In “Spirit Untamed,” a girl’s love for a mustang named Spirit leads her to forge lasting friendships with other young women — and discover an unexpected connection with her late mother. The animated feature’s themes of empowerment and female friendship — and the overall importance of representing girls and women onscreen — were not lost on its cast and crew. In Women and Hollywood’s exclusive look at “Spirit Untamed’s” Blu-ray/DVD bonus features, actresses Julianne Moore and Marsai Martin, director Elaine Bogan, screenwriters Aury Wallington and Kristin Hahn, and more chat about what they hope audiences take away from the film, why it’s essential to tell stories about young women, and the significant role female friendships have played in their lives.
“[It’s] such a well-loved character and series,” Moore (who plays Aunt Cora) says in the spot, “and I think that all of these girls are hungry for more,” suggesting that young women want to see themselves in the things they watch. Martin (Prudence Granger) echoes this sentiment, observing, “It’s very inspiring to young girls to see themselves reflected in TV, in film, in animation.”
Other interviewees talk about the impact they want “Spirt Untamed” to have on its young female viewers. “I hope that this movie makes little girls feel more confident of who you are,” actress Eiza González (Milagro Navarro Prescott) remarks. Wallington wants girls to know that they are strong, smart, and capable of fulfilling their dreams. “[We’re] not necessarily saying ‘girls need to get outside’ and ‘girls need to go out and be action heroes,'” she explains, “but ‘girls have the capability and the agency to be a variety of things simultaneously.'”
“Spirit Untamed” opened in theaters earlier this summer, and is now available on digital. It will be released on Blu-ray and DVD August 31. Isabela Merced portrays the main character, Lucky Prescott.
