Ferdinand the Bull
Ferdinand the Bull

Movie spotlight

Ferdinand the Bull

1938
Movie
8 min
English

This Oscar-winning short tells of a bull who preferred to sit under trees and smell flowers to clashing horns with his fellow animals. As luck would have it, an untimely bee reveals Ferdinand's ferocious side via pained howls and wild stomping. This lands him in the bull-fighting arena amidst characters based on Walt's animators with a matador reportedly modeled after Walt himself.

Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Director: Dick LundyGenres: Animation, Short, Family, Comedy, Fantasy

Plot Summary

Ferdinand, a young bull, prefers smelling flowers in the pasture to butting heads with other bulls. When he accidentally sits on a bee and charges into town, the bullfighters believe he is fierce and choose him for the bullfight. However, Ferdinand's gentle nature prevails in the arena, much to the surprise of everyone.

Critical Reception

This animated short film, based on the beloved children's book, was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its charming animation, faithful adaptation of the source material, and its gentle, anti-violence message, resonating with audiences of all ages. It is considered a classic of Disney's early animation efforts.

What Reviewers Say

  • A beautifully animated and heartwarming adaptation of a classic story.

  • Ferdinand's gentle spirit and the film's anti-violence message were widely appreciated.

  • A charming and timeless short that appealed to both children and adults.

Google audience: While specific Google user ratings are not readily available for this historical short, contemporary and general audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive, praising its enduring charm and wholesome message.

Awards & Accolades

Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) - Nominated

Fun Fact

The film was controversial in some countries, including Spain and Portugal, due to its perceived anti-fascist message, leading to it being banned in certain regions during that era.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

All poor old “Ferdy” wants to do is sit in peace and enjoy his flowery pasture, but when he gets stung by a bee he runs rampage and that impresses the local bigwigs who conclude he’d be a terror at the next bullfight. With posters everywher...