Take “Mirror Mirror,” where Snow White rescues her prince from an evil spell, or “Snow White and the Huntsman,” where she becomes the hunter who avenges her father, marries none of her suitors and confidently runs her kingdom alone.

[...] upending the Cinderella syndrome at a theater near you this weekend is Pixar’s first ever female protagonist, the feisty Scottish Princess Merida of “Brave,” who demands to forge her own independent future.

The success of Bridesmaids, ”The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Hunger Games showed us that audiences respond to well-drawn heroes, regardless of their gender, thus setting the stage for the classic literary convention of the princess to get a modern makeover.

In developing Princess Merida’s story in “Brave,” Pixar writers and artists thought more about character than gender, Sarafian said.

Merida, voiced by Kelly Macdonald, is a headstrong teenager in 12th century Scotland with a mane of fiery red curls and a temperament to match.

Though her mother lovingly prepares her for her royal role, the young princess is more interested in sword fighting, archery and riding her horse through the forest.

Let’s get to the place where it’s like breathing, where we take it for granted, like women voting, and boys and girls will come to the movies for good stories, regardless of gender.