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| “ | Tell everybody I'm on my way! New friends and new places to see. With blue skies ahead, yes, I'm on my way. And there's nowhere else that I'd rather be. | „ |
| ~ Koda |
Koda is the son of a unnamed female bear, the adoptive younger brother of Kenai, the adoptive brother-in-law of Nita and the deuteragonist of Disney's 44th full-length animated feature film Brother Bear and the tritagonist of its 2006 direct-to-video sequel Brother Bear 2. Koda also can be found at Disney Parks and Resorts for meet and greets.
He was voiced by Jeremy Suarez, who also played Cooper in Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie.
Physical Appearance[]
Koda is a young male bear. Likewise, he has a dark brown fur, he has a light pink muzzle with a black nose.
Biography[]
Koda is a lovable bear cub, who accompanies Kenai on the journey to where 'the lights touch the Earth. At first Kenai doesn't like Koda much but eventually warms to him, and begins to think of him as a brother.
Appearances[]
Brother Bear[]
Kenai falls down some rapids, survives, and is healed by Tanana, the shaman of his tribe. She does not speak the bear language, but advises him to return to the mountain to find Sitka and be turned back to a human, but only when he atones for his actions; she vanishes without an explanation. Kenai quickly discovers that the wildlife can now speak to him, meeting a pair of moose brothers named Rutt and Tuke. He gets caught in a trap, but is freed by an outgoing bear cub named Koda. They make a deal: Kenai will escort Koda to an annual salmon run and then the cub will lead Kenai to the mountain. As the two eventually form a brother-like relationship, Koda reveals that his mother is missing. The two are hunted by Denahi, who is still determined to avenge Kenai, unaware that the bear he is pursuing is actually Kenai himself. Eventually, Kenai and Koda reach the salmon run, where a large number of bears live as a family, including the leader Tug. Kenai accepts his new surroundings and is comfortable living with the other bears. During a discussion among the bears, Koda tells a story about his mother recently fighting human hunters on a glacier, reminding Kenai of his and his brothers' fight with the bear that lead to Sitka's death and making him realize that the entire time, the bear he killed was Koda's mother herself.
Shocked and horrified at his actions, Kenai runs away in a fit of guilt, but Koda soon follows him. Crestfallen, Kenai confesses the truth to Koda, who runs away, grief-stricken. An apologetic Kenai leaves to reach the mountain. Meanwhile, Rutt and Tuke, having had a falling-out, reconcile in front of Koda, prompting him to forgive Kenai. On the mountain, Kenai is cornered by Denahi, but their battle is interrupted by Koda, who steals Denahi's spear. Kenai sacrifices himself for Koda, out of love, prompting Sitka to appear and turn him back into a human, much to Denahi and Koda's surprise. However, upon realizing that Koda needs him because of his own mistake, Kenai asks Sitka to transform him back into a bear with Denahi's support. Sitka complies, and Kenai is transformed back into a bear. Koda is reunited briefly with the spirit of his mother, before she and Sitka return to the spirit world. In the end, Kenai lives with the rest of the bears and gains his title as a man, through being a bear.
Brother Bear 2[]
Set a few months after the events of the first film, Koda and Kenai wake up from hibernation and set of to go to Crowberry Ridge for the first berries of the season. Later, Koda overhears a sleeping Kenai muttering the name Nita, who Kenai was friends with as a child. Koda and Kenai later encounter a female hunter who they discover to be an older Nita, who has been given the ability to talk to and understand animals by the Great Spirits. She reveals that she and Kenai need to go to Hokani Falls, where Kenai had given her a amulet during their last encounter as children before Nita moved away. Unknown to them, this caused The Great Spirits to bond them together. In order for Nita to marry her fiance Atka, she and Kenai must burn the amulet together at Hokani Falls on the eve of the Equinox, thus returning the bond to the Spirits. Kenai is against this, to which Nita says that she will tell the Spirits to turn Kenai back into a human to help her. Not wanting to be separate from Koda, Kenai relectanly agrees.
