Ferdinand
Ferdinand, a little bull, prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree just smelling the flowers versus jumping around, snorting, and butting heads with other bulls. As Ferdinand grows big and strong, his temperament remains mellow, but one day five men come to choose the "biggest, fastest, roughest bull" for the bullfights in Madrid and Ferdinand is mistakenly chosen. Based on the classic 1936 children's book by Munro Leaf.
Despite a considerable budget of $111.0M, Ferdinand became a commercial success, earning $295.0M worldwide—a 166% return.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 22 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Ferdinand (2017) reveals deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Carlos Saldanha's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ferdinand
Lupe
Valiente
Nina
Bones
Guapo
Una
Angus
Main Cast & Characters
Ferdinand
Played by John Cena
A gentle bull who refuses to fight and prefers smelling flowers, challenging his predetermined fate in the bullfighting world.
Lupe
Played by Kate McKinnon
An energetic goat who dreams of becoming a coach for fighting bulls and befriends Ferdinand.
Valiente
Played by Bobby Cannavale
An ambitious bull determined to prove himself as the fiercest fighter and win glory in the bullring.
Nina
Played by Lily Day
A kind-hearted young girl who raises Ferdinand on her family's farm and shares his gentle spirit.
Bones
Played by Anthony Anderson
A wise, elderly bull who has survived past bullfights and serves as a voice of experience.
Guapo
Played by Peyton Manning
A vain bull obsessed with his appearance and maintaining his handsome looks.
Una
Played by Gina Rodriguez
A graceful horse who performs in the bullfighting arena and helps Ferdinand see another perspective.
Angus
Played by David Tennant
A Scottish-accented bull with a tough exterior but underlying anxiety about his fate.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Ferdinand at Casa del Toro is shown smelling flowers while other young bulls practice fighting, establishing him as gentle and different from the others.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Ferdinand's father leaves for the bullring and never returns. The devastating loss drives young Ferdinand to escape Casa del Toro, running away into the night.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to At the flower festival, Ferdinand accidentally causes chaos when he sits on a bee. Despite his gentle nature, he is captured by animal control and forcibly returned to Casa del Toro., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat El Primero, the legendary matador, arrives to choose his final bull. Ferdinand's attempt to appear weak backfires when his accidental display of strength makes him a prime candidate for the ring., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The escape fails. Ferdinand is captured and chosen as El Primero's final opponent. He will be taken to the bullring in Madrid, facing the same fate as his father - a whiff of death hangs over everything., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ferdinand enters the bullring and makes the conscious choice not to fight. When El Primero attacks, Ferdinand refuses to retaliate, instead sitting peacefully and smelling a flower thrown by a child., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ferdinand's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Ferdinand against these established plot points, we can identify how Carlos Saldanha utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Ferdinand within the animation genre.
Carlos Saldanha's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Carlos Saldanha films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Ferdinand takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Carlos Saldanha filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Carlos Saldanha analyses, see Rio 2, Ice Age: The Meltdown and Rio.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Ferdinand at Casa del Toro is shown smelling flowers while other young bulls practice fighting, establishing him as gentle and different from the others.
Theme
Ferdinand's father tells him that fighting is what bulls do, but Ferdinand insists there must be another way - foreshadowing the film's message that true strength is being yourself.
Worldbuilding
We meet young Ferdinand and his fellow calves at Casa del Toro, where bulls are raised for bullfighting. Ferdinand befriends the hedgehogs and dreams of a peaceful life while his father prepares for the ring.
Disruption
Ferdinand's father leaves for the bullring and never returns. The devastating loss drives young Ferdinand to escape Casa del Toro, running away into the night.
Resistance
Ferdinand finds refuge at Nina's flower farm where he grows up in peace and happiness. Nina and her father become his family, and he spends years living his dream life surrounded by flowers.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
At the flower festival, Ferdinand accidentally causes chaos when he sits on a bee. Despite his gentle nature, he is captured by animal control and forcibly returned to Casa del Toro.
Mirror World
Ferdinand meets Lupe, an eccentric goat who appoints herself as his coach. Her unconditional acceptance and belief in him represents the theme of finding strength through friendship and staying true to yourself.
Premise
Ferdinand navigates life at Casa del Toro, reconnecting with his childhood rivals Valiente, Bones, Angus, and Maquina. He tries to convince them that fighting isn't the answer while searching for a way to escape.
Midpoint
El Primero, the legendary matador, arrives to choose his final bull. Ferdinand's attempt to appear weak backfires when his accidental display of strength makes him a prime candidate for the ring.
Opposition
The bulls compete desperately to be chosen, not realizing it means death. Ferdinand organizes an escape plan with the hedgehogs' help, but tensions rise as Guapo is sent to the chop house and Valiente loses his horn.
Collapse
The escape fails. Ferdinand is captured and chosen as El Primero's final opponent. He will be taken to the bullring in Madrid, facing the same fate as his father - a whiff of death hangs over everything.
Crisis
Ferdinand is transported to the bullring. His friends rally to help him, and he must face the reality that he may die. He processes his fear and finds resolve in staying true to who he is.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ferdinand enters the bullring and makes the conscious choice not to fight. When El Primero attacks, Ferdinand refuses to retaliate, instead sitting peacefully and smelling a flower thrown by a child.
Synthesis
The crowd is moved by Ferdinand's peaceful resistance and chants for his life to be spared. El Primero, humbled, lowers his sword. Ferdinand's gentle nature triumphs over the violent tradition.
Transformation
Ferdinand returns to Nina's flower farm, this time bringing all his bull friends and Lupe with him. The once-lonely flower-loving bull now has a family, proving that being yourself creates the deepest connections.