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Ferdinand climbs Netflix's global chart eight years post-release, with 7.3 million views in August 2024. Mixed reviews initially affected the film's box office performance, but international success led to $296 million gross. John Cena's rising popularity may contribute to renewed interest in the movie, as well as its availability on Netflix.

Ferdinand makes its way to the Netflix global chart eight years after its original release. Directed by Carlos Saldanha, this 2017 animated comedy, which was loosely based on Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson's The Story of Ferdinand, follows the titular character, a gentlehearted bull who escapes his bull-fighting ranch to find a home with a kind farm family. The bull was voiced by John Cena and the other Ferdinand voice cast members include talented names like David Tennant, Peyton Manning, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale, and Gina Rodriguez.

Now, several years after the release of Ferdinand, the animated comedy has made...

December box-office hit Ferdinand (Fox/Blue Sky) — about a bull who would rather smell the roses than partake in bullfights — is battling Coco (Disney/Pixar), among other contenders, for the Best Animated Film trophy at the Golden Globes this year. The film has a talented Latin cast, including Jane the Virgin‘s Gina Rodriguez, Colombian singer Juanes, comedian Gabriel Iglesias and Univision TV host Karla Martinez.

Rodriguez plays a sassy hedgehog named Uma in the film, inspired by the children’s book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. “It’s fantastic. It’s a beautiful movie,” Rodriguez said on...

Chicago – Like the repeat tenets of real estate, good animated films come down to story, story, story. And ‘Ferdinand,’ an older children’s tale adapted to modern audiences, combines a gentle source narrative with palatable visual and cartoon jokes. It’s fun for the whole family!

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The story of Ferdinand the Bull has roots in 1936, when an old timey writer of children’s books, Munro Leaf (who also wrote “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”), chronicled the scenario of a physically-strong-yet-gentle bull, who would rather sniff flowers than fight in the bullring. Three screenwriters – usually a red flag – adapted the story for modern kid audiences, yet maintained the gentleness and humor associated with it (the film is produced by Blue Sky Animation, the creators of the Ice Age series). Strong voice characterizations also make it work, including ex-WWE wrestler John Cena as the title character. The antics in the film...

A flower-sniffing bull goes on a journey of self-discovery in this fun adaptation of a 30s children’s book

Based on Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson’s 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand, this gently subversive Madrid-set feature from animation studio Blue Sky and frequent collaborator Carlos Saldanha (the Ice Age films, Rio) follows an adorable, flower-sniffing bull named Ferdinand. “Is it Ok if that’s not my dream?” the baby bull asks his father of fighting. When he discovers that he has no choice, Ferdinand scarpers, hoofing it to a flower farm, where he befriends a human girl and her shaggy sheepdog. Ferdinand’s passivity (and flower obsession) isn’t explicitly coded as queer, though the film hints that this might be the case.

Either way, Ferdinand celebrates his mild temperament and non-confrontational masculinity, which remain unchanged as his bull’s body grows resplendently large. The adult Ferdinand...

It’s the latest round of People’s Kids Interview — and the cast of Ferdinand is in the adorable hot seat.

First up is 8-year-old Beckett, who wants to know from John Cena what it’s like being the voice of Ferdinand.

“Well being Ferdinand is kind of like being John Cena,” he says. “I’m big and strong but everybody kind of expects me to be a fighter and I’m more than just a fighter. It’s kind of a struggle sometimes to be myself but I always do my best to be me and let people decide...

With the big holiday school break fast approaching, parents may be looking for a way to keep the kiddies entertained. Maybe they can be dropped off at the mall’s multiplex while the folks do some last-minute shopping (or exchanging/returning a few weeks from now). Perhaps the pre-teen action of the Jumanji reboot may be a bit overwhelming, along with the new adventure in that “galaxy far, far away”. Well, hopefully they’ve been dazzled by the wonders of the new Disney/Pixar masterwork Coco (you parents and teens should see it, too). Like that recent flick, this one has a distinct Latin flavor, but it’s fairly mild rather than spicy. And it’s based (inspired really) by a 1938 Oscar-winning cartoon short from the “house of mouse”. However, those doing the “re-imagining” (stretching it from eight minutes to over one hundred) are the upstarts from Blue Sky, the...