Later in the film, Koda worries that Nita will come between him and Kenai and overhears Nita asking Kenai if he wants to be human again, to which Kenai says that he has considered it. Believing that Kenai has chosen Nita over him, Koda confronts Kenai for this and runs away. Nita follows Koda to assure him, but the two get caught in an avalanche. Fortunately, Kenai arrives and digs them out. Kenai scolds Koda for almost getting himself killed. When Koda confronts him about wanting to be with Nita instead of him, Kenai assures him that he would not do that.
The trio continues their journey and they finally make it to Hokani Falls. Inside a cave, they look at a small painting of Kenai and Nita as human children that was painted by Nita during their childhood. While Kenai and Nita walk away being reminded of their childhood, Koda still looks at the painting, being very intrigued by it, and begins to understand how close Kenai and Nita were and how deep their friendship is.
Koda’s attention is pulled away when the Great Spirits shine brightly and he joins his friends who are looking on the edge of the cave at the beautiful night rainbow. Koda wonders if he is witnessing the equinox, and Kenai responds positively that it really is. The trio witnesses as the Great Spirits change winter into spring, as the ice and snow melt away and the forest flourishes. When Nita comments that her mother is among the Spirits, Koda is surprised and reveals to Nita that his mother is also a Spirit, showing that they have more in common with each other. Feeling bad for the girl, Koda asks Nita if she misses her mother, and she admits that she does. Understanding that the cub feels the same way about his mother, Nita comforts Koda that he doesn’t need to wait for the lights to find her, since his mother is always with Koda in his heart, along with all the people he loves as long as he never forgets them and continues to love them. This touches Koda, who misses his mother so much and wishes he could be with her, and gives Nita a hug, feeling so safe with her, finally embracing each other as loving friends.
Koda sadly watches as Nita makes a fire and burns her amulet. After the amulet’s ashes fly away and cause the Spirits to fade away, Koda becomes confused as to what will happen now. Nita gives Koda a hug and wishes him the best, calling him a sweet cub, but when Koda tries to talk to her, all she can hear are growls, realizing that she has lost the power to talk to animals now that her mission was over. Despite that, Nita bids her friends farewell, and Koda sadly watches as a depressed Nita walks away and leaves. He looks on top of the cave as Nita leaves, feeling sad that she left after finally becoming true friends.
Koda and Kenai also return home, and when they finally make it back, Koda happily jumps off of Kenai’s back and rushes home. Realizing that ever since they got back from their trip Kenai has been feeling down, Koda finds him near a pond and tries to comfort him. Not knowing what Kenai was feeling, he understands that it must be about Nita, and asks his brother if he gave the amulet to Nita as a token of his love for her. Kenai responds that it was a long time ago, being feelings he had for Nita when they were younger and close to each other. Koda assures Kenai that he hasn’t lost Nita, and as long as he loves her, she will always remain in his heart, being very sure of it after seeing their close bond. Kenai assures his little brother that neither of them need to worry about that anymore, since things are back at how they used to be. Seeing that Kenai wasn’t being honest about his feelings, Koda questions his brother why he doesn’t tell Nita that he loves her, if he really does feel that way. Kenai has it hard to explain it to the young cub, saying that it’s a little more complicated than he thinks, and it doesn’t matter now that their mission is over. To lighten up the mood, Kenai puts on a brave face for Koda, and reminds his little brother that he made a promise to him to beat the other bears at Crowberry Ridge and assures him that they will go tomorrow and enjoy themselves there by getting the first berries. But after Kenai walks away still depressed, Koda understands that his big brother is really heartbroken and his love alone won’t be enough to make him happy, and feels so bad that he can’t help him.
Koda climbs a rock and looks up at the sky where the Great Spirits shine. Koda talks to his mother and expresses his concern over Kenai’s sadness, and blames himself for being so possessive of him. Seeing no other way to make his brother happy again, Koda assures his mother that he will be fine on his own and asks her to tell the Spirits to turn Kenai back into a human. To make sure that Kenai is reunited with his love, Koda goes to Nita’s village to bring her back, but on the way he encounters the moose brothers, to whom he explains his motive, and even though they try to stop him, Koda goes anyway.
