Ferdinand only wants to stop and smell the flowers.
This Oscar-winning short tells of a bull who preferred to sit under trees and smell flowers to clashing horns with his fellow animals. As luck would have it, an untimely bee reveals Ferdinand's ferocious side via pained howls and wild stomping. This lands him in the bull-fighting arena amidst characters based on Walt's animators with a matador reportedly modeled after Walt himself.
Ferdinand the Bull (1938) is a animation, comedy and family film directed by Dick Rickard, released on November 23, 1938 with a runtime of 8m. It stars Milt Kahl, Don Wilson and Walt Disney. Viewers rate it 6.7 out of 10 across 223 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Ferdinand the Bull before you stream it.
Directed by Dick Rickard, written by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, produced by Walt Disney.
Average viewer score of 6.7/10 from 223 ratings.
All poor old “Ferdy” wants to do is sit in peace and enjoy his flowery pasture, but when he gets stung by a bee he runs rampage and that impresses the local bigwigs who conclude he’d be a terror at the next bullfight. With posters everywhere depicting this terrifying and horned beast, he arrives in the ring only to have reverted to his old, gentle, self. No amount of provocation is going to get him to attack the…
Reviewed on December 19, 2025
In a world that often demands brute force and pushes aggressive stereotypes, it’s surprising to find the answer to true courage in an animated short from almost a century ago. "Ferdinand the Bull" isn't just a forgotten gem from Disney's golden age; it’s a timeless manifesto on the right to be vulnerable and the liberating power of embracing who we truly are. Get ready to discover why this classic, clocking in at…
Reviewed on May 26, 2026
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Ferdinand the Bull (1938) is available to stream on Disney Plus. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of Ferdinand the Bull (1938) includes Milt Kahl, Don Wilson and Walt Disney. The film was directed by Dick Rickard. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Ferdinand the Bull was released on November 23, 1938 and runs for 8m.
Ferdinand the Bull (1938) holds an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 from 223 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy animation, comedy and family films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Ferdinand the Bull trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
