, many consider it an underrated gem in spite of its flaws, with many praising the themes of revenge and seeing past differences, along with the movie's criticism of the mindset of love being unmasculine. The film's vivid visuals and stunning wilderness scenery help it stand out as well.

* FriendlyFandoms: ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' fans are likely to be on board as both franchises have protagonists who gain the ability to transform into ursine forms and learn to like their new forms with their families also learning to appreciate them too.

* VindicatedByHistory: For a long period of time, it was considered one of Disney's weakest films, with some even ranking it alongside ''WesternAnimation/HomeOnTheRange'' and ''WesternAnimation/ChickenLittle'', with complaints about anachronistic dialogue, a predictable plot, and unlikeable characters. In more recent years, however, many consider it an underrated gem in spite of its flaws, with many praising the themes of revenge and seeing past differences, along with the movie's criticism of the mindset of love being unmasculine.

* HarsherInHindsight: Denahi spends most of the movie in a rage trying to avenge Kenai's "death". Jason Raize died by suicide about three months after the film's release.
* HilariousInHindsight:
** In the AlternateDVDCommentary, during the scene when Kenai's paw print is put on the wall, Rutt jokingly claims that this was done to identify him if they make a sequel. When there eventually was a sequel, Kenai's voice actor was [[TheOtherDarrin recast]].
** Creator/JoaquinPhoenix voices Kenai and learns a lesson about how revenge and murder don't solve problems. He would later star in ''Film/{{Joker}}'' as a downtrodden clown who becomes the titular Joker and gets revenge on Gotham City, even racking up a considerable body count personally.

* EsotericHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Kenai remains a bear at the end of the film.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: Denahi spends most of the movie in a rage trying to avenge Kenai's "death". Jason Raize committed suicide about three months after the film's release.

** Rutt and Tuke. Annoying wastes of time or funny ComicRelief and effective sibling foils to the leads? Also, their Canadian accents/mannerisms are either endearing or insufferable.

* AudienceAlienatingEra: While by no means one of the worst-received efforts at the time, this film's below-average performance and somewhat derivative nature meant it would not be the movie to lift Disney out of its critical and financial rut in the final years of the Eisner era.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Easily the most common critique of the film is that the first act is the high point of the film, due to its rather likeable characters and fairly unique tone and setting for a Disney film, with some even viewing it as a WinBackTheCrowd moment after the heavily stereotyped portrayal of Native cultures in ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}''. When Kenai is transformed, the film suddenly becomes a much more standard kid's animated flick with a very different tone and characters, and most of the stuff relating to native culture is dropped, which many saw as a disappointment.

* MemeticMutation: "This year, I lost my dear [relation], [name]!" "QUIT TELLING EVERYONE I'M DEAD!" "Sometimes I can still hear their voice!"

* SpecialEffectsFailure: During the scene where Kenai is coming clean to Koda, Koda's animation briefly doesn't match with the movement of the CG background, leading to the mostly still Koda awkwardly sliding across the rock he's supposed to be standing on.

** Rutt and Tuke. Annoying wastes of time or funny ComicRelief and effective sibling foils to the leads?

* HilariousInHindsight: In the AlternateDVDCommentary, during the scene when Kenai's paw print is put on the wall, Rutt jokingly claims that this was done to identify him if they make a sequel. When there eventually was a sequel, Kenai's voice actor was [[TheOtherDarrin recast]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/JoaquinPhoenix voices Kenai and learns a lesson about how revenge and murder don't solve problems. He would later star in ''Film/{{Joker}}'' as a downtrodden clown who becomes the titular Joker and gets revenge on Gotham City, even racking up a considerable body count personally.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Was heavily accused at the time of borrowing elements from more popular Disney films, including ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove''.

* BrokenBase:
** The movie is either a beautiful, overlooked gem with plenty of heart from the end of Disney's experimental stage or a mediocre leftover from an era they were trying to get out of.
** [[WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}} Once again]], the Music/PhilCollins songs. You either like them for their lyrics and their rustic style or you think they really don't fit.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/JoaquinPhoenix voices Kenai and learns a lesson about how revenge and murder don't solve problems. He would later star in ''Film/{{Joker}}'' as a downtrodden clown who becomes the titular Joker and gets revenge on Gotham city, even racking up a considerable body count personally.

* {{Narm}}: The film spends most of its runtime building to the emotional confrontation where [[spoiler:Kenai tells Koda that he was the one who killed his mother]], only for the scene to be drowned out by Phil Collins' "No Way Out". Even fans of Collins' contributions to the movie tend to agree that this was a poor decision and detracted from one of the most important and emotional moments in the movie.
** It doesn't help matters that an earlier version of the scene actually exists without the song, leaving the full conversation intact as Kenai tells Koda the truth. It's almost unanimously agreed that this scene is superior to the finished product, leaving many viewers baffled as to why the song was even added.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/JoaquinPhoenix voices Kenai and learns a lesson about how revenge and murder don't solve problems. He would later star in ''Film/Joker'' as a downtrodden clown who becomes the titular Joker and gets revenge on Gotham city, even racking up a considerable body count personally.

** Koda. You'll either find him cute, plucky and endearing or annoying. Though funnily enough, Kenai himself calls out Koda in-universe for being the "biggest pain in the neck ever", but it's "what you'd expect from a little brother" anyway.

* VindicatedByHistory: For a long period of time, it was considered one of Disney's weakest films, with some even ranking it alongside ''WesternAnimation/HomeOnTheRange'' and ''WesternAnimation/ChickenLittle'', with complaints about anachronistic dialogue, a predictable plot, and unlikeable characters. In more recent years, however, many consider it an underrated gem in spite of its flaws, with many praising the themes of revenge and seeing past differences, along with the criticism of the mindset of love being unmasculine.

** The heavenly choir in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85WNcQgrueE "Transformation"]] definitely counts.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The film offers top-notch animation all throughout, as you would expect from Disney.....But the transformation scene and the spirits dancing across the sky a la the Northern Lights are simply awe-inspiring.
* WTHCastingAgency: Admittedly, the actors that the filmmakers cast turned in superb performances, but given that this story is based on proto-Indigenous lore, it really would have made more sense -- and lent a shred of authenticity -- if they cast Indigenous (preferably Alaskan Native) actors for the human characters, in both the original film ''and'' the sequel.