Despertaferro

Set in Güell Park in Barcelona, Despertaferro follows a modern kid named Llúria who slips through time and lands seven centuries in the past. Guided by two fantastical beings, Xiulet and Allioli, Llúria encounters a crew of Almogavars, mercenaries who fight for the Crown of Aragon. These warriors dominate the western Mediterranean and wage campaigns against Saracen forces. The story blends a child friendly sense of wonder with a gritty historical atmosphere, letting fantasy textures color a drama about travel, identity, and courage. No spoilers here, but the voyage promises danger, discovery, and a clash of eras that reshapes what a journey can mean. The animation blends dreamlike imagery with rugged realism, signaling a larger conflict that threads through these times.

Released in 1990, the film is directed by Jordi Amorós and grew out of ideas credited to Carles Andreu and Benet Rossell. It reads as an original concept rather than an adaptation, brought to life through vivid animation and a confident sense of historical mood, with voice work that anchors the story.

Box office data for Despertaferro is not publicly documented. The film has not reported notable worldwide grosses or festival records, which is common for niche animated features from that era, especially those produced within Catalan animation circles. It has sometimes played to audiences beyond Spain.

No major awards are widely documented for this title. While it may have appeared in regional festivals or drawn praise from animation circles, it did not become a marquee awards contender, and its influence remains mostly within fans of niche Catalan cinema.

Reception frames the film as an ambitious blend of fantasy, adventure, and historical drama. Its themes touch on time travel with responsibility, cultural contact, and the idea that young minds can spark dialogue across centuries, inviting viewers to rethink how history feels on screen.