Ok, so we joke around here at The Mary Sue that I look like Merida from Disney-Pixar’s Brave but I’m bouncing up and down with glee now that I’ve see the women Disney has chosen to play her at their theme parks. Here’s a video of one of them filmed at Epcot Center but soon, she’ll head to the Magic Kingdom. According to Orlando’s Attractions Magazine, ” In a couple of weeks she’ll start appearing in the Fairytale Garden in Fantasyland, where guests will engage in archery lessons and other activities until it’s their turn to meet her. Joining Merida will be the three bear cubs from the film, who will also interact with guests.” Hit the jump for yet another castmember taking on Merida. The hair, my god, the hair!

Hey, this exists! Invite For a Bite, a new online service that seeks to pair women who are insecure about going out to a restaurant and eating by themselves with equally insecure dinner dates. As much fun as a conversation between women like this might be, why in the world should anyone — man or woman — feel insecure about eating alone? I do this all the time! Am I weird? Am I an alien? Am I magic? What is so different about me that other women fake cell phone calls to make it look like someone loves them? And why is this site only for women? Because I can tell you from firsthand experience that there are tons of insecure dudes out there who probably feel the same way about eating alone. Everyone, let’s have a heart to heart about this, and allow me to explain the perks of dining solo. Besides getting to eat the food on which you are spending your cash money without any comments from the peanut gallery.

Robert Sherman, one of the most accomplished songwriters for the Disney brand, has passed away at the age of 86. Chances are, you have heard several of his many, many famous songs, including the one that inspired the category we used for this post, “It’s a Small World,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” His son posted the announcement on Facebook earlier this week, and he is survived by friends, family, and his huge legacy.

I am so excited to show you all this video. Why? Because Kristen Bell is really, really, really excited and it’s contagious. As someone who gets extremely emotional when it comes to animals, even just watching them on television, this video makes me very sympathetic for the Veronica Mars/Forgetting Sarah Marshall actress. Her boyfriend gave her a very special present for her 31st birthday, something she’ll never forget. A visit from a sloth. And yes, he captured her reaction on video and she let Ellen DeGeneres play part of it on her show even though it’s kind of embarrassing. In Bell’s own words, “Welcome to @theellenshow ! todays topic? Kristen Bells inability to handle her emotions!”

I adore you, Kristen Bell.

(via Videogum)

Remember when Toy Story 3 came out and every adult you knew was like, “I cried through the whole thing! It was so good!” Well, the guy who caused everyone to have all the feelings in the world, screenwriter Mike Arndt, will now be taking a pass at the upcoming Phineas and Ferb movie for Disney. It’s hard to imagine Phineas and Ferb taking such an emotional toll on everyone, but Arndt’s good track record on comedy — he won an Oscar for writing Little Miss Sunshine — will probably make for a really smart script. Because if you haven’t seen the Phineas and Ferb cartoon, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Okay, here’s the deal with this video. It’s a collection of “very special” moments from “very special” episodes of some of our favorite TV shows that were meant to teach us about the important issues in life. Such episodes were never very good, were preachy and embarrassing, and usually happened on sitcoms — which are comedies from which we are supposed to learn nothing. But they did it anyway. Whether it was cancer on Home Improvement, drugs on Saved by the Bell, drugs and racism on Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Urkel getting drunk on Family Matters … You’re not going to want a hug when this is over. You’re going to want everyone to just leave you alone and not bother you about their problems.

…

Okay, want to see puppies? There are puppies after the jump.

In a new safety directive issued by the European Union, children under the age of eight are not allowed to blow up balloons without adult supervision. Because they might choke on them. I say that if you have a child who thinks that balloons are blown up by placing said balloon completely inside the mouth and then inhaling, then the child is not the person we need to worry about.

So, how was your night last night? Did you hang out with friends, have a few drinks? Have one hundred drinks? Did you wake up thinking you’d never do that again, but then burst into song? Then you will probably relate to what these people are all singing about. We’d like to thank Jessica Poter for writing the lyrics that speak volumes. (But not high volumes. Not until I’ve had my coffee. And 24 hours.) Contains language NSFW.

(via Jezebel)

Five human children raised in isolation by the mysterious spirit Gaia now face the responsibility of their ultimate purpose: reaching out to humanity and convincing it to change it’s polluting ways before it’s too late. At the same time, they feel compelled to solve the worst of the man-made natural disasters by summoning a dangerously amoral, nigh omnipotent entity and hoping desperately that he saves more lives than he takes.

Of course, my version isn’t supposed to be funny. It’s like if you threw Animorphs, Watchmen, and The Authority in a bin, shook it up, and looked at what came out.

In other words, this is why Hollywood shouldn’t hire me.

(via Blastr.)

Tons of news is coming out of D23, the fan event for the most extreme Disney fans that is taking place in Anaheim this weekend, and it included new footage from Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, and news of two new Pixar movies. While no titles have been announced, estimated release dates have: November 27, 2013 and May 30, 2014. One will be about the human brain and the other will be about — wait for it — dinosaurs. All this, plus a definitive Pixar lineup for the next three years after the jump!