Ferdinand is an over-the-top cartoony movie about a massive bull who's expected to be a fighter but only wants peace. It gets wildly energetic, sometimes to the point of being too much. The crazy goat, especially, is a really bizarre character that sometimes makes me laugh and sometimes just makes me uncomfortable. But if you're in the right mood and don't take it too seriously, there are some pretty silly and funny moments in the movie. Something I like too is that most of the characters, for all their quirks, have a moment of vulnerability. The few calm moments reveal a lovely message about putting down arms and soaking in the simple joys of life.

This may not be a Pixar movie, but it still is worth your time. It has some wisdoms of life, tells you it is ok to break out of structures while growing up and finding yourself and other positive (I would call them that) messages. Of course this also has jokes about incest and death - though both well "hidden" inside jokes. So something for the adults to enjoy snickering about and something I reckon kids wouldn't get in its entirety.

Good animation, funny dialog and an interesting set of characters add to the overall fun you can have with this. The voice performances are also really fine. Story works for the little ones but also the big ones watching with them (or without - there's no judging who watches it, anybody can).

In Spain, Ferdinand is a young bull. He is eager to see his father off to the bullfight. He is dumbfounded when his father doesn't return and runs away from the ranch. He is adopted by young Nina and her father Juan. He is accepted by her dog Paco. He grows up to be a hulking peaceful bull. During a flower festival, Ferdinand is literally a bull in the china shop and he is taken back to the ranch where he is expected to fight.

This is a Blue Sky - Fox production which also makes the Ice Age franchise. The animation is half a step below the best of the best. It's a nice looking cartoon. The animal designs are nice. The story is fine. The final bullfighting is excellent with some nice laughs. The bull in the china shop is perfect. I only have one big problem. Once Ferdinand is joined by Nina and Paco, he needs to stay connected with those characters somehow. Obviously, Nina can't be at the ranch but she could go on a search for him. Paco is basically an animal sidekick. He could have been a funny small bird or mouse who befriends him at the farm and joins him on the journey. Ferdinand needs a comedic animal sidekick. It's a classic cartoon trope and it's missing from this movie. There are missed opportunity in the writing. Nevertheless, this is enjoyable for the whole family.