Bambi (1942)

Non-spoiler brief review:

Bambi is the 4th animated Disney feature film from 1942. It is based on a novel titled “Bambi, a Life in the Woods” published in 1923. From the research I did, the movie is a loose portrayal of the story and was meant to be more child/family friendly. The movie is a coming-of-age story of a deer, starting at his birth in the woods and following his entry into adulthood. It’s earned a reputation as a true Disney classic.

For Parents:

This movie is quite family-friendly overall, in my opinion. Without trying to spoil the story, the biggest thing for parents to be aware of is that off-screen hunters shoot (and at times kill) some of the woodland creatures. There are a few high-drama moments that may scare or upset sensitive children.

My overall review (with spoilers):

Well, you’ve made it this far into my blog, and now we’re looking at Bambi. If I had to guess, most American adults over 35 have probably seen this movie, so there will be no surprises here.

For the rest of you, I think you will be pleasantly surprised with this work of art from the Walt Disney Corporation. I really do mean that in the best way from a technical, production standpoint. Unless you’re a stickler for perfect lines and colors at every turn (I’m not), this movie hits every point perfectly. Let’s also keep in mind that this is a hand-drawn, hand-painted, painstakingly produced movie created long before computers were invented.

Speaking of production processes, Bambi begins in a densely wooded area where a nature wonderland of sorts slowly unfolds. All the creatures are living in perfect harmony. You could, and probably should, pause the film here just to take in the visual details. The famous Multiplane Camera, developed by Walt Disney in the 1930s, was used in this and many other scenes. For those unfamiliar, this invention was used to create detailed backgrounds in animated films long before computers. It was amazingly advanced technology for its time! (For more on this, go back and watch “The Reluctant Dragon” where this ingenious invention was demonstrated.)

As the movie begins, all sorts of creatures excitedly gather around to meet the newly born fawn “Bambi”, and congratulate his mother. This is one of several “circle of life” series of scenes in the movie. After all, it is a coming-of-age story, created long before the famous Lion King song was written.

Watching the first part of this movie is something better experienced than described, as it is once again a fantastic display of the Disney animators’ artistic innovation and talent(apologies for being a broken record on the animation process). The best way I can describe it is watching art in motion. There are all the things viewers love about the great animated Disney classics: flawless musical score, great animation, and an entertaining plot.

Bambi may be the star of the show, but we’re also introduced to a host of memorable character co-stars. Bambi’s mother displays all the nurturing aspects you would expect from a great mother, his new rabbit buddy, “Thumper,” brings funny and sweet comic relief. There’s also a wise, but grouchy, owl who reminds you of an old man who wants to yell at the clouds. And, of course, we can’t leave out Bambi’s father, “The Great Prince of the Forest”, who is a statuesque, stern, wise, and strong figure in the movie.

As the movie unfolds, Bambi’s mother introduces him to a place called “The Meadows”. It is a deer paradise, covered with hills, valleys, grasslands, and streams, all teeming with life. However, Mother warns Bambi that though it’s a wonderful place, it can be a dangerous place, as she checks to make sure it is clear of “man” who may be on the hunt for game. A girl fawn meets Bambi while he explores the meadow, and she features later in the movie as Bambi grows up.

All too soon, fright and sadness enter the movie. This is anecdotal, but nearly everyone I’ve asked has said this part of the movie is indeed the saddest and for good reason. Suddenly, the deer start fleeing the meadow, and Bambi can’t find his mother in the confusion. He finally finds her, and they start to flee to the safety of the woods. Then, gunshots ring out, and Bambi’s beloved mother is shot and killed by hunters. Now, as far as I’m aware, this storyline is true to the original novel, but it’s still hard to watch, even as an adult. For many people, this scene might bring tears or even dampen the movie. I think we would have all loved to have seen Bambi’s mama recover, but as stated, this is definitely a circle of life moment on display. Just as Bambi realizes what has happened to his mother, his father, the Great Prince of the Forest, appears and escorts Bambi away.

The transition from the passing of Bambi’s mother when he is a young fawn to his adolescence is oddly fast. Suddenly, it’s springtime in the forest, and Bambi has gone from a fawn to an adolescent enjoying shenanigans with his friends to, just as quickly, being a young buck who is in love with that doe from long ago in the meadow. There’s another nod to the circle of life and coming of age theme when Bambi has to fight to protect his love from another aggressive young buck who wants to steal her from Bambi.

At this point, the final climax of the movie arrives as Bambi encounters his father, who explains “man” has come too near and that they must move further into the woods. Suddenly, the off-screen hunters appear once again, and as Bambi flees, he is shot. In all this chaos, the hunters accidentally start a forest fire. Bambi and the other animals flee the flaming woods, and he seems to recover nicely from his injury as we watch him and his friends escape to an island where the fire is not raging.

Remember that circle of life? To end our adventure, we see that the original characters have all grown up, and they and their offspring are now discovering the world around them as they meet the next newborn prince of the woods. The movie closes with Bambi standing next to his father, a proud prince of the woods in his own right, as we close this powerful coming-of-age story.

Bottom Line: I give this movie an 8.5 out of 10. The sadness of Bambi’s mother’s death puts a damper on the story, in my opinion. But I also realize that all great stories, both fictional and non-fictional, have ups and downs, great and sad moments. For all the reasons I’ve mentioned, though, this is another must-watch. Just keep in mind that some sensitive kids may struggle with the intense scenes, and you might want to keep a tissue handy for yourself! However, it’s not all sad. Bambi is full of strength, perseverance, love, growth to maturity, and many other great qualities. And we can’t forget the comic relief moments! All in all, it is a wonderful film.

NOTE: Bambi is currently availble on Blu Ray and DVD formats of all kinds, as well as streaming services.