Louisa Mellor Dec 18, 2017

Blue Sky Studios Art Director Tom Cardone talks us through how his team created the visual style of Ferdinand…

The Story Of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf is Spanish-set tale of a bull who refuses to fight in the ring and prefers the scent of flowers to that of blood. Blue Sky Studios, the creative team behind the Ice Age franchise and, recently, The Peanuts Movie, brings out its feature-length adaptation of Leaf’s story this weekend.

See related 35 big movies to watch in 2017

On a visit to Blue Sky’s Connecticut headquarters, art director Tom Cardone talked us through his team’s approach to Ferdinand’s visual style. As, unlike other animation studios, there’s no such thing as a Blue Sky house style, the first goal, says Tom, was to make the look of the film distinctive from what’s gone before.

The real-world location helped towards that aim.

Louisa Mellor Dec 15, 2017

We chatted to actor and writer Sally Phillips about comedy, European accents, special cuddles, writing films and more...

“I’m quite keen to meet a Finnish shaman, have you seen them?” asks Sally Phillips three minutes into an interview that’s supposed to be about her role in new family animation Ferdinand. Scrolling through her phone, she presents me with a photograph of a fearsome looking woman with Pris from Blade Runner eye make-up, wearing an elaborate headdress and holding a tambourine.

See related Star Wars: The Last Jedi review

“Look at the expression! Very, very miserable, tambourine, excellent eye make-up” says Phillips, delighted. “I play a character who looks a bit like that in Zapped! and I did something else recently where they painted a black chicken on one eye. I thought, well, it’s slowly, slowly happening, I’m turning into a Finnish Shaman.”

Despite not having visited Finland,...

MaryAnn’s quick take… Goofy, charming, faithful to its sweet source material, and all while advancing the standard “Be yourself” message with fresh challenges to gender expectations. I’m “biast” (pro): love the book

I’m “biast” (con): not a fan of Blue Sky’s movies

I have read the source material (and I love it)

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

When the now-beloved children’s book The Story of Ferdinand was first published in 1936, some grownups were worried that it might have a bad influence on children. Apparently its sweet, simple story — from writer Munro Leaf, with instantly iconic illustrations by Robert Lawson — was seen as promoting (take your pick) pacifism, fascism, communism, and/or anarchism. To be fair, its tale of a bull in Spain who wasn’t interested in bullfighting and only wanted to loll about in fields of flowers could...

Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the animated comedy “Ferdinand” starring John Cena and Kate McKinnon!

“Ferdinand,” which opens on Dec. 15, 2017 and is rated “PG,” also stars Anthony Anderson, Bobby Cannavale, Peyton Manning, Gina Rodriguez, David Tennant, Jerrod Carmichael and Gabriel Iglesias from director Carlos Saldanha based on the book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.

To win your free passes to “Ferdinand” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 at 11 a.m. in Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds of winning; this doesn’t intensify your competition!

Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 at 10 p.m. Cst.

The director of a number of films in the Ice Age and Rio series—the latter taking place in his native Brazil—Carlos Saldanha knows his animals. With his latest, Ferdinand, Saldanha gives his take on the classic story of a pacifist fighting bull, first told in Munro Leaf’s classic 1936 children’s book, and later, in an Oscar-winning Disney short. A 2004 Oscar nominee for his Gone Nutty animated short, Saldanha would take Blue Sky Studios to its fourth Oscar nomination if…...

Louisa Mellor Dec 11, 2017

To mark this weekend’s release of Ferdinand, from the studio behind the Ice Age films, we chatted to its art director, Thomas Cardone…

When art director Tom Cardone talks about designing the style of a film, he could be talking about music. It’s all a matter of rhythm and counterpoint, contrast and dynamics. For Ferdinand, Blue Sky Studio’s adaptation of Munro Leaf’s 1936 children’s book about a Spanish bull who prefers flowers to fighting, Cardone and his team developed a stylised visual language inspired by the rolling landscapes of Southern Spain.

See related Chad Stahelski interview: John Wick 2, Highlander

The goal was to make things “a little more fun than photorealism”, something achieved by sparing, but bold use of colour, comically stretching proportions, and repeating patterns the team discovered in authentic Spanish ceramics in the film’s paving slabs, wooden table tops and more.

Louisa Mellor Dec 12, 2017

Ferdinand, the new animation from the studio behind the Ice Age films, is out this weekend. We spoke to its director Carlos Saldanha…

Published over eighty years ago, Munro Leaf’s The Story Of Ferdinand is a children’s book which has excited controversy and devotion over the decades. It was banned in Franco’s Spain, burned in Nazi Germany, and lauded elsewhere for its beautiful and endlessly interpretably tale of a Spanish bull who refuses to fight in the bullring, preferring the scent of flowers to that of blood.

