Watch An Extended Clip From Pixar's BRAVE

This year will mark the first time since the Academy Awards created a category for Best Animated Feature that Pixar has created a film not even in the running for the prize. And so with the poor response to Cars 2 still stinging a bit there is quite a lot riding on the upcoming Brave. Luckily everything released from the film thus far says that it is back up to their normal high level of quality.

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In "Brave," a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late.

With a teaser and full trailer already on the scene, an extended clip from the picture arrived today and I'm liking what I'm seeing quite a lot. Beyond the quality of the animation - typically excellent - it's the characters that really get a chance to stand out here and they do just that. Check it out below.