Original release date: August 21, 1942. It also had premieres in London on August 9th and New York City on August 13th.

Rating: G.

Length: 1 hour and 12 minutes

Background: Oh no, not “Bambi.” I’ve been dreading this one. I don’t want to watch this sad movie.

This dear deer movie received three Academy Award nominations for sound, including Best Sound, Best Song and Best Original Music Score.

It was released in theatres in 1942, right in the thick of World War II. In fact, twelve minutes were cut from the film pre-final animation to save money as previous projects had stammered at the box office due to the war.

It returned to the theatres six times, most recently in 1988. As with all the Disney classics, it has had multiple DVD, VHS, and Blu-Ray releases. The film is preserved in the National Film Registry.

Bambi himself has actually become a star of several ad campaigns. After the film’s original release, Walt allowed the character to be used in a fire prevention ad but only for a year. The loss of Bambi led to the creation of Smokey the Bear. True story! He also appeared in a wildlife prevention ad for the National Ad Council in 2006.

As they did for everything ever in the 90s and 00s, Disney released a direct-to-video sequel, “Bambi II,” in 2006. It was just announced that a live-action version of “Bambi” is being made for Disney+ so that we can all be traumatized again.

Review:

A slow pan through the forest reveals a sleepy owl, a yawning squirrel, and a chipmunk not quite ready to wake up yet as the sun rises and morning hits. We meet a little rabbit named Thumper, who joins the other animals in the excitement of a new prince being born.

That new prince would, that’s right, be Bambi. We meet the little deer nestled up with his unnamed mother. The animals all greet the “little prince” who is shy but curious about all of the creeper animals watching him. Bambi gets up and stumbles on his newfound legs, taking steps that he isn’t quite adjusted to yet.

The introductions continue as Bambi runs off with a crew of animals. Bye, mom! Thumper reveals he is named that because of his habit of thumping his foot on the ground.

Then we meet Flower, the skunk, who was hiding out in actual flowers.

Bambi returns home, hearing a storm. This brings out one of my secret favorite Disney songs, “Little April Shower.” We watch as the forest adapts, mice hiding under mushrooms and all.

A trip to the meadow with mom is next, with mom explaining how you have to be very cautious as the meadow is very unsafe. Oh no.

It’s a trick though, it turns out safe with birds chirping, ducks doing duck things, and plenty of frolicking for Bambi. Good, nothing will ever happen to Mama Dear. Thumper and family recommend Bambi try eating flower blossoms and leaving the greens, which is followed by Mama Rabbit reminding Thumper to eat the greens too.

A frog skips over to a nearby pond, where Bambi sees the reflection of a doe. He and the doe, Faline, exchange greetings… kinda. Bambi is shy and doesn’t want to say hi, but Mama Deer pushes him into introductions.

As time goes on and deer jump around some more, we meet the Great Prince, his father, for the first time. That’s good, he might need another parental unit soon.

Shortly after this, deer scurry and we hear a gunshot. “Man is in the forest,” announces Mama Deer. Stay away, mom.

I’m trying to make this moving sound more exciting than it is, because honestly it is kinda dull. It’s a classic, no doubt, but not much happens in it. Here’s a deer! Here’s some more deer! A little something happens every now and then! It’s a very peaceful movie – at least for a while – but there isn’t much happening. It does look great and it has adapted to HD well.

After some exploration of snow and ice, Mama Deer hears something and tells Bambi to run. Gunshots are heard. “We made it, mother!” Bad news, kid.

Bambi goes back out searching for his mother and, well, Daddy Prince tells him that his mother can’t be with him anymore. Yep, mama is dead.

We get a weird transition into happy music with birds chirping as we celebrate the arrival of spring, but the owl is annoyed with their tweet tweeting and lovey song. Pain in the feathers for him. This is really just a chance to reintroduce Bambi, who has grown into a deer with antlers. Thumper and Flower, too, have gone through some animal puberty and gained deeper voices.

Two birds flitter by in love, which gives the owl the chance to explain the definition of “twitterpation.” That’s why you post something that goes viral and gets hundreds of retweets.

Actually it’s the act of falling in love. It quickly happens to Flower as he meets a cute little skunk that turns him pink with love thanks with one kiss. The same happens shortly after with Thumper as he meets a bunny that quickly gets his twitterpated. This just leaves Bambi on his own.

Not for long though, as Bambi and Faline are reintroduced. She licks his face right away which is quite the reintroduction, and it is love from there. Unfortunately we meet a mean older buck who is determined to keep Bambi away from Faline. Bambi and the deer battle, with Bambi coming out on top. Ladies love it when you fight over them, huh fellas?

The animals notice a fire off in the distance which turns out to be a hunting cabin. Yep, it is man again. Hunting dogs surround Faline, who is rescued by Bambi, and the two deer and Daddy Prince escape the spreading wildfire.

Naturally we aren’t ending with a fire, instead ending as the movie began.. with babies.

Extras:

“Bambi Trailer” is a 54 second trailer from one of the more recent home releases.

“Deleted Scene: Bambi’s Ice and Snow” is a four minute introduction of an animator as well as the actual deleted scene, done through artwork and voiceovers only.

“Deleted Scene: The Grasshopper” is done in the same way, this one introducing a character we never met.

“Deleted Scenes: Bambi Stuck on a Reed” is introduced to us by a Disney historian, with the same mix of artwork and voiceover.

“Deleted Scene: Two Leaves” is another three minutes of deleted artwork, this featuring some sketches and such on how Walt originally planned to bring it into the film.

Should you watch it?

I’m going to be real with y’all… I am having a hard time recommending this. It’s a classic, sure. It looks nice. But… it was kinda boring to me. Believe it or not, I’m going with skip it. Sorry, Bambi.