Bambi (August 13, 1942)

I was particularly dreading re-watching this classic Disney film because what I remember most vividly is that particularly scene with Bambi’s mother… it has stuck with me all these years. I typically am not found of sad films (with the fox and the hound being an exception!) but I was willing to put aside my preconceptions and bask in the charm of this film. A brief synopsis is the protagonist, Bambi, must learn about the world and create budding friendships (most notably Thumper a male rabbit, Failine a female deer, and Flower a male skunk) along the way as he steps into his birthright as the prince of the forest. We watch him mature over the course of film. I was previously unaware that this movie is a cinematic adaptation of the Austrian novel published in 1923 called Bambi: Eine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Walde (translated: Bambi, a life in the Woods). Starting off, the animation, like in all the classic Disney films, is beautiful. Each subsequent film you can tell the animators became more adept at their craft with more complex movements and character designs amidst stunning painted backgrounds (there is still room for improvement as, particularly the mothers of Bambi and Failine stand completely still like they were a part of the painted background.). The soundtrack as well really evokes the forest in all its different facets and moods. I also continue to adore the old timey vocal style (though, technically, you can sometimes tell its age in the occasional over echo and overall, slightly tinny sound). The voice acting is fine, but I find the main characters’ voice drag at times and they overenunciate, but these criticisms do not take away from my enjoyment. Moving away from the technical aspects to the plot it a perfectly delightful coming of age story. While it has a short runtime (just 70 minutes), it makes the most of it, unlike in Dumbo, a I would not change it. The pace is fairly slow and steady with a few spikes in action, but it is a pleasant journey perfect for an evening watch- though it can get quite intense at times. The characters are lovable, (I laughed at the dramatic deepening of all of their voices as they matured and their mating scenes), but it truly is Bambi’s story and as such he is given the most characterization. Overall, I tremulously enjoyed Bambi and highly recommend it as one of the best Disney films.

Final Rating: 8/10