See related Why Annihilation going straight to Netflix matters Annihilation: Paramount dropping UK cinema release

For an animation studio which has already adapted the work of two Us children’s fiction greats—Dr Seuss in 2009’s Horton Hears A Who and Charles M. Schulz in 2015’s The Peanuts Movie—Leaf’s story was a natural choice for Blue Sky Studios.

From the studio behind the Ice Age films comes Ferdinand, a funny, sensitive film with a good heart. Here’s our review…

Part of the legend surrounding Munro Leaf’s 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand is that it was written, start to finish, in less than 40 minutes. It’s a short story, 30 illustrated pages and maybe 600 words, about a Spanish bull who prefers to smell flowers than to fight.

Blue Sky Studio’s feature-length adaptation has, naturally, taken a great deal longer. The project was first announced in 2011 and originally scheduled for a spring, then summer release this year. (It’s finally opening this month against Star Wars: The Last Jedi, just as its previous non-Ice Age film, The Peanuts Movie, opened against The Force Awakens.)

Why the delay? Story, says Carlos Saldanha, also the director of Rio, who has been with the studio almost from the start.

It’s no Coco, but Ferdinand, a CG-animated adaptation of the classic 1936 Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson book about a flower-loving bull who’d rather sniff than fight, manages to squeak by with enough charming set-pieces and amusing sight gags to compensate for a stalling storyline.

Nimbly choreographed by Carlos Saldanha, marking the seventh Blue Sky feature he has either directed or co-directed, with John Cena agreeably voicing the role of the “peace-a-bull” protagonist, the Fox release should handily hit the bullseye with targeted holiday family audiences when it charges into theaters next weekend.

Although the Leaf book, featuring Lawson’s whimsical...

“You can’t judge a bull by his cover.”

That’s the moral of the favorite children’s story Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, which Blue Sky Studios and Twentieth Century Fox have adapted for the big screen, hitting theaters on Dec. 15. The all-star cast includes John Cena (as Ferdinand — typecasting much?!), Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson and more. You can watch the trailer here.

In honor of this animated tale about a giant bull who’s “a lover, not a fighter,” the studio has teamed up with Zevia and The Gentle Barn, adopting a bull calf and naming him “Ferdinand.

Nick Jonas couldn't be happier about his brother's engagement.

Speaking with Et's Nischelle Turner at a press junket for the upcoming animated family film Ferdinand, Jonas opened up about brother Joe Jonas' relationship with actress Sophie Turner.

"I can tell you that he found his partner and love of his life," Nick shared. "That's all that matters. It's a beautiful thing."

The Dnce singer popped the question to the Game of Thrones star last month, and both lovebirds shared photos of the impressive sparkler to Instagram to announce the news.

Nick congratulated the sweet couple at the time, writing, "Ahh! Congratulations to my brother... and sister in law to be on your engagement. I love you both so much."

News: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner Celebrate Their Engagement With a Star-Studded Party: Pics

The engagement comes just in time for the holidays, where Nick said the family gets together to eat, have fun and be...

Munro Leaf’s classic children’s book The Story of Ferdinand is receiving the animated movie treatment, and a new trailer has arrived to give us all a look at the film while announcing new cast members and a new song from Nick Jonas. How can you dare to resist this movie about a cartoon bull now, I ask? […]

The post New ‘Ferdinand’ Trailer Features A New Nick Jonas Song; Peyton Manning Joins Cast appeared first on /Film.

Don't judge a bull by its cover. 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios have released a new trailer and big news about Ferdinand. Nick Jonas has written an original song titled "Home" for the film, and Peyton Manning and Juanes have rounded out the exciting all-star cast alongside John Cena as Ferdinand, as well as Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Anthony Anderson, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jerrod Carmichael, Raul Esparza, Karla Martinez, and Miguel Angel Sylvester.

Along with the trailer, 20th Century Fox has released the first image of Peyton Manning's character, Guapo the Bull. Guapo acts like he's brimming with confidence but under that brash exterior, he's really a bundle of nerves! Thanks to Ferdinand, he learns to overcome his self-doubt. We also have an image of Nick Jonas alongside the title character that you can check out below the trailer.

Surprise! Peyton Manning and Nick Jonas are helping to bring a beloved children’s book to the big screen.

