Ferdinand the Bull on AllMovie

One of Disney's most famous and popular cartoon featurettes, Ferdinand the Bull is based on the 1936 children's book written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. In sunny Spain, little Ferdinand the bull does not want to scamper about and butt heads with his bovine brethern; a peaceful soul, he'd rather sit under his favorite tree and smell the flowers. Growing up to be very big and very strong, Ferdinand still has no desire to enter the bullring as his brothers do. But when five men in funny hats show up to pick the best of the herd for an upcoming bullfight, a bee's sting galvanizes Ferdinand into action, convincing the men that our hero is the boldest bull of all. Billed as "El Toro Ferocio", Ferdinand is forced into the bullring--only to stop dead in his tracks and smell the flowers once again, much to the dismay of the embarrassed Matador. One of the cartoon's highlights occurs at the bullring during the entrance of the Bandoleros and Picadors, all bearing a striking resemblance to the Disney animation staff--while the head matador is a spot-on caricature of Walt Disney himself!