Koda makes it to Nita’s village, but before he can find his friend, the bear cub is spotted by some of the villagers and the children chase him. Koda runs away scared and avoids the villagers, who try to catch him. Koda climbs up a tree, but the villagers find him, and the cub calls out for help. Nita, having spotted Koda, tries to save him, but Kenai comes to the village and scares the villagers to get to Koda first. Koda jumps into Kenai’s back and watches as his big brother fights the hunters. Koda tries to climb a mountain and Kenai grabs him by the scruff with his mouth. Koda and Kenai run away in the mountain, but notice that the hunters are approaching, which gets them both very scared. Kenai hides Koda in a tangle of tree roots, and becomes very worried for his brother as he walks away. When a hunter approaches, Koda keeps his head low, until the hunter leaves. But just as he walks out of his hiding spot, two more men appear and one of them grabs Koda, much to his terror. Luckily, Rutt and Tuke witness that on top of the mountain, and glance at the hunters, who gently put Koda down. The moose brothers jump on a tree branch that breaks and crushes the two hunters. Out of danger, Koda tells the moose that they have to help Kenai and he rides on Tuke who quickly takes the cub to him.
They manage to find Kenai, but much to Koda’s horror, his big brother is lying down injured, with Nita treating his wounds. Koda quickly rushes to his brother’s side and apologizes that he got hurt while protecting him because of his own mistakes. But Kenai isn’t angry at all, and gives his little brother a hug, being only glad that Koda is safe. He watches as Kenai confesses his love for Nita, like he told him to. Then suddenly, blue lights flash in the sky illuminating the trio, who look in awe, and Kenai realizes that it’s the Spirits, whose presence had also enabled Nita to hear the voices of animals again. Realizing that the Great Spirits had heard his wish and had come to fulfill it, Koda explains to a confused Kenai that he had asked them to turn his brother back into a man. Kenai is surprised as to why Koda would ask for this, and the cub explains that this way he can be with Nita. Kenai refuses, and tries to remind the cub how much he loves him, but Koda doesn’t mind at all losing Kenai, and gives him expressing that he wishes for his big brother to be happy with the one he loves. Touched by his little brother’s selflessness, Kenai realizes that he loves Koda even more and can’t let him go, and tells Nita that he can’t be with her if it means losing his family. When Nita understands and decides to take Kenai’s place instead, a surprised Koda watches as Nita talks to her father, with the latter accepting his daughter’s decision. Koda and Kenai step out of the light, and watch in amazement as Nita is lifted up by the power of the Great Spirits and transforms into a bear. So happy that Nita has decided to stay with them, Koda plays around with the two older bears who embrace each other in affection.
Koda and Kenai invite the bears from the Salmon run to come to Nita’s village, no longer in danger with the villagers understanding that bears aren’t dangerous. All of Koda’s friends witness Kenai and Nita’s wedding, with Koda standing by his brother’s side as always and watches as Nita and Kenai happily look at each other, with the cub being even more happy for the two. When Kenai and Nita marry by sharing a kiss and nozzle each other, Koda jumps in between wanting to take part in. The newly married couple nozzle their little brother too, and Koda couldn’t be happier that now not only he has a happy Kenai by his side forever, but also an amazing older sister bear. When Kenai is hit by a pine cone, Koda is surprised and looks at a tree above, where the raccoon they encountered before has also joined the wedding with some other raccoons throwing petals for the happy couple. He finds this surprise rather funny, and runs around giving Nita a nozzle and climbing on Kenai’s back, and their families give them their congratulations. Suddenly a beautiful Spirit rainbow flies above the astonished bear family, and Koda becomes very happy that even his mother and the Spirits have witnessed and blessed the wedding of his bear family. The bear trio happily look at each other and Koda becomes excited about all the fun things they will do together now that they are a happy family.
The bears likely return to the Salmon Run to rejoice in their new home with the other bears, and with Koda having a family that will always love him and stay by his side.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Koda’s mother[]
Koda holds a deep love for his late mother and continues to love her even after her death.
The two obviously shared a powerful bond between mother and son. The young cub was taught so much by his mother, about nature and its wonders, including the Great Spirits that keep the world in balance with all of their magical changes. Koda always felt safe around her, but also worried when she got into dangerous situations. When he got separated from his mother, it made the made small cub feel very scared and worried. But he never stopped believing in her, and kept on the faith that he would see her again in the Salmon Run.