The five-time NFL Mvp and the talented musician/actor are lending their voices to the animated film Ferdinand, People can exclusively reveal — along with a first look at Manning’s character and the teaser trailer above.

Inspired by The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, the story revolves around a giant bull with a big heart, and features an important message about not judging a book (or bull) by its cover. Manning voices a brash-yet-anxious bull friend of Ferdinand’s named Guapo,...

If anybody knows what it feels like to be a powerful giant gently maneuvering their way through a fragile world full of highly breakable people, it would be John Cena. So the actor/wrestler/human mountain comes off as a pretty perfect fit in the new trailer for Ferdinand, the latest 3D animated feature from Ice Age and Rio creators Blue Sky Studios.

Based on Munro Leaf’s 1936 children’s book Ferdinand The Bull—which previously got an Oscar-winning animated adaptation in 1938, courtesy of Disney—the film sees Cena as Ferdinand, a massive bull who just wants to lie back and smell the flowers. Of course, because this is a modern kids’ cartoon, it’s not long before he’s accosted by a number of colorful sidekicks—most notably, a goat played by Kate McKinnon—who try to rope him into various schemes and assault him with kid-friendly ...

20th Century Fox has released a new trailer and poster for Ferdinand, starring the voice of WWE Superstar John Cena. This upcoming animated adventure is inspired by the beloved book "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, arriving in theaters nationwide on December 15. The studio has also released a new poster, which showcases the title character and the young girl who has taken care of him his whole life, along with the tagline "Built to Fight, Born to Love." We also have new photos that give us a better look at more of these colorful characters.

Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can't judge a bull by its cover.

One of pro-wrestling's most famous fighters has stepped out of the ring and into the recording booth for Blue Sky and 20th Century Fox's latest animated feature, Ferdinand. The family-friendly film focuses on the title character, a big friendly bull who's misunderstood by just about everyone he meets. Bringing the bull to life is John Cena, whose performance is further revealed in a new trailer for the film. It's a good follow-up to the film's first trailer which introduced Ferdinand, the title character of Munro Leaf's 1936 story about a bull …...

The simple message that we should judge a book by its cover seems particularly relevant at this moment, and it’s the undercurrent that runs through the upcoming animated flick, “Ferdinand.”

Read More: Andy Samberg And John Cena Race Into Comedy In New Trailer For ‘Tour De Pharmacy”

Featuring an ensemble voice cast including John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Anthony Anderson, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jerrod Carmichael, Raúl Esparza, Karla Martínez, and Miguel Ángel Silvestre, the film is based on the book Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, and tells the story of a loveable bull who’s a lover, not a fighter.

Continue reading New Trailer For ‘Ferdinand’ Is Built To Fight, Born To Love at The Playlist.

Built to fight. Born to love.

20th Century Fox has released a new trailer and poster for Ferdinand.

The film from director Carlos Saldanha comes out in December and we can’t wait!!

Inspired by the beloved book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure.

Watch the adorable trailer now!

How Cute Is That! This will be a huge hit! I love the cast too – John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Anthony Anderson, Flula Borg, Sally Phillips, Boris Kodjoe, Jerrod Carmichael, Raúl Esparza, Karla Martínez, Miguel Ángel Silvestre.

From Blue Sky Studios and Carlos Saldanha, the director...

Author: Zehra Phelan

Coming from the studios that gave us the likes of Rio and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a brand new poster and trailer for the new animation focusing on a big-hearted bull, Ferdinand.

Directed by the director of “Rio” Carlos Saldanha and has an all-star voice cast in Wrestler turned actor John Cena, Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters, SNL), David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch), Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones Diary, Miranda), Gina Rodriguez (Deepwater Horizon, Jane The Virgin) and Anthony Anderson (The Departed, Black-ish).

Inspired by the beloved book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, Ferdinand tells the story of a bull that is softer than Andrex toilet paper. The debut trailer included scenes of Ferdinand tiptoeing his way through a china shop trying not to knock over plates and cups with his large frame and spectacularly failing to giving mouth to mouth resuscitation...

While at the drive-in with the family this past Friday night, I got to see the trailer for the upcoming animated movie Ferdinand. I didn't even know this movie was being made, but I was so thrilled to see the trailer, as it is one of mine and my kids' favorite books. We have checked out The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf many times from our local library, and have enjoyed it for years. It actually came out in 1936, but I didn't know about it until I was grown and had children of my own. I think it's a wonderful story to tell, and I can't wait to see the movie with my family. 

