Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
Directed by Kelly Asbury
A captured mustang remains determined to return to his herd no matter what.
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10 films that influenced Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
What critics say influenced Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Films like "The Incredible Journey" (1963) and "Nikki, Wild Dog of the North" can be compared to this new fable of one young horse, destined to be a leader, as he matures into the title character.
Earning major points for its revisionist understanding of the impact the rail had on the spoiling of the West (briefly positing its equine hero as one part Burt Lancaster from The Train and one part William Blake), DreamWorks' return to cel (albeit computer-assisted) animation is the surprisingly dark and unintentionally twisted Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
The "Little Big Man" like story shows the trials and tribulations the title equine character, Spirit, must face on his journey to adventure, which should also help plant the seeds of imagination in the older kids.
Kelly Asbury was the storyboard supervisor of "James and the Giant Peach") and Lorna Cook was a storyboard artist of "The Prince of Egypt."
After working as storyboard artist on films like Toy Story, James And The Giant Peach, and The Prince of Egypt, animator Kelly Asbury takes a seat in the director's chair, along with colleague Lorna Cook, to produce a bland but pleasing animated horse story for Dreamworks called Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron.
Written by John Fusco ("Young Guns," "Thunderheart") and directed by the DreamWorks animation team of Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook (veterans of "The Prince of Egypt," the studio's first feature cartoon), "Spirit" overcomes several problems -- like the fact that it glosses over an apparent massacre of the Lakota -- to become quite captivating, sincere, symbolic and respectful of nature and all the cultures it depicts (even the colonel has a good side).
Production designer Kathy Altieri ("The Prince of Egypt") and a team of animation supervisors have captured the glories of the American West in a film which seamlessly marries traditional cel animation with the computer generated.
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The exciting score by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer ("The Lion King") suits the quick moving story that follows our hero, Spirit, through his many adventures in the Wild West.
As helmed by Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook - who make their collective directorial debut and work from a script by John Fusco ("Thunderheart," "Young Guns") - the adventure story is rather simple and straightforward - all the better to play to the young target audience - and bears a striking resemblance to "Running Free."
Written by John Fusco ("Young Guns," "Thunderheart") and directed by the DreamWorks animation team of Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook (veterans of "The Prince of Egypt," the studio's first feature cartoon), "Spirit" overcomes several problems -- like the fact that it glosses over an apparent massacre of the Lakota -- to become quite captivating, sincere, symbolic and respectful of nature and all the cultures it depicts (even the colonel has a good side).
Screenwriter John Fusco ("Young Guns") has fashioned a rousing story from a horse's point of view that promotes the values of its titular character's name.
As helmed by Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook - who make their collective directorial debut and work from a script by John Fusco ("Thunderheart," "Young Guns") - the adventure story is rather simple and straightforward - all the better to play to the young target audience - and bears a striking resemblance to "Running Free."
Written by John Fusco ("Young Guns," "Thunderheart") and directed by the DreamWorks animation team of Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook (veterans of "The Prince of Egypt," the studio's first feature cartoon), "Spirit" overcomes several problems -- like the fact that it glosses over an apparent massacre of the Lakota -- to become quite captivating, sincere, symbolic and respectful of nature and all the cultures it depicts (even the colonel has a good side).
After working as storyboard artist on films like Toy Story, James And The Giant Peach, and The Prince of Egypt, animator Kelly Asbury takes a seat in the director's chair, along with colleague Lorna Cook, to produce a bland but pleasing animated horse story for Dreamworks called Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron.
But although this epic contains some stirring sequences and looks amazing, it may prove too conventional for audiences whose expectations have been raised by computer-generated capers like " Monsters, Inc. " and " Toy Story ".
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The screenplay, by John Fusco ("Crossroads"), takes the brave horse through his paces, so to speak, as he starts out as a lovable little foal, turns into an equally likable yearling then become the wise and protective leader of his heard.
Take a politically correct morality play about Evil White Imperialists versus Noble Oppressed Minorities Living in Harmony with Nature, dress it up as entertaining family fare with cute animal sidekicks for comic relief and catchy sing-along tunes, and you’ve got one of the cartoons of the late Disney renaissance period (Pocahontas; The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Tarzan).