However, the moment Kenai revealed the truth that he killed his mother, Koda entered a state of immense grief and sorrow over losing his mother. Even though Kenai felt sorry and apologized for what he did, it couldn’t heal Koda’s great pain, feeling all alone, being an orphan with no family. But after Koda understood Kenai’s true feelings, he forgave his friend, feeling the warmth of family with him. In the end, Koda was able to see his mother one last time, embracing each other with lots of love and bidding each other farewell. Although he felt depressed that he no longer had his mom with him, that void was filled by Kenai, who became the cub’s big brother and the two became the closest of friends.
But still, Koda missed his mother and wished that he still had her, and when he saw the night rainbow he always got reminded of her. When Nita taught the cub that as long as he loved his mother, he would always have her, it made Koda to release his sadness and forever remember her in his heart. Even though he couldn’t see her in person, Koda still talked to her when he saw the Spirits, and it made him very happy that she blessed Kenai and Nita’s wedding with the Spirits.
Koda has always loved his mother and will always continue to love her.
Kenai[]
Kenai is Koda’s adoptive older brother, whom Koda loves more than anyone or anything else. Koda finds Kenai rather funny and just like many others, he has a low opinion of Kenai’s “expertise”, always making fun of him in a silly situation, but that’s just their loving relationship. Even though it took some time for Koda and Kenai to get along, because of their polar personalities, the two bears became inseparable brothers whose hearts remained connected and their love for each other grew only stronger.
When Koda first saw Kenai as a human, he was very afraid of the hunter that was attacking his mother.
When Koda first met Kenai after he was transformed into a bear, despite being a stranger he had never met before, the cub was happy to meet another bear after being separated from his mom. He tried to help Kenai to break free from a trap, but his failed hitting Kenai with a stick, god the older bear very agitated and annoyed, making Koda’s first impression rather unpleasant. Despite Kenai refusing his help, Koda still stayed with him wishing to create a potential friendship with the stranger. Koda tried to tell him about himself, but the older bear was more focused on getting free from the trap than cub’s life story. Even though he refused his help, Koda felt pity for Kenai struggling to get free, so he secretly passed the stick to him. Even though he felt bad for Kenai, Koda found his situation very funny, but after being reminded that he must get to the Salmon Run, which would be a long and difficult journey, he decided to help the older bear if he promised to come with him. Even though Kenai said he would come with him, Koda was skeptical at trusting the word of a stranger, and to have some insurance asks that Kenai Pinkie Swears on his promise, which he does. Koda feels very happy that Kenai has decided to become his traveling companion, but as soon as he notices the hunter Denahi, he abandons him in a heartbeat yelling to run. Once they are out of danger, Koda is glad to be reunited with Kenai, and likes how he jokes around with him, however his feeling of relief is turned to shock, when Kenai goes back on his promise despite having Pinky Sworn. This makes Koda feel very uneasy and scared to be all alone. Despite the older bear having lied to him, Koda still wished to be with Kenai and confessed that he was lost his mother. Even though Kenai refused to help him despite understanding his troubles, Koda begged for Kenai’s help, promising that he would love it in his home. After Kenai accepts to come with, when the cub reveals that the Salmon Run is near the same destination the older bear was trying to reach, it relieved Koda, who tried to be affectionate to Kenai when they take a nap, but he rebuffed his attempts and referred to the cub as kid, which Koda disliked, but still tried to be friends with him.
Even when they woke up, Kenai still didn’t refer to Koda with his proper name despite the cub having told him his name and becomes annoyed with Kenai’s selfish mocking attitude. Koda tries to socialize with Kenai by telling stories and singing, but Kenai doesn’t want to see the bear cub as a friend, but only as a temporary guide to get where he wants to be. Even though Kenai is annoyed with him and doesn’t appreciate the cub’s affection, it doesn’t stop Koda from showing how he likes Kenai and wishes to be his friend no matter how many times he fails. Eventually, Koda’s fun-loving behavior gets into Kenai and causes the teen bear to become more affectionate and the two become even closer. Koda sees that Kenai does many weird things uncommon for bears, but he finds them funny.
