Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron was an animated film released by DreamWorks back in 2002, and the reviews were mixed. Many critics failed to see its beauty, while audience members tended to love the various aspects of the film. Some even claim it to be the greatest animated film ever made by this company, but others have come up with some good points to refute this.
This list lays out the reasons as to why it could be considered DreamWorks’ best of all time, and others why it wouldn’t even make it into the top ten. A case can be made for both sides of the argument, but at the end of the day, it is up to the viewer to decide. Keep reading to see some of the pros and cons of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron in terms of its ranking among other animated films created by DreamWorks!
Best: Who Doesn’t Love The American Frontier?
DreamWorks films have taken place in a variety of settings, but the American frontier is a classic that can’t be outdone. Viewers love the wild west aesthetic, as well as the topics associated with these types of movies. A fantastical land or a trip to Madagascar is interesting, but sometimes reusing a popular theme is all it takes to put them at the top.
Not The Best: Some Parts Are Unrealistic
It is an animated film after all, but when it has a goal of realism, some parts threw viewers for a loop. The worst of them was when he made the insane leap across the expanse of the Grand Canyon, which no one in their right mind would believe was possible. It was one thing that made some viewers rethink their love for the film as it ruined the realistic aspect that it had tried so hard to keep.
Best: They Didn’t Have To Rely On Traditional Dialogue
The interesting thing about this movie is that the horses don’t speak to one another as they only use interpretable gestures. It is unlike DreamWorks’ other films that utilized talking zoo animals or a talking donkey in order to fill the void in this department. This helped the film stand out as it stayed away from a fantastical retelling, and stuck with a theme that people could understand.
Not The Best: Graphics Could Have Been Better
The entire film used 2D animation, which was subpar, especially when compared to other movies they have created. It all seemed very flat to viewers, while other films like Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon gave the scenes more dimension.
Some of it can be attributed to the fact that it was released back in 2002, but not all of it, as Antz was more dimensional than this film. The creators might have thought that it went well with this timeless theme, although, some viewers would disagree and say that more could have been done with what they had to work with.
Best: Spirit Is Intelligent
Cartoon characters often lack intelligence, but Spirit broke the mold as he had his own superior intellect that he put to good use. A few examples are his knack for escaping his bindings, committing arson, and having a personality that shined through despite being a horse. It is a rare thing for viewers to see in a DreamWorks film, but it is one of the things that made this film the best.
Not The Best: The Storyline Isn’t Great
A big complaint among fans was the boring storyline as it seemed like every five minutes he was being captured once again. Yes, the situations were always a little different, but it was the same thing over and over again throughout the film. Many felt the creators could have done more or even changed up the narrative if they wanted to compete with DreamWorks’ other films that had characters facing a slew of different problems.
Best: The Villain Isn’t Killed
The villain in this story is the colonel, a man who was bent on taming the wild stallion. Many films see a villain being killed off or imprisoned, but Spirit and the colonel ended things with a simple nod.
It showed their mutual respect for one another, which is different from other films like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda who preferred total upheaval of their villains. The film shared the theme that sometimes diplomacy is the best answer as not every battle can be won.
Not The Best: Spirit Is Overly Humanized
Spirit is a horse, but fans didn’t always feel that vibe while watching the film unravel before their eyes. Sometimes he seemed to be a little too humanized compared to how horses actually act. It takes away from the film as it felt like a theme they had been trying to avoid, but they couldn’t manage to create it without adding a bit too much of a humanistic personality into the final product.
Best: They Created A Love Story Between Two Horses
Viewers expect a bit of romance, and it surprised many when they became hooked on the love that sparked between Spirit and Rain. It was cute as the pair fought their way back to one another, but it didn’t take away from the movie as a whole. Many other love stories have taken place throughout various DreamWorks films, although, many argue that none were as beautiful as this one.
Not The Best: The Ending Is Predictable
The one big turn off from the film was the fact that the ending was utterly predictable. Fans all knew that he would escape the clutches of the colonel and end up with Rain in the end. It was also easy for them to see when he would make his grand escape and how throughout the entirety of the film. It was one of the biggest things that disturbed fans about it as it made them never want to watch the film again.
