If you grew up with the classic 1936 children's book by Munro Leaf or watched the 2017 Blue Sky Studios film, you know Ferdinand isn't your average bull. He’s the gentle soul who’d rather sniff a carnation than gore a matador. But there’s a shadow over his flower-loving lifestyle. It’s the question that lingers from the very first act of the story: what happened to Ferdinand's dad?
He went to Madrid. He never came back.
In the world of bullfighting—the corrida de toros—the stakes are absolute. For a young calf like Ferdinand, seeing his father, Raf, loaded into a truck isn't just a plot point. It’s a death sentence wrapped in the false hope of "glory." While the book handles this with a quiet, metaphorical absence, the movie gets surprisingly gritty about the reality of the sport. It’s heavy stuff for a kids' movie, honestly.
The Brutal Reality of the Ring
Let’s get the facts straight. In the 2017 film, Ferdinand’s father is a massive, proud bull named Raf. He is chosen by the matador to compete in the prestigious Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. Raf is pumped. He thinks this is his moment to prove his strength. But as the audience, and eventually Ferdinand, we realize the "fight" is rigged from the start.
The matador always wins.
When the truck returns to Casa del Toro empty, the silence says more than a dialogue-heavy scene ever could. Raf was killed in the ring. This isn't just a "Disney death" where a character disappears into the clouds. It’s a direct reference to the Spanish tradition where the bull is essentially a sacrifice to the skill of the matador. Even if a bull performs exceptionally well, the "pardon" (indulto) is incredibly rare. Raf wasn't the exception.
The film uses this tragedy to set up Ferdinand’s entire worldview. Why fight? If the reward for being the "best" is a one-way trip to a stadium where you’re destined to lose, the whole system is broken. It makes Ferdinand’s refusal to butt heads feel less like cowardice and more like a radical act of protest.
Why This Detail Matters for the Story
You’ve probably noticed that Ferdinand is huge. He’s a powerhouse. Genetically, he is his father's son. But the trauma of losing his dad—the realization that "winning" looks exactly like "losing"—is what keeps him glued to his flowers.
There’s a specific scene in the movie where Ferdinand finds his father’s picture on a wall of "heroes." These are all bulls who went to Madrid. What he notices, and what the other bulls refuse to see, is that none of those bulls are in the pasture anymore. They are just trophies. It’s a moment of clarity that shifts the movie from a simple "be yourself" story to something much more nuanced about breaking cycles of violence.
Raf represented the old way. He believed in the glory of the fight. He thought that if he was strong enough, he’d earn his respect. But in the end, he was just a prop for a show. Ferdinand’s dad didn't fail because he wasn't strong; he failed because the game was rigged.
Misconceptions About the Ending
Some people think Ferdinand’s dad might have escaped or been sent to a different farm. Honestly, that’s just wishful thinking. The narrative weight of the story depends on the fact that he is gone. If Raf had just been "retired" to a nice field in Andalusia, Ferdinand’s decision to stay in the flower patch wouldn't be as courageous.
By accepting that his father died, Ferdinand chooses a different path. He chooses life.
It’s also worth noting how the 1938 Disney short handled this. Back then, things were even more direct. The short film (which won an Oscar, by the way) focuses more on the spectacle of the bullfight itself. While it doesn't spend as much time on the father's backstory as the 2017 feature, the implication remains the same: the arena is a graveyard for bulls.
The Cultural Impact of Raf’s Fate
Bullfighting is a hot-button issue. It’s been that way for decades. By showing what happened to Ferdinand's dad, the creators of the film weren't just making a sad movie; they were tapping into a massive cultural debate. In Spain, some regions have banned bullfighting entirely, while others see it as an untouchable piece of heritage.
The movie clearly lands on the side of the bull.
It portrays the bulls as sentient, emotional creatures with family bonds. When Raf leaves, it’s a tragedy of a father being taken from his son for the sake of entertainment. This perspective is what made the film so controversial in certain circles, but it’s also what made it resonate with a global audience.
What You Can Take Away From This
Understanding Raf's fate isn't just about trivia. It’s about the core message of the story. If you're talking to your kids about the movie or just rewatching it yourself, keep these points in mind:
- Cycles of Violence: Ferdinand breaks the cycle. He doesn't try to "avenge" his father by being a better fighter. He wins by refusing to play the game at all.
- The Definition of Strength: The movie argues that Ferdinand is actually stronger than his father. Not because of his muscles, but because of his resolve to stay gentle in a world that demands he be a monster.
- Historical Context: If you're interested in the real-world inspiration, look into the history of Las Ventas in Madrid. It’s a real place, and the traditions shown in the film—from the picadors to the banderillas—are based on actual practices.
The story of what happened to Ferdinand's dad is a reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away from the fight everyone else expects you to have.
If you want to dive deeper into the themes of the movie, look into the original 1936 book by Munro Leaf. It was actually banned in many countries (including Nazi Germany) because it was seen as "pacifist propaganda." When you realize what happened to Ferdinand’s dad, it’s easy to see why the message of peace was considered so dangerous.
The next time you see a bull in a field, or a flower in a vase, remember Raf. He didn't make it out, but his son did—and that’s the real victory of the story.
Actionable Insights for Viewers and Readers
- Read the Original Source: Pick up a copy of the 1936 book The Story of Ferdinand. It is incredibly short—barely 800 words—but the lack of detail about the father makes the ending feel even more poignant and open to interpretation.
- Research Animal Welfare: If the themes of the movie touched you, look into modern animal welfare organizations in Spain like PACMA that work toward ending the practice of bullfighting through legislative change.
- Watch the 1938 Short: Compare the 2017 Blue Sky version with the original Disney short. You'll see a massive shift in how the industry approached "scary" topics like the fate of the bulls over the span of 80 years.
- Discuss the "Hero's Journey": Use Ferdinand as a case study for a "Non-Traditional Hero." Unlike most protagonists who overcome an obstacle through force, Ferdinand overcomes his obstacles through radical empathy and passivity.