Soon, Kenai appreciates Koda’s company and doesn’t mind hearing Koda’s story, and the cub enjoys his time with Kenai even more. When Kenai reveals that he has a brother, who has become a spirit, Koda feels sympathy for the teen bear, but is also grateful that he met Kenai thanks to his brother, and also feels envious of Kenai since the little cub always wished he had a brother. Feeling so warm and fulfilled with Kenai, Koda begins to see the teen bear as the brother he always wished he had.
Even though their friendship was growing, after a little dispute over getting lost with Kenai lashing out at Koda, it breaks Koda’s heart to think that Kenai doesn’t care for him at all, when he himself had grown so attached to the teen bear. However, after Kenai goes after the cub to apologize, Koda quickly forgives him, understanding that Kenai didn’t really mean all those bad things he said. Their friendship continues to grow further with Kenai letting Koda ride on him and the cub enjoying playing together. He also liked to scare Kenai by pouncing on him, despite the teen’s bear discomfort and annoyance. When they encountered Denahi again, Koda ran away scared, but was saved by Kenai, who risked his own life.
When they arrived at the Salmon Run, Koda proudly calls Kenai his friend and introduces him to his other friends. Back home, Koda was very thankful that Kenai helped him get to the Salmon Run and wished that they would spend more time together. However, when Kenai revealed that he wouldn’t be coming back, it came as a shock to Koda as to why he wouldn’t see Kenai again after they had finally become friends. With some encouraging from the other bears, Koda shows Kenai the beauty of his home and convinces Kenai to stay with him and be part of his life. Feeling that they had finally embraced each other as friends, Koda becomes a little disappointed when Kenai called him a pain in the neck, but became happier than ever when Kenai gave him a hug to show the cub that he was joking around, embracing each other as brothers.
Just when it seems things couldn’t be better for the two bears, Koda’s world is turned upside down when a depressed Kenai reveals that he killed his mother. Heartbroken and devastated to learn that the person he loved so much and considered like a brother figure was responsible for killing his mother, Koda loses all the love and faith he had for Kenai, no longer knowing what to believe in. Even when Kenai regrets his actions, Koda is too drowned in despair to talk to him, but listens when Kenai expresses his desire to make up for what he did and soothe Koda’s pain. However, even after that, Koda remains hidden and doesn’t accompany Kenai when he leaves, still feeling betrayed and hurt that Kenai did something so cruel to his mother.
However, when Koda is reminded by the moose brothers Rutt and Tuke the values of brotherhood and how strong its bonds are, the cub remembers his friendship with Kenai and realizes that the good times they spent together weren’t lies or illusions. Knowing that Kenai really is his friend and he has changed, Koda saves his friend from Denahi by risking his own life. When Kenai is transformed back into a human, Koda becomes very frightened of him, recognizing him as the hunter who had attacked his mother before. But when he sees Kenai’s eyes, Koda is overjoyed to see that he is really Kenai and gives him hug, having forgiven Kenai for his sin and wishing to be with him forever. After Kenai is transformed back into a bear, Koda jumps on him to give him a hug, glad to have his friend back. He was also very proud that Kenai was able to fulfill his dream. After Kenai decided to stay with Koda, their bond evolved from friends to brothers, and they became inseparable loving and caring for each other and engaging in fun experiences together which only strengthened their brotherhood.
After 6 months of hibernation, Koda couldn’t be any closer to his big brother, who always stays by his side and helps his little brother when he’s down. However, when the bear brothers meet Kenai’s childhood friend, Nita, Koda’s loving bond with his big brother begins to fade, when the latter no longer pays attention to the cub. When Koda jokes around and Kenai yells at him, this short moment creates a rift between the bear brothers, with Koda becoming very scared and confused, creating doubts in his mind. As their journey progresses, Kenai continues neglecting of the little cub makes things even worse between them, with Kenai paying no attention since he’s with Nita, and Koda becoming more distant and indifferent, which is surprising considering how playful and cheerful the young cub is. He begins to feel rather angry at Kenai and how he is more caring of Nita than he is with Koda. When Kenai leaves him alone and doesn’t come back to get him, Koda’s anger turns into disappointment and sadness that his big brother would leave him on his own. This causes Koda to doubt if the love that he and Kenai had for each other is how he believed it is, being unbreakable and everlasting.
