Amidst the wave of rough, pugnacious films currently being produced, Ferdinand is a diamond in the rough. The movie tells the tale of a young bull raised in the rural Spanish countryside.However, the story’s themes reveal much more than what one would expect to be a silly kids movie.

The movie begins by introducing us to four young bulls and their fathers, who are currently competing to be selected by the Matador (the world’s most renowned bullfighter). Ferdinand is the calf of the champion bull, and his father is whisked away from his farm to battle the Matador.

Unfortunately, Ferdinand’s father never returned from the fight (i.e, he was killed). When he realizes this, Ferdinand decides to run away from the farm he lives on by escaping onto a local train. After a long and tiresome journey, Ferdinand finally faints of exhaustion. When he awakes, he is greeted by a small girl and realizes that he has been taken in by a kind family who lives on a flower farm.

Fast-forward a few years, and Ferdinand has grown from a small calf into a huge, magnificent bull. However, he still possesses a kind and caring heart that most would not expect a “wild beast” to have. But on a trip to the city, Ferdinand is stung by a bee and is thrown into an accidental rampage. This causes animal control to come forth and seizes him away from the calm life he once knew.

Ironically, the “wild” bull is brought to a familiar looking farm; in fact, it’s the one that he was raised on! All the other bulls he knew when he was younger are more than surprised to see that the fragile, sissy bull has grown to be so large and powerful. Despite his new power,Ferdinand’s specialty is still making new friends and being kind.

After a while on the farm, Ferdinand wanders into one of the farmhouses in an attempt to escape. What he stumbles upon shocks him; it’s the horns of every bull that has been raised on the farm and defeated. He realizes that the bulls are not selected to be fought; they are selected to be killed. Using this knowledge, Ferdinand convinces the other bulls that there is a life outside of fighting; not every bull is a beast. I won’t spoil the whole movie, but there is something much deeper to Ferdinand than what initially appears. It’s a tale of overcoming your nature, to defy what is expected and burst through the boundaries of your inner self. Ferdinand appeals
excellently to all ages. 4.5/5 stars.