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 solid performer, earning $295.0M worldwide—a 166% return.
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) showcases meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Carlos Saldanha's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-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.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Ferdinand is a gentle bull who prefers smelling flowers to fighting, while other young bulls practice butting heads at Casa del Toro.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Ferdinand's father doesn't return from the bullfight, and Ferdinand realizes what happens to bulls in the ring. He escapes Casa del Toro that 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 Ferdinand goes to the flower festival in town despite warnings. After being stung by a bee, he causes chaos in the village and is mistaken for a dangerous fighting bull, leading to his capture., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Three bulls are chosen for the final fight in Madrid, and Ferdinand realizes he must either fight to prove himself or face being sent to the slaughterhouse. The stakes become life or death., 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 attempt fails. The other bulls refuse to leave, believing they have no other purpose. Ferdinand is captured and loaded onto the truck to Madrid, separated from his friends and facing the bullfight alone., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. In the ring, Ferdinand refuses to fight despite the matador's provocations. His gentle nature wins over the crowd. The matador relents, and Ferdinand is spared. Nina and Juan arrive to take him home, and the other bulls are freed., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ferdinand's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. 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 3 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, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Carlos Saldanha analyses, see Rio, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Ferdinand is a gentle bull who prefers smelling flowers to fighting, while other young bulls practice butting heads at Casa del Toro.
Theme
Ferdinand's father tells him "You can be anything you want," establishing the theme of choosing your own path despite others' expectations.
Worldbuilding
We learn bulls are raised to be fighters for the bullfighting ring. Ferdinand's father is chosen by the matador but never returns, and the young bulls realize the dark fate awaiting them.
Disruption
Ferdinand's father doesn't return from the bullfight, and Ferdinand realizes what happens to bulls in the ring. He escapes Casa del Toro that night.
Resistance
Ferdinand is found and adopted by Nina and her father Juan on a flower farm, where he grows up living peacefully for years, becoming enormous but gentle.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ferdinand goes to the flower festival in town despite warnings. After being stung by a bee, he causes chaos in the village and is mistaken for a dangerous fighting bull, leading to his capture.
Premise
Ferdinand tries to prove he's not a fighter while dealing with other bulls' aggression. He attempts to escape, befriends hedgehogs, and encounters the bunny-obsessed horse Bones, all while avoiding being chosen for the ring.
Midpoint
Three bulls are chosen for the final fight in Madrid, and Ferdinand realizes he must either fight to prove himself or face being sent to the slaughterhouse. The stakes become life or death.
Opposition
Ferdinand and the bulls train under pressure. Guapo is injured and taken away. Ferdinand discovers the slaughterhouse and realizes the true fate of bulls who don't fight. He plans a mass escape but faces resistance.
Collapse
The escape attempt fails. The other bulls refuse to leave, believing they have no other purpose. Ferdinand is captured and loaded onto the truck to Madrid, separated from his friends and facing the bullfight alone.
Crisis
Ferdinand sits alone in the holding pen beneath the arena, hearing the crowd above. He must decide who he is: will he fight to survive or stay true to himself?
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
In the ring, Ferdinand refuses to fight despite the matador's provocations. His gentle nature wins over the crowd. The matador relents, and Ferdinand is spared. Nina and Juan arrive to take him home, and the other bulls are freed.