History WesternAnimation / BrotherBear

* SceneryPorn: If you do not want to visit Alaska (or [[CanadaEh Canada]]) after seeing this movie, you are a strange person.

* AnAesop:
** You must always see the world through the eyes of somebody else.
** True brotherhood comes from love, not blood.
** Be tolerant, as intolerance can lead you to become a monster worse than those you deem as monsters.
** Manhood does not come from acts of bravery or toughness. Everyone can become a man in their own way by following their hearts and being true to themselves.
** Petty, destructive, irresponsible actions always have a consequence that can wind up hurting the people closest to you. Holding hate in your heart and acting on your prejudices can be just as destructive to others, even if you can't see the damage or refuse to see it yourself at first.

->''"Kenai, love is the most precious of totems. It reveals itself in unexpected ways. Let love guide your actions, and one day, you'll be a man, and will place your mark next to those of our ancestors."''
-->-- '''Tanana'''

** Most of the animals speak to each other in English, but there's a bear who only speaks Russian, to the confusion of every other bear.

* AllThereInTheManual: Denahi's totem is the Wolf of Wisdom.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything:
** When Kenai goes out to avenge the death of his brother Sitka, he chases a bear up a mountain and kills it, which is later revealed to be Koda's mother; in Theatre/OedipusTheKing, Oedipus vows to find the murderer, only to discover after questioning the shepherd, that Laius, the man whom he killed in a skirmish, was his actual biological father.
** In the sequel Koda tells Nita that Kenai has dreams about her, now as an audience we know that Kenai's dreams are simply his childhood memories of her, but Nita doesn't and the way that Koda describes it really doesn't help. In fact, the way Koda describes it makes it sound like a ''[[EroticDream different]]'' type of dream, Kenai even acknowledges this by going scarlet (Well as scarlet as a human-turned-bear can) and covering Koda's mouth and Nita starts giggling.

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[TagLine Nature calls.]]'']]

* OurSoulsAreDifferent: Apparently, your spirit takes the form of your totem animal. Awesome if your totem is an eagle. [[FridgeLogic Maybe not so much if it's a salmon...]]
* ParentalAbandonment: The three brothers’ parents are never so much as mentioned. Sitka himself comes across as more of the father of his younger brothers than an older brother.

* MirroringFactions: "Those monsters are ''really'' scary. Especially with those [[BladeOnAStick sticks]]."

----

* ARealManIsAKiller: After finding out that his spirit animal is the "Bear of Love", Kenai left to prove himself a man by killing a bear.

* AesopAmnesia: A more {{Tear Jerk|er}}ing in-universe example. Upon Sitka's death, Denahi attempts to follow his guidance in reverence and tries to be wiser; when Kenai doesn't listen to his warnings against revenge and seemingly gets killed as well, Denahi is overcome with guilt and grief and, forgoing all attempts at wisdom, goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, instead becoming the very thing he warned Kenai against being.
* AllThereInTheManual: Denahi's totem is the Wolf of Wisdom.

The story tells the tale of Kenai, a young man growing up somewhere in the Alaskan wilderness about 10,000 years before present. He is busy preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony along with his two older brothers, Sitka and Denahi, but when said ceremony occurs, he’s... less than thrilled with the totem, or "spirit animal" that he’s assigned, which turns out to be "The Bear of Love." To prove his toughness, he attempts to track down a basket dragged away by a bear who had stolen some food during the ceremony, and angrily provokes the bear after finding it. His brothers rush after him to find him cornered by the bear, and the three try to ward it off. Kenai and Denahi get out okay, but Sitka dies saving them. Later, Kenai hunts down the bear alone and slays it out of vengeance. The spirits of the land - Sitka now among them - are greatly disappointed with Kenai's needless violence, and, in an attempt to teach him a lesson, turn him into a bear.

In order to change back into a human, Kenai needs to find [[MacGuffinLocation a certain mountain]] to converse with the spirits, while avoiding Denahi, who he is unable to communicate with as a bear. Though on his way there, he picks up a hanger-on in the form of a small, [[{{Keet}} energetic,]] [[ParentalAbandonment orphaned]] cub named Koda. Initially, Kenai is just as annoyed with this as he has been with everything ''else'' that's happened to him, but he slowly grows to like the cub, and as the two bond with each other, Kenai grows and begins to see life from a different perspective.

