Spirit Untamed
Lucky Prescott's life is changed forever when she moves from her home in the city to a small frontier town and befriends a wild mustang named Spirit.
Working with a mid-range budget of $30.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $42.7M in global revenue (+42% profit margin).
1 win & 9 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%)
Spirit Untamed (2021) reveals meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Elaine Bogan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 28 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Lucky Prescott
Spirit
Pru Granger
Abigail Stone
Jim Prescott
Cora Prescott
Hendricks
Main Cast & Characters
Lucky Prescott
Played by Isabela Merced
A headstrong city girl who moves to the frontier and bonds with a wild mustang named Spirit
Spirit
Played by Jeff Probst
A wild mustang stallion who refuses to be tamed and becomes Lucky's companion
Pru Granger
Played by Marsai Martin
A responsible and rule-following girl who becomes one of Lucky's best friends
Abigail Stone
Played by Mckenna Grace
An enthusiastic and quirky girl who befriends Lucky and Pru
Jim Prescott
Played by Jake Gyllenhaal
Lucky's father who struggles to connect with his daughter after years apart
Cora Prescott
Played by Julianne Moore
Lucky's late mother, a fearless trick-riding performer who inspires Lucky's spirit
Hendricks
Played by Walton Goggins
A ruthless wrangler hired to capture wild horses for profit
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lucky Prescott lives a refined, controlled life in the city with her aunt Cora, performing circus tricks on horseback but feeling disconnected and constrained by society's expectations for a proper young lady.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when After Lucky causes chaos at a society event, her father Jim decides to send her West to the frontier town of Miradero, where her late mother grew up—a journey that will reconnect Lucky with her roots.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Lucky encounters Spirit, a wild mustang stallion, and feels an instant, profound connection. She makes the active choice to pursue and befriend this untamed horse, committing to the frontier life and embracing her wild side rather than returning to city refinement., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Horse wranglers led by Hendricks capture Spirit and his herd to sell them. Lucky witnesses this violence and realizes the stakes are real—freedom isn't just fun and games, it can be stolen. The adventure becomes dangerous, raising the stakes significantly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The rescue attempt goes wrong. Lucky is captured by Hendricks and separated from her friends. Spirit is still imprisoned, the herd faces an uncertain fate, and Lucky confronts the possibility that her recklessness—the very trait she inherited from her mother—might cost everything, including her friends' safety., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Lucky realizes that being wild doesn't mean being reckless—her mother's spirit lives on through courage combined with love and responsibility. Her friends and father arrive, demonstrating their belief in her. Lucky understands she can be free AND connected, synthesizing both lessons., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Spirit Untamed's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Spirit Untamed against these established plot points, we can identify how Elaine Bogan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Spirit Untamed within the animation genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lucky Prescott lives a refined, controlled life in the city with her aunt Cora, performing circus tricks on horseback but feeling disconnected and constrained by society's expectations for a proper young lady.
Theme
Aunt Cora warns Lucky about being "wild and reckless" like her late mother Milagro, suggesting that freedom must be balanced with responsibility—the central tension Lucky must resolve.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Lucky's constrained city life, her rebellious spirit inherited from her deceased mother Milagro (a legendary frontierswoman), her strained relationship with her distant father Jim, and her yearning for something more authentic than her staged performances.
Disruption
After Lucky causes chaos at a society event, her father Jim decides to send her West to the frontier town of Miradero, where her late mother grew up—a journey that will reconnect Lucky with her roots.
Resistance
Lucky arrives in Miradero and resists embracing this new world, feeling out of place in the rugged frontier town. She meets Pru and Abigail, two confident local girls, and her father's expectations feel stifling, but she's not yet ready to let go of her old identity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lucky encounters Spirit, a wild mustang stallion, and feels an instant, profound connection. She makes the active choice to pursue and befriend this untamed horse, committing to the frontier life and embracing her wild side rather than returning to city refinement.
Mirror World
Lucky bonds with Pru and Abigail, forming a friendship trio. These girls embody the theme of freedom with responsibility—Pru is disciplined, Abigail is joyful, and together they show Lucky how to be wild without being reckless.
Premise
Lucky, Pru, and Abigail ride together through the beautiful frontier, learning about horses and friendship. Lucky works to gain Spirit's trust, discovers her mother's legacy in the town, and experiences the freedom and adventure she's always craved, living out the promise of the wild West.
Midpoint
Horse wranglers led by Hendricks capture Spirit and his herd to sell them. Lucky witnesses this violence and realizes the stakes are real—freedom isn't just fun and games, it can be stolen. The adventure becomes dangerous, raising the stakes significantly.
Opposition
Lucky convinces Pru and Abigail to help rescue Spirit, but the plan is dangerous. Her father forbids her from going, creating a rift. The girls sneak out anyway and pursue the wranglers, facing harsh terrain, physical danger, and growing opposition from both the villains and Lucky's father, who doesn't understand her need for freedom.
Collapse
The rescue attempt goes wrong. Lucky is captured by Hendricks and separated from her friends. Spirit is still imprisoned, the herd faces an uncertain fate, and Lucky confronts the possibility that her recklessness—the very trait she inherited from her mother—might cost everything, including her friends' safety.
Crisis
In captivity, Lucky faces her darkest moment, questioning whether being wild and free is worth the cost. She reflects on her mother's death (a result of taking risks) and wonders if Aunt Cora was right—perhaps she needs to be tamed for everyone's safety.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lucky realizes that being wild doesn't mean being reckless—her mother's spirit lives on through courage combined with love and responsibility. Her friends and father arrive, demonstrating their belief in her. Lucky understands she can be free AND connected, synthesizing both lessons.
Synthesis
Lucky, her father, and her friends work together to outmaneuver Hendricks and free Spirit and the herd. Lucky uses both her refined circus skills (from her city upbringing) and her newfound frontier courage, combining both sides of herself. The community comes together, and Lucky liberates the horses in a thrilling climactic rescue.
Transformation
Lucky rides freely with Spirit across the frontier, now fully at home in Miradero. Her father watches proudly, accepting her wild spirit. Lucky has integrated both worlds—she is both her mother's daughter and her own person, wild but not reckless, free but connected to those she loves.