New Series Inspired by Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Comes to Netflix

Dreamworks’ film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is now 15 years old. The classic animated movie about a wild horse who would not be tamed came out in 2002. A new Spirit is returning to the screen next month in a series for a new generation of kids titled Spirit: Riding Free. Watch the trailer below.

Riding Free takes place in the 1800s and illustrates the timeless themes of friendship, finding yourself and coming of age. The main character, Lucky, is a 12-year-old girl who is unhappy about moving from the city to a frontier town with her father, leaving her old friends and the life she knew behind. But along the way, she meets and befriends Spirit, the wild buckskin stallion. She also forges friendships with Pru and Abigail, two similarly adventurous young girls. Together with their horses, the three girls find their place on the frontier.

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While Spirit Riding Free is very much inspired by the Oscar-nominated 2002 film, the titular character is not the same horse, despite the similar coloring, attitude, and name. The artists behind Netflix’ Spirit gave him a white blaze, distinguishing him from the film’s solid buckskin. And unlike the film’s Spirit, who is never truly broke, this Spirit seems to enjoy rides with his human buddy—albeit only without saddle or bridle.

Another difference? While the film was narrated by Spirit himself (voiced by Matt Damon) the new series is primarily from the perspective of Lucky. The horse keeps his talking limited to equine vocalizations.

The full series will be available on Netflix on May 5.

Leslie Potter is a writer and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky. www.lesliepotterphoto.com

8 years ago

Leslie Potter

Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky. Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.

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View Comments

Amber says:

April 21, 2017 at 11:06 pm

I don't think I will like the girls serious of Spirit I'd rather watch the boys to make it look for original so people don't get confused why they would put girls instead of boys
Katsumi says:

June 25, 2017 at 9:49 pm

I absolutely hate the idea of this, the plot of this story DEFEATS the whole purpose of the original movie "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" where Spirit should remain free and not ridden by ANYBODY. I am disgusted by the thought of some 12 year-old city girl riding such a courageous and rebellious horse. The new "Spirit" has a completely new obedient and submissive nature. I'm heartbroken that this new film has tainted my favorite childhood movie. Quite frankly, I wouldn't mind if this show could be shut down.
Shelby leman says:

September 11, 2017 at 1:01 pm

The spirit in the show is really spirits and rains son that is the reason that they look different and i watched a video and this information was given by the creators of the show