Here's the Description about the film:

"After Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, is mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he...

The legendary quote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is the main storyline for the newest upcoming animated film from Blue Sky Studios: Ferdinand. The movie tells the story of a giant bull, who although may seem scary, actually has a caring heart. After being mistaken as dangerous, he is captured from his home to become a fighting bull. Ferdinand is determined to go back to his family and makes new friends in this comedy adventure.

Brazilian director, Carlos Saldanha directed this new film, which is based off of the 1936 book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson.

Meet Ferdinand. He’s the most kind and gentle bull you’ll ever meet.

From the brilliant mind of Brazilian director Carlos Saldanha (Rio, Ice Age), Ferdinand is based off a lovable children’s book by Munro Leaf.

The film is about a bull, with a big heart, is mistaken for a ferocious dangerous beast. He is captured and taken away as he is very determined to return to his beloved family.

The all-star voice cast will include John Cena, Kate McKinnon, David Tennant, Gina Rodriguez, Bobby Cannavale and Anthony Anderson.

I’m looking forward to Ferdinand since it is based off a popular children’s story. Not to mention Saldanha has brilliantly led animation with Blue Sky Studios outside the well-known properties of Disney, Pixar or even Dreamworks. With Ice Age and Rio under his belt, this may launch a third successful animated property for this.

Ferdinand will be charging into theaters on Dec.

Don Kaye Mar 31, 2017

From Blue Sky Studios comes the animated feature, Ferdinand. Here's the first trailer...

Ferdinand is the latest film from 20th Century Fox’s animation company, Blue Sky Studios, which has been behind hit franchises like Ice Age and Rio as well as acclaimed standalone films like The Peanuts Movie. Based on Munro Leaf’s children’s book The Story Of Ferdinand, the movie tells the story of a giant but gentle bull who is mistaken for a dangerous animal and taken from his home, but rallies to return to his family with the help of a team of misfits.

After bouncing around several release dates, Ferdinand has finally settled on December 15 - against Star Wars: The Last Jedi - and has released a first trailer. The film stars John Cena as the voice of Ferdinand, while the impressive supporting cast includes Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs,...

Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox have debuted the first trailer for Ferdinand, directed by Carlos Saldanha (Rio) and starring the voice of John Cena! This animated adventure is based on the classic 1936 children's tale The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, with illustrations by Robert Lawson. The studio has also released the full poster, along with new photos that showcase the voice cast members alongside their animated characters.

Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. Ferdinand, a little bull, prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree just smelling the flowers versus jumping around, snorting, and butting heads with other bulls. As Ferdinand grows big and strong, his temperament remains mellow, but one day five men come to choose the "biggest, fastest, roughest bull" for the bullfights in Madrid and Ferdinand is mistakenly chosen. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home.

Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox have debuted the first trailer for Ferdinand directed by Carlos Saldanha (Rio) and starring the voice of John Cena.

Check out the new poster and trailer now before the film hits theaters on December 15.

Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can’t judge a bull by its cover.

From Blue Sky Studios and Carlos Saldanha, the director of “Rio” and inspired by the beloved book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, “Ferdinand” is a heartwarming animated comedy adventure with an all-star cast that includes John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson and many more.

Meet the rest of the cast.

Author: Zehra Phelan

The debut trailer for Ferdinand has bulldozed its way onto the net… no this isn’t a documentary on Ex-Footballer Rio Ferdinand but a brand new animation centring on the adventure of a Bull from 20th Century Fox.

Inspired by the beloved book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, Ferdinand tells the story of a bull that is softer than Andrex toilet paper. The trailer includes scenes of Ferdinand tiptoeing his way through a china shop – hence the phrase bull in a china shop – trying not to knock over plates and cups with his large frame and spectacularly failing to giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a rabbit after he almost kills it during target practice with his fellow heard looking on unimpressed.

Directed by the director of “Rio” Carlos Saldanha and has an all-star cast in Wrestler turned actor John Cena, Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters,...

Ever wanted to see John Cena as a bull? Ever wanted to see that bull try and make it through a china shop? Then your wishes are granted in the first trailer for the animated film “Ferdinand,” which Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox released Tuesday. The family pic is based on the classic children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson. The book, published in 1936, tells the story of a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in the ring. Cena voices the titular bull, who’s taken from his town after...