* SceneryPorn: If you do not want to visit Alaska (or [[CanadaEh Canada]] after seeing this movie, you are a strange person.

** Raccoons are featured in both movies, once during the 'On My Way' montage in the first movie, and appear again with a larger role in the second movie. However, the furthest north Raccoons naturally range is the southern states of Canada, whereas the movies are meant to be set in Alaska.
** Chipmunks appear in a few scenes, and while they do inhabit parts of the neighbouring Canadian Yukon, they don't inhabit Alaska,

* ShoutOut: In one of the vignettes during the credits, somehow Koda is able to paint Georges Seurat's ''Art/ASundayAfternoonOnTheIslandOfLaGrandeJatte''.

In order to change back into a human, Kenai needs to find [[MacGuffinLocation a certain mountain]] to converse with the spirits, while avoiding Denahi, who he is unable to communicate with as a bear. Though on his way there, he picks up a hanger-on in the form of a small, [[{{Keet}} energetic,]] [[ParentalAbandonment orphaned]] cub named Koda. Initially, Kenai is just as annoyed with this as he has been with everything ''else'' that's happened to him, but he slowly grows to like the cub, and as the two bond, Kenai grows and begins to see life from a different perspective.

* AdaptationInducedPlotHole: When Kenai [[spoiler:finds out the truth about the bear he killed and flashes back to the fight along with the conversation he had with Denahi, the lines ''"Sitka wouldn't have wanted this!" -- "Sitka isn't here because of that monster!"'' can be heard]]. These lines were never spoken in the film; however, they are lines from the junior comic.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The movie is set around 10,000 years ago at the latest, as evidenced by the presence of woolly mammoths, and the mention of other fauna such as the sabre-toothed tiger (Smilodon). However, this means that despite the tact implications (especially with the use of the Iñupiat language), the culture shown in the movie is not Inuit, as the ancestors of modern Inuit only arrived in America around 5,000 BP, several thousand years after the movie is set. This wasn't really avoidable, though--we don't know much about the culture of era, so it made more sense to use a later analogue. The movie and its sequel does, however, display an archaeologically accurate depiction of the Native Americans during Upper Paleolithic era- as seen with the accurate clothing, settlements, the use of “Clovis” spear tips, the use of red ocher during ceremonies, and jewelry.
* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: There were more than just mammoths in North America at the time. There were also mastodons, sabre-toothed cats, lions, ground sloths, camels, horses, giant beavers, and many other animals that didn't make it to today. The sabre-toothed cat is actually mentioned by Kenai as his desired totem, though none appear in the movie or its sequel. Although this would be accurate as the iconic saber-toothed cat ''Smilodon'' did not live in Alaska alongside woolly mammoths, instead being found south in warmer climates.

* BreakUpMakeUpScenario: a very tragic one. [[spoiler: After learning that Kenai was the one responsible for killing his mother, Koda runs away in tears never wanting to speak to him again. He comes to change his mind after hearing a brotherly spat between Rutt and Tuke and and saves him from Denahi]].

* CoughTropeCough: Tuke tries this to call Kenai crazy, but Rutt seriously can't understand him, and Kenai knows ''exactly'' what he's saying.

** In the sequel Koda tells Nita that Kenai has dreams about her, now as an audience we know that Kenai's dreams are simply his childhood memories of her, but Nita doesn't and the way that Koda describes it really doesn't help. In fact the way Koda describes it makes it sound like a ''[[EroticDream different]]'' type of dream, Kenai even acknowledges this by going scarlet (Well as scarlet as a human-turned-bear can) and covering Koda's mouth and Nita starts giggling.
* DramaticIrony: [[spoiler: Koda believing his mother will catch up with everyone else at the Salmon Run, all the while being friends with Kenai, brings a whole slew of irony when one's aware Kenai unknowingly killed off Koda's mother. Meaning he's been traveling dozens, if not hundreds of miles, with the very person who had slain his mother.]]
* TheDreaded: The bears are ''terrified'' of humans, who they regard as monsters. [[spoiler:Koda's mother's]] immediate reaction when Kenai is tracking her down is to flee in terror, and the bears at the salmon run are visibly shaken when Koda tells his story.

