Ferdinand (2017)

Academy Awards, USA 2018

Nominee Oscar

Best Animated Feature Film Carlos Saldanha

Twentieth Century Fox
Directed by Carlos Saldanha
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Fox)

At a Spanish ranch for bullfighting, a young bull is ridiculed for his non-violent nature and tendency to smell flowers. When his father is called to the ring and never returns, young Ferdinand escapes from the ranch and ends up at a flower growing operation. He is adopted by a young girl who raises him as her pet. Years later, the mature Ferdinand is told to stay home for the annual flower festival. Unable to resist, he goes anyway and causes chaos. He is captured and sent back to the bullfighting ranch. A respected matador shows up to choose a bull for his last fight and Ferdinand inadvertently shows he is the strongest. After a failed escape attempt, he ends up in the ring in Madrid to face the matador. Potential anti-violence message, and more subtle message about gender roles, lost amidst too much silly dancing and modern cultural references.