If you’re going to come after “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” you better come hard, and 20th Century Fox believes they’ll have the counter-programming goods with “Ferdinand.” The animated feature is set to go up against the latest “Star Wars” installment, and we’ll see which one parents take their kids to.

Based on the book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, and featuring the voices of Kate McKinnon and Adam DeVine, the story follows a bull who’d rather smell flowers than fight in the ring.

Continue reading A Bull Steps Into The Ring In The First Trailer For ‘Ferdinand’ at The Playlist.

Blue Sky Studios, the Greenwich, Ct-based animation production company responsible for the hugely successful "Ice Age" films as well as others like Rio and the upcoming Epic , is finally moving forward on two projects that were announced a number of years back. We'll discuss them in reverse chronological order since we know more about the second one, called Ferdinand , which is an adaptation of the children's book "The Story of Ferdinand" from Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson that was published way back in 1936. Ferdinand is a bull who doesn't want to fight in the bullfighting arena like so many of his brethren but instead just wants to smell the flowers. It's the definition of a beloved classic (even though it was banned in several countries for promoting...

Adam Hendershot

Thanks for welcoming our celebrity blogger — Elisabeth Röhm!

The actress, 37, best known for her role as Serena Southerlyn on Law & Order, has a busy 2011 ahead of her.

She can be seen on the big screen in the upcoming films Chlorine, Transit and Abduction, and plans to continue her role as spokesmom for Juno Baby.

In her latest blog, Röhm — who is mom to 2½-year-old daughter Easton August with fiancé Ron Anthony — looks back on her own love of the written word, shares her and Easton’s favorite books to read together, and asks for your picks.

I’ll...

Fox Animation Studios has acquired The Story of Ferdinand, the classic 1936 children’s book, by author Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson and is currently developing it into a CGI feature film. Carlos Saldanha (director on the Ice Age movies, Rio) is helming the project and plans to direct.

For those of you not familiar with the story, Ferdinand is about a pacifist bull who’d rather frolick outdoors than thrill with matadors. The book celebrates its diamond anniversary this year, and continues to be one of the best-selling children’s books of all time: It’s sold over 4 million copies in the U.S. alone, and millions more in the 36 countries in which it's been published. Sales spiked after Sandra Bullock read the story to her sons in Blind Side; according to Regina Hayes, president of Viking Children’s Books, roughly 100,000 copies were sold as a result of the film alone.

We were wondering what children’s book adaptation comes next. Well, guess what, it’s going to be “the fabulous” Ferdinand, or if you prefer – the adaptation of 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand that will be directed by Ice Age franchise director Carlos Saldanha.

In 3D of course. No, wait, it’s going to be “CGI featured film”!

Author Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson are responsible for a simple story that follows a bull whose only desire in life is to smell flowers and refuses to fight when placed in a bullfighting arena.

And ok, it’s published more than 50 years ago, but it still remains one of the bestselling children’s books of all time.

And, just for a record, The Story Of Ferdinand was previously brought on to the big screen by Disney as a short in 1938.

So here’s detailed description of the novel:...

Fox Animation Studios has acquired Munro Leaf's classic 1936 children’s book "The Story of Ferdinand" and plans to turn it into a CG feature film adaptation reports Vulture.

Ferdinand is a pacifist bull who’d rather relax in the outdoors than seek thrills with the matadors. Since its first publication, it has remained one of the best-selling children’s books of all time.

Talk of a new feature film adaptation began after the book was used in a scene in the recent Sandra Bullock hit "The Blind Side". Carlos Saldanha ("Rio," "Ice Age") is said to be developing the film to direct.

Disney released the property as an Oscar-winning animated short in 1938.

When I was a kid I absolutely loved “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson, a tale about a peaceful bull who simply wants to be left alone to sit under a cork tree and smell flowers instead of fighting. Now Fox Animation Studios has acquired the rights to the beloved book, with Carlos Saldaha, the director of all three “Ice Age” movies, as well as the upcoming “Rio”, to take the helm on the CGI adaptation. The children’s book, first published in 1936, has sold millions of copies in 36 countries, been adapted into an Oscar-winning short cartoon by Walt Disney in 1938, and popped up in movies, most recently “The Blind Side”. Because it was seen as promoting pacifism, “The Story of Ferdinand” became a target of right wing aggression and was banned in many countries. Here is the entire short film (it’s only eight...

