Ferdinand the Bull (1938)

Little Ferdinand would much rather smell the flowers than butt heads with the other cows. When the men come to choose the bull for the fight, Ferdinand accidentally sits on a bumblebee. The... See full summary »

Writers:

Munro Leaf (story), Robert Lawson (story)

Stars:

Don Wilson, Milt Kahl

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
Don Wilson	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Little Ferdinand would much rather smell the flowers than butt heads with the other cows. When the men come to choose the bull for the fight, Ferdinand accidentally sits on a bumblebee. The men see him dash around madly, so they pick Ferdinand. Comes the bullfight, and all Ferdinand cares about is the bouquet of flowers a woman tossed to the matador.

---

Plot Keywords:

flower | bull | bouquet | cow | matador | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family | Animation | Short

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ferdinand härkä

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

8 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the only Oscar winner for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) from the 1930s that was not a Silly Symphony.

---

Quotes

Matador: Whassa matta with you, you crazy bull? Fight!

---

Connections

Featured in Ink & Paint Club: Award Winners II (1998)

---

Soundtracks

"Ferdinand The Bull"
Written by Larry Morey and Albert Hay Malotte

User Reviews

Ferdinand did not get released quietly.

From a two-page trade-paper ad on November 2, 1938:

"WALT DISNEY'S Production of FERDINAND THE BULL. Never in all motion picture history have any but the most important feature attractions been given such nation-wide plugging!...Stories, articles, art and pictorial layouts, editorials and fashion announcements in magazines whose NET PAID CIRCULATIONS TOTAL 15, 542, 945! Look at the list already committed: LIFE...PHOTOPLAY...CUE...SCREEN GUIDE...VOGUE...MICKEY MOUSE MAGAZINE...LOOK...McCALLS...HARPER'S BAZAAR...STAGE...YOUNG America...MOVIE LIFE...LIBERTY...WOMAN'S DAY...MOVIE STORY...THEATRE ARTS...SCHOLASTIC...ROCKEFELLER CENTER WEEKLY.

Add to this a total of sixty-four licensees signed up for one hundred and two separate articles of merchandise. Big window displays everywhere. Big fashion parades in department stores. A PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT CAN BE COMPARED ONLY WITH SNOW WHITE.'"

THANKSGIVING WEEK ATTRACTION AT LEADING FIRST RUNS EVERYWHERE.

NEXT Disney RELEASES * MERBABIES -Release Date, December 9 * MOTHER GOOSE GOES Hollywood - Release Date, December 23

Mr. Disney knew how to go to market.