Even after everything that had happened, Koda still kept on the faith that Kenai would continue to be his brother and stay with him forever. However, when the cub eavesdrops on a conversation between Kenai and Nita, the latter admitting that he has thought about changing back into a man, Koda is shocked to hear that, believing that Kenai would really abandon him. Having lost all faith in their brotherly love, Koda runs away heartbroken, unable to even look at his brother. After an avalanche where both Koda and Nita nearly got killed, Kenai manages to save them, but still feels very scared being with Kenai. Although Kenai wasn’t angry at him and expressed how worried he was for his little brother, Koda was very sad and heartbroken believing that Kenai would leave him to be with Nita. Feeling that Kenai didn’t love him anymore and would abandon, Koda starts crying at the thought of losing his big brother, whom he loves so much and couldn’t let him go or get over the pain of not seeing him again. But after Kenai explains that he missed his former life, but that didn’t change the fact that Koda is his brother, and promises to never leave him, Koda jumps on Kenai and they both hug each other. While Kenai hugs his little brother tightly feeling sorry for being so hard on the small cub, Koda cries on his brother’s shoulder, feeling sorry that he ever doubted his loving big brother and also being glad that he will stay with him forever.
Once they part ways with Nita and return from their trip to Hokani Falls, Koda becomes worried over his brother’s gloomy behavior, seeing that Kenai was sad because he was separated from his childhood friend. He tries to comfort his brother and encourages him to confess his feelings to Nita. But Kenai has it hard to explain it to the cub, but tries to cheer him up by putting a brave face and reminding his little brother that they will enjoy their time together and they don’t have to worry about Nita anymore. But Koda realizes that Kenai isn’t being honest with himself and that he really misses Nita and wishes to be with her, and it makes Koda feel guilty that he came between them and was so possessive of his brother that he didn’t consider his feelings. Understanding that not even his love alone wouldn’t be enough to free his big brother from the sorrow he was feeling, Koda asks the Spirits to turn Kenai into a man so he can be happy with Nita, even though the cub himself becomes sad that he will lose his only family, but gathers his courage and stays strong for Kenai’s sake. His will to make Kenai happy again was so strong that he even went to Nita’s village to bring her back, even if it meant risking his life.
Koda’s brotherly bond with Kenai is put to the test a second time, when the Spirits come to grant Koda’s wish to turn Kenai back into a human. Having understood Kenai’s feelings for both Nita and himself, Koda gives Kenai a hug to show that he will always love his big brother and that he wishes for him to be happy with Nita, even if it means being separated from him, knowing that the love he received from his brother will never fade away. However, Kenai refuses since his own love for Koda is the thing he holds most dear and couldn’t live without his little brother. When Nita decides to join the bears instead so Kenai can remain with Koda, it makes Koda very happy that his brother’s dilemma has been resolved and exited that he marries Nita, thus not only having a happy Kenai to love him, but also an older sister bear. With all of them together Koda’s love for his brother continues to grow with his sister Nita.
What started out as a difficult relationship became an unbreakable bond between Koda and his big brother Kenai that continued to face problems and mistakes that nearly tore the bear brothers apart, but their love always proved stronger and it continued to grow with every obstacle.
Trivia[]
- Andy Lawrence, The Late Tyler James Williams All
- Koda's personality, cub-like nature and ability to highly annoy Kenai while still maintaining both of their affections for each other is a lot like Ujurak in Erin Hunter's book Seekers:The Quest Begins.
- Besides his mother, Koda's other known relatives are his grandparents, who he says are amoung the Great Spirits.
- In an earlier draft of Brother Bear, Kenai's guide and adoptive brother was an adult bear named Grizz who would have been voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan. However in later production, Grizz was scrapped and instead Koda was created and Michael Clarke Duncan went on to voice Tug.
- In earlier stages of production, Koda was going to be a adult bear until it was decided that he should be a cub instead as the creators wanted to Kenai to be the older brother instead of the younger brother.