** At the very beginning, Sitka, Kenai's oldest brother, is killed in a fight against [[spoiler:Koda's mother]], who she corners on a glacier, and as she is about to go after Denahi and Kenai, Sitka performs a HeroicSacrifice and uses his spear staff to break the ice, causing the glacier to collapse into the water below. His antlered hood and his totem pendant are all that is found by his brothers, who were desperately searching the water for him.
** Later, Kenai, as revenge for killing his brother, actually goes after [[spoiler:Koda's mother]], and stabs her to death, prompting Sitka's ghost to turn Kenai into a bear as punishment for his wrongdoings.

* FlashbackCut: Happens to Kenai while Koda tells his story at the salmon run, [[spoiler:and [[HeelRealization he learns that the bear he killed was Koda's mother]]]].
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: All four of the brothers. Sitka was the responsible and his younger brothers were the foolish. After his death, though, Denahi became the responsible to Kenai's foolish and finally, Kenai became the responsible to Koda's foolish.
* FriendOrIdolDecision: [[spoiler:Kenai can either change back into a human or be with Koda. He decides to stick with Koda.]]

* ImplacableMan: Denahi, in revenge mode. At one point, he ''jumps nearly clear over a ravine'' to get to Kenai. When he doesn't make it all the way, he tries to ''climb up a sheer cliff'' using only a dagger for support. He's a decent tracker, it seems like, because he's ''always'' following them.
* InertialImpalement: Before his transformation, Kenai is fighting a bear and gets knocked on the ground. When it charges at him, he grabs his spear. Rather than showing what happens, it shows the mountain from a distance and the viewer hears [[ScreamDiscretionShot the bear roar one last time]], and then it shows that Kenai has survived. [[spoiler:It is narrowly averted at the film's conclusion, when Kenai lunges at Denahi to protect Koda and Denahi braces himself against his spear. Fortunately, Sitka intervenes before history can repeat itself.]]

* KeepingTheHandicap: Kenai, who was magically turned into a bear, ultimately opts to remain that way both to remain with Koda and out of guilt, [[spoiler:since he caused the death of Koda's mother.]]

** Later [[PapaWolf Kenai becomes just as protective of Koda]]. Part of it would lead to his being [[spoiler:TheAtoner for killing his mother.]]

** Not in words, but actions -- the bear advancing on Kenai, who raises his spear in self defense at the last second with a sharp turn, is repeated later [[spoiler:with Denahi raising his spear to strike bear-Kenai]].

* MisplacedWildlife: For the most part the movies are pretty good with their wildlife placement, however, there are a few inaccuracies.
** Raccoons are featured in both movies, once during the 'On My Way' montage in the first movie, and appear again with a larger role in the second movie. However, the furthest north Raccoons naturally range is southernmost Canada, whereas the movies are meant to be set in Alaska.

* MonsterIsAMommy: [[spoiler:Kenai refers to the bear he kills as a "monster", only to later find out she was Koda's mother.]]

* MoralityPet: Koda becomes this to Kenai overtime, with Kenai wanting to protect the little bear cub helping him.

** Denahi almost has a moment of this when he realizes how close he came to [[spoiler:killing his little brother]].

** Kenai blames the bear for Sitka's death when he was the one who provoked the bear in the first place (not to mention the bear wouldn't have stole the fish if he'd tied the basket properly), eventually culminating in Sitka sacrificing himself.
** Denahi‘s not blameless, either. If he hadn't been so hard on his younger brother (even going as far as to say that he's constantly messing up) Kenai wouldn't have gone looking for the basket, and if Denahi hadn't blamed Kenai for Sitka's death, Kenai wouldn't have gone after the bear. Both learn their lesson in the hardest way possible-- Denahi when he believes Kenai was killed, and Kenai when he realizes [[spoiler:the bear he killed was Koda's mom]].

** Sitka dying was basically his brothers' fault, as Denahi insulted Kenai for losing the food, and Kenai responds by running off and getting attacked by [[spoiler:Koda's mom]].

