It's hard to believe, but Disney-Pixar's "Brave," released Friday, features the studio's first animated female lead -- and this is one of the (many) reasons why we're so excited to see the movie.

In case you haven't caught the heartwarming trailer yet, the film follows the story of young Merida, a "spirited, self-reliant" heroine from Scotland (a long time ago). When she defies an age-old custom, she has to set out on a quest to save her kingdom from an evil witch's curse, bow and arrow in hand.

In honor of Merida -- a strong teen princess who can rescue herself -- we made a list of a few more of our favorite young, female role models from TV and film. Check them out in the below slideshow.

Any names to add? Sound off in the comments or tweet your thoughts to @HuffPostTeen!

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  • Merida

    Merida is the star of <em>Brave</em>, a Disney-Pixar animated film that hits theaters today! She's a Scottish princess, but she's anything but prim. She defies an ancient tradition and launches on a quest to restore peace to her kingdom. Did we mention she can wield a mean bow and arrow?

  • Katniss Everdeen

    Katniss Everdeen was your average hard-working Seam teenager until she replaced her sister Prim as a tribute in <em>The Hunger Games</em>. She puts up a pretty bad-ass fight for her family, her district, and her life. We're impressed!

  • Hermione Granger

    At first glance, Harry Potter's <em>Hermione Granger</em> is a rule-abiding bookworm. But when she gets revved up about a cause she believes in (like defending her friends, in this video clip!), she not afraid to unleash some serious power. She uses a fearless combination of brains and magic to restore justice.

  • Hit-Girl

    Can you think of anyone more kick-ass than a pre-teen killing machine superhero who goes by the name of "Hit-Girl"... in a film called <em>Kick-Ass</em>? Yeah, we didn't think so. She slices and dices her enemies without a hint of remorse and spits out some of Hollywood's most shocking lines. This is one tiny teen you <em>don't</em> want to mess with.

  • Brittany Pierce - Glee

    While the bubbly blonde might not wield weapons or punch out her enemies, she's an unstoppable dancer who isn't afraid to express herself. Between her run for class president, sweet relationship with Santana, and hysterical one-liners, Brittany is a force to be reckoned with.

  • Olive Penderghast

    <em>Easy A</em>'s Olive Penderghast learns the hard way how easily the rumor mill can spin out of control. But rather than curl up in embarrassment, she keeps her head held high and stays confident. She's sassy, smart, and always funny -- a total winner in our book.

  • Mulan

    Girls aren't exactly desired in Mulan's community, so she sneaks into the army and transforms into a butt-kicking warrior. Years before the concept of feminism even existed, Mulan proved that girls <em>can</em> do everything that guys can do!

  • Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup

    Meet Blossum, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three crime-fighting Powderpuff Girls who save the day from a slew of monsters and villains. These three superheroes were probably the first bad-ass heroines you ever saw on TV as a kid. Go girl power!