🎬 Buffalo Kids (2024)
Based on novel
Buffalo Kids (2024) is a Spanish animated Western from 4Cats Pictures and Atresmedia Cine, directed by Pedro Solís and Juan Jesús Galocha and based on Solís's 2013 short film 'Cuerdas' ('Strings'). The Goya-winning short — itself inspired by the real-life friendship between Solís's daughter Alejandra and her son Nico, who has severe disabilities — is expanded into a feature-length adventure following two Irish orphan siblings, Tom and Mary, who emigrate to the United States in the 19th century and befriend Nick, the non-verbal paraplegic boy carried over from the original short. The screenplay was written by Jordi Gasull and Javier Barreira and premiered at Annecy before Warner Bros. released it theatrically across Spanish-speaking markets.
Cuerdas (English: Strings) is a 2013 Spanish animated short film written and directed by Pedro Solís García. The film tells the touching story of María, a young girl in an orphanage, who forms an unbreakable bond with Nicolás, a boy with cerebral palsy who cannot speak. Through the use of a simple string, the two children communicate and play, creating a friendship that transcends physical and verbal barriers. The story is deeply personal to Solís, as Nicolás was inspired by his own son, who also had cerebral palsy. Tragically, the real Nicolás passed away before the short film was completed, adding a layer of poignancy to the production.
Cuerdas received widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Goya Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2014. It also holds the Guinness World Record for the most awarded animated short film. The short film is celebrated for its emotional depth, innovative storytelling, and its sensitive portrayal of disability and friendship. Its success laid the groundwork for a feature-length adaptation that would expand on the themes of connection and resilience.