Spirit (franchise)

Lore & Background

The franchise began with the 2002 film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, written by John Fusco from an idea by producer Jeffrey Katzenberg. The film was co-directed by Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook, with Asbury having previously co-directed Shrek (2001), and set in the Old West during the late 19th century. It follows Spirit, a Kiger Mustang stallion voiced by Matt Damon through inner dialogue, who is captured by the United States Cavalry and freed by a Native American man named Little Creek. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards.

An animated television series, Spirit Riding Free, premiered on Netflix in 2017, created by Aury Wallington. It introduced new characters like Lucky Prescott, a 12-year-old girl who moves to the frontier town of Miradero and bonds with a wild Kiger Mustang named Spirit. The series spawned short-form series Pony Tales (2019), Riding Academy (2020), and two television specials: Spirit of Christmas (2019) and Ride Along Adventure (2020). A 2021 film, Spirit Untamed, directed by Elaine Bogan and co-directed by Ennio Torresan Jr., is a theatrical adaptation of the Spirit Riding Free series.

Reader's Guide

The Spirit franchise holds significance as a multi-platform media property from DreamWorks Animation, spanning traditional animation, streaming television, and a reboot film. The original 2002 film received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination, establishing the franchise's emotional and visual style. The 2017 Netflix series Spirit Riding Free expanded the audience by centering on a young female protagonist, Lucky Prescott, and her friendships, leading to multiple spin-offs and specials. The 2021 film Spirit Untamed re-imagined the series' story for a new generation, while the franchise's YouTube presence with Spirit & Friends (2022–2023) continued its digital reach. The franchise's legacy includes a book series called Spirit of the West by Kathleen Duey, which tells the story of Spirit's family lineage. Overall, the franchise demonstrates DreamWorks Animation's ability to evolve a property across different media and generations.

Did You Know?

• The 2021 film Spirit Untamed is a theatrical adaptation of the television series Spirit Riding Free.
• Spirit Riding Free: Ride Along Adventure is a standard animated special that premiered on Netflix on December 8, 2020.