Giveaway: Win 'The Art of Brave' book

Despite a series of lackluster trailers, I’m totally stoked for Pixar’s “Brave,” which will hit theaters June 22.

Pixar rarely goes wrong, and I have a soft spot for Celtic mythology going back to Lloyd Alexander’s “Chronicles of Prydain” books. Disney’s last attempt at this milieu was “The Black Cauldron,” based on Alexander’s books. And while it doesn’t deserve to be maligned as heavily as it has been, it tried to accomplish too much and didn’t have the strong story it needed.

While the trailers make it out to be a girl power action comedy (and I’m sure it will have those elements), the main story is a darker one, including a deal with a witch (oh, those Disney redheads and their witch deals), a monstrous bear and a terrible curse.

Young Merida drawing by Matt Nolte (Chronicle Books)

You see stronger hints of that in “The Art of Brave,” this week’s giveaway from Chronicle Books (and bits of the lighter side, too, as this shot illustrates). The book is a stunning collection of concept art, storyboards and more. It contains background art, character sketches and all sorts of gorgeous stuff that make me want to see the film even more. The preface is by Pixar honcho John Lasseter.

For your chance to win, send your name and address to ehenrickson@detnews.com. Use “Brave” as your subject line, and enter only once by June 15.  U.S. entries only.