** From the moment Kenai receives his totem, Denahi isn't helping matters. By teasing Kenai mercilessly and treating his totem as silly and girlish, he inadvertently pushes him toward his risky, overcompensating behavior.

* NobleBirdOfPrey: Sitka's spirit appears as an eagle, specifically, the Eagle of Guidance. He even keeps an eye on his brothers during their journey to the mountain, [[spoiler:and guides Denahi to where Kenai is to force a final confrontation]].

* OminousLatinChanting: "Transformation" is sung in Inuktitut. Also, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic awesome.]] The sequence is the ''only scene'' from a hand-drawn animated film to make ''Website/TheOnion AV Club's'' list of (essentially) [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/our-favorite-film-scenes-of-the-00s,35888/ Crowning Moments Of Awesome]] in films from the 2000's.

* PersonalHorror: First Kenai is transformed into a bear and has to repeatedly evade his brother, who thinks he is the bear that killed him (yes, it's as complicated as it sounds). Then he finds out that the bear he killed earlier [[spoiler:was Koda's mother.]]

** Pinky swears are apparently a thing Kenai and Koda partake in in the sequel, showing how their relationship has grown from the original film.

* RaisedByHumans: A variant. Kenai (after being turned into a bear) becomes something of a surrogate brother to Koda. Ironically, [[spoiler:Kenai is the very reason why Koda is orphaned, since he killed Koda's mother as an act of vengeance for killing Kenai's brother]].

* TemptingFate: After Koda tells his story at the Salmon Run [[spoiler: alerting Kenai that he unknowingly killed Koda's mother, an eagle ear will over hear Koda remark that although the glacier incident was intense, he knows it will "take a lot more" to take her down. Not one scene later, he learns that his mother was indeed killed off (by Kenai, no less) and will not be returning to the Salmon Run like he believed.]]

* ToughLove: Sitka displays to his youngest brother to teach him to honor all life, including bears, by turning him into a bear and forcing him through the hardships of the wild.
* TragicKeepsake: The bear totem for Denahi, after mistakenly believing that Kenai was killed by a bear. Sitka's eagle totem and what's left of his clothes were all that was left for Kenai and Denahi.

** During storytime among the bears, Koda tells a story about his mother fighting human hunters on a glacier, making Kenai realize [[spoiler:that the bear he killed was Koda's mother, who was only trying to protect her cub.]]

** After running away from the salmon run party, Kenai tells a story to Koda, [[spoiler:confessing his guilt over killing Koda's mother]].

** Kenai spends a majority of the film believing that bears are monsters and incapable of love. When he and Koda discover some cave paintings depicting humans hunting down animals, Koda says something that makes Kenai realize that bears aren't the real monsters, humans are.

* ArtShift: The film begins with an aspect ratio much closer to Academy than to Cinemascope, the colors are more drab, and the subject matter presented more seriously. Once Kenai becomes a bear, the film [[AspectRatioSwitch goes to full-blown widescreen]], grows more colorful, and takes on a more comedic tone. As a result, the bear who Kenai hunted and killed looks gradually less and less fearsome as he spends more time as a bear.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The movie is set around 10,000 years ago at the latest, as evidenced by the presence of woolly mammoths, and the mention of other fauna such as the sabretooth tiger (Smilodon). However, this means that despite the tact implications (especially with the use of the Iñupiat language), the culture shown in the movie is not Inuit, as the ancestors of modern Inuit only arrived in America around 5,000 BP, several thousand years after the movie is set. This wasn't really avoidable, though--we don't know much about the culture of era, so it made more sense to use a later analogue. The movie and its sequel does, however, display an archaeologically accurate depiction of the Native Americans during Upper Paleolithic era- as seen with the accurate clothing, settlements, the use of “Clovis” spear tips, the use of red ocher during ceremonies, and jewelry.
* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: There were more than just mammoths in North America at the time. There were also mastodons, saber-toothed cats, lions, ground sloths, camels, horses, giant beavers, and many other animals that didn't make it to today. The saber-toothed cat is actually mentioned by Kenai as his desired totem, though none appear in the movie or its sequel. Although this would be accurate as the iconic saber-toothed cat ''Smilodon'' did not live in Alaska alongside woolly mammoths, instead being found south in warmer climates.