Bambi Parent Guide

Parent Movie Review
by Donna Gustafson

“It is widely believed that Bambi has had the greatest impact on viewers of any Disney film,” declares the information in the press package I received from the studio with this famous fawn flick.

I’ll say! They don’t have to provide statistical evidence to convince me of their claim. Do you know any child who has seen the movie that wasn’t traumatized when Bambi’s mom got shot by the hunters?! (Oops, would that be considered a spoiler?)

Released to theaters countless times since its debut in 1942, the tale has been passed from generation to generation, severely affecting the palatability of venison I’m sure! Yet despite this dark moment (and a few others including a threatening forest fire, some stags who lock antlers over a pretty female, a nervous bird downed by a gunman, and a pack of persistent dogs) Bambi’s lighter side and simple charm has left an equally indelible impression on the hearts and minds of most fans.

Based on a novel by Felix Salten, the story follows the life of the Prince of the Forest. Beginning with his regal arrival to a soft-eyed doe, the movie takes as much time as an adoring new parent to watch the wobbly-legged creature learn to walk, sniff blossoms, chase butterflies, and make friends with Thumper the rabbit, a skunk called Flower, and a wise old owl. At first bashful, the young deer grows in confidence while discovering trees offer safety, meadows can be frolicking good fun, girls are giggly, and ice is slippery. Even on the days when he faces nature’s harsher realities, like a thundering rainstorm or the scarcity of food in the winter, Bambi doesn’t know fear until he crosses tracks with Man.

Having Human Beings cast as the enemy helps to remind viewers of our need to treat the world with respect, making Bambi one of the earliest films to promote an environmental message. It also provides a touching example of a mother’s love and sacrifice. As the fawn trades his spots for antlers, moving from birth to twitter-pated to raising offspring of his own, the story imparts a greater understanding of the circle of life. But perhaps its most memorable lesson is the one we (and especially our mothers) can quote by heart: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothing at all.”

Directed by Bill Roberts, David Hand, Graham Heid, James Algar, Norman Wright, Samuel Armstrong. Starring Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Bobette Audrey, Peter Behn. Running time: 70 minutes. Theatrical release September 8, 1942. Updated July 17, 2017

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.

Bambi Parents' Guide

Why do you think audiences tend to feel sympathy for characters who are parentless? How many children’s movies can you name that feature orphans?

Although Bambi discovers he has a father, that figure remains distant, especially throughout the first half of the film. How does that depiction add to our sense of Bambi’s vulnerability?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Bambi movie is June 6, 2017. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Bambi: Signature Edition
Release Date: June 6, 2017
Bambi releases in a Signature Edition to home video (DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) with the following extras:
- Deleted Scenes
- The Making Of Bambi: A Prince Is Born
- Trick Of The Trade (Excerpt)
- Inside The Disney Archives
- The Old Mill: Animated Short
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- The Golden Age
- The Bambi Effect
- Studio Stories: “Bambi”
- Deleted Scene: Bambi’s Ice And Snow
- Deleted Scene: The Grasshopper
- Bambi Fawn Facts
- Oswald The Lucky Rabbit: “Africa Before Dark”

Home Video Notes: Bambi (Two-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Release Date: March 1, 2011

Walt Disney’s Bambi releases on March 1, 2011, in a Two-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, in either DVD or Blu-ray packaging. Whichever version you chose, the following bonus materials will be included:

- Disney Enhanced High Definition Picture and Sound

- Disney’s Second Screen - Content comes alive on your laptop, or iPad as you watch the movie.

- Disney View - 16x9 Full frame viewing experience

- Intro by Diane Disney Miller

- Inside Walt’s Story Meetings - Enhanced interactive edition

-Two never-before-seen deleted scenes

- Deleted song

- Blu-ray interactive galleries

- Game: Disney Big Book of Knowledge

- Classic DVD bonus features: The Making of Bambi, Tricks of the Trade, Inside the Disney Archives, DisneyPedia: Bambi’s Forest Friends and The Old Mill (1937 Academy Award winning short animation).

Bambi also releases as a Two-Disc DVD Diamond Edition, but not until April 19, 2011. This package offers the these extras:

- Disney Enhanced Picture and Sound

- Intro by Diane Disney Miller

- Inside Walt’s Story Meetings - Enhanced edition (linear)

- Game: DisneyPedia Bambi’s Forest Friend

Bambi Platinum Edition DVD

Release Date: March 1, 2005

The Walt Disney Company is bringing the classic movie to the home market on March 1, 2005. To make the DVD Platinum Edition of Bambi, the old negative has been dusted off, digitally restored and the sound remixed in 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix. Now the wonder of “Drip, Drip, Drop, Little April Showers” can be seen with a clarity and crispness you’ve never experienced before. The 2-disc set offers a host of other features as well, that are sure to increase your appreciation for this masterpiece of animation. Bonus features include:

- Featurettes: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings, The making of Bambi|A Prince is Born, Disney Time Capsule 1942: The Year of Bambi, The Art of Bambi, Tricks of the Trade, and Inside the Disney Archive

- Original theatrical trailer

- Short film: The Old Mill (that was used to test some of the techniques used in Bambi)

- Deleted scenes

- Sneak peak: The Legacy Continues: Bambi and The Great Prince of the Forest,

- Games and activities: Forest Adventure Game, Disneypedia: Bambi’s Forest Friends, What’s your Season? Personality Profile, Disney’s Storytime: Thumper Goes Exploring, and Virtual Forest)