With the story of Mr. Popper's Penguins heading to the big screen with Jim Carrey leading the way, it looks like another beloved, children's classic will be heading to the big screen. Vulture reports Fox Animation and Ice Age franchise director Carlos Saldanha will be bringing the 1936 children's book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (with illustrations by Robert Lawson). The story follows a tame, quiet , pacifist bull who wants nothing more than to sit under a tree and smell flowers. But when a roaming bee comes by and gives him a little sting, the bull finds himself going wild as five men are looking for the one crazy, tough bull. Uh-oh! Suddenly Ferdinand finds himself in the bullfights of Madrid and in a whole heap of danger. The timing for this project couldn't be better as the book is about to celebrate its 75th anniversary and Saldanha ...

Fox Animation Studios has picked up the rights to the 1936 children's book The Story of Ferdinand for Carlos Saldanha (Rio) to develop and direct.

The book, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, was created by Munro Leaf with illustrations by Robert Lawson. The story centers on a laid-back bull who would rather graze in a pasture than fight matadors.

The book was featured in The Blind Side, with Sandra Bullock's character reading the story to her children. Representatives for the estate of Robert Lawson revealed that several offers came in after The Blind Side hit theaters, but they chose Fox since the studio was interested in the property before The Blind Side was released.

Carlos Saldanha also directed Ice Age, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs for Fox Animation Studios.

No production schedule was revealed for The Story of Ferdinand.

Fox Animation Studios has recently acquired the rights to the classic 1936 childrens book The Story of Ferdinand. Written by Munro Leaf, the book tells the story of a pacifist bull and his mellow-going life. Vulture reports that Carlos Saldanha, the director behind all three Ice Age films and the upcoming Rio will helm the project. Ferdinand is one of the best selling childrens books of all time, making a recent appearance in The Blind Side as a book that Sandra Bullock’s character was seen reading to her kids. Disney previously adapted the book into a short film back in 1938. Hit the jump to read a synopsis. Here’s the synopsis for The Story of Ferdinand: What else can be said about the fabulous Ferdinand? Published more than 50 years ago (and one of the bestselling children's books of all time), this simple story of peace and contentment has withstood the test of many generations.

The lovable children’s tale of a pacifist bull will be coming to the big screen. Fox Animation Studios have acquired “The Story of Ferdinand” and will plan for it as a CGI featured film. The studios have signed Carlos Saldanha to helm the project. He was the director on all three “Ice Age” movies and the upcoming “Rio.” The story is based on the 1936 children’s book by Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson. It is about a pacifist bull who would enjoy life outdoors rather than fighting matadors. The book is one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. It sold over four million copies in the United States and millions more in 36 countries around the world. “The Story of Ferdinand” was previously brought on to the big screen by Disney as a short in 1938.Source: Vulture...

The classic children's book, The Story of Ferdinand has been slated for development at 20th Century Fox Animation, Vulture is reporting. The book, published in 1936 from author Munro Leaf and illustrator Robert Lawson, tells the story of a bull whose only desire in life is to smell flowers and refuses to fight when placed in a bullfighting arena. The story (which was actually banned in several countries for its allegedly pacfifist undertones) was adapted by Walt Disney in 1938 as a short animation. In charge of developing the film for a full-length (presumably CGI) feature is said to be director Carlos Saldanha, the man behind all three of the studio's Ice Age films as well as the upcoming Rio .

On this week's episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Camille gave Kyle the book How to Behave and Why. It's a children's book by Munro Leaf, published in 1946, that focuses on the four pillars of honesty, strength, fairness, and wisdom.

Camille was like "ha ha?" about it and Kyle was like, "ha ha you are lucky I don't scratch your face off." Many of us wondered if Camille had read the book before she gave it to Kyle, or if perhaps it was a re-gift. Either way, if you want to learn "How to Behave" like a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, here is this list for Free!

The sixth and final volume of the Disney Classic Short Films collection finally found a way to load a disc with cartoons of genuinely similar moral themes. While Mickey and the Beanstalk did well in that regard as far as plots are concerned, the cartoons accompanying The Reluctant Dragon all take a different stance on identity and what it means to measure expectations of who people think you should be against who you actually are. Each of the cartoons does this in its own way – some more deftly than others. While more consistently thematically, it’s also worth noting that the average age of the four cartoons in this set is noticeably lower than those in other volumes; where volumes 1-5 each had about 2-4 cartoons from the mid 1930s, this volume has but one – and its 1938 creation date gives it a stylistic leg up over its 1933/1934 brethren of past volumes.