Ferdinand the Bull (film)

Ferdinand the Bull film poster

Ferdinand the Bull is a 1938 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film is based on the 1936 children's book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. It was directed by Dick Rickard and features the voice of Milt Kahl as Ferdinand.

Plot[edit | edit source]

The story follows Ferdinand, a gentle bull who prefers smelling flowers to fighting in bullfights. Despite his peaceful nature, Ferdinand is mistakenly chosen to participate in a bullfight in Madrid. On the day of the fight, Ferdinand refuses to engage with the matador and instead sits down in the middle of the ring to enjoy the flowers thrown by the audience. His behavior confounds the matador and the spectators, leading to his eventual return to his peaceful life in the countryside.

Production[edit | edit source]

The film was produced by Walt Disney and directed by Dick Rickard. The animation was done by a team of animators including Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, and Fred Moore. The music for the film was composed by Albert Hay Malotte.

Reception[edit | edit source]

Ferdinand the Bull was well-received by audiences and critics alike. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1938. The film's success helped to solidify Walt Disney Productions' reputation for producing high-quality animated films.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The character of Ferdinand has remained popular over the years, appearing in various forms of media including books, television shows, and a 2017 feature-length animated film titled Ferdinand. The original 1938 short film is considered a classic and is often included in collections of Disney's best animated works.