Cars 2 was the inevitable letdown from Pixar after 11 good-to-amazing movies in a row.  But we've spent the last few months watching these guys demonstrate the ability to tell great stories in any form (Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible 4, Andrew Stanton's John Carter).  All the promotional material suggests this is Pixar on the grandest scale yet.  And the animation studio cast a predictably reliable group of Brits as the main voices: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters.

Honestly, I should probably manage my expectations better.  Because in my current state, if Brave isn't a return to form, I'll be crushed.  But I see the detail in these character wallpapers that Disney has released, and I cherish them.  Check out the wallpapers for yourself after the jump.  Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, Brave opens in 3D on June 22.

We found these over at the Disney site, where you can also hear a clip of the inspiring score.  Click here for all our Brave coverage, or here for the latest trailer.

Official synopsis:

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.