If there is one thing you can say about Bambi, is that it’s a true piece of art. Don’t take me word for it, just take a look at some of these screen grabs, such as this beautiful moment, taken soon after Bambi’s birth:
Or the striking scene where Bambi fights off another stag for the heart of Faline:
Or my own personal favourite, this image taken from the very finale shot, showing Bambi as the Prince of his kingdom:
Any one of these images could quite easily be framed, and hung on a wall as grade A artwork. They are gorgeous to look at, full of detail and character. The whole film is a 70 minutes feast for the eyes.
Released originally in 1942, Disney’s 5th Classic did not have an easy start, but is now widely regarded as the masterpiece it really is. As it first aired in cinemas during war-time, it didn’t quite reach the audience it needed, and struggled to make back its money, which it didn’t do until it’s re-release in 1947.
Interestingly, Bambi was meant to be the studio’s second feature length film, but Walt’s aim for perfection caused considerable delay. But what a lofty goal to aim for, because the animators pretty much succeeded! Cartoonish elements are almost non existent in the movie, with a reliance and realism and natural movement. The Deer are impeccably animated, with a lovely, realistic look. Seeing them move makes it look like a painstaking amount of hours was made in recreating the animals natural gait and movements. Combine that movement with luscious environments of the wild forests, and you have a simply gorgeous movie, and even better in the cleaned up and fully restored DVD release we watched.
That is not to say that Bambi is perfect, unfortunately. It is rightfully a classic movie, and fully deserving of its status. It’s focus on realistic artwork is worthy, and a gamble that really has paid off. But some of the other parts of the film are lacking.
Unlike many Disney movies, this film does not have a truly memorable soundtrack. The songs are mostly played in the background, and are good scene setters, but do not have the strength to really stand without the visuals.
And even more notably the cast of supporting characters are fleeting, and don’t really have anything to do. This is partly due to a lack of real story, although there is a sense of wonder as we join Bambi in experiencing the world at the same time. But so much of the early half of the film is spent with Thumper, an admittedly cute looking rabbit, but one that is also rather annoying, not helped by the casting of real children to provide the squeaky voicing. Along with Friend Owl, they are the few cartoony elements to sneak into this otherwise grown up movie.
And despite being a famous scene, I don’t think the audience have spent enough time with Bambi’s mother for the true impact of the hunter’s gun to really hurt.
However, that enemy is one of the other things Disney got right. It tells the very important message of looking after nature, animal rights and correctly paints man as the enemy. Despite not even once seeing this terror of the forest, his prescence is felt throughout. There’s a honest depiction of life and death in Bambi, which really gives it its adult themes, and elevates this beyond mere entertainment. And the movie portrays the fragility of life so well, that the hunter even appears in the top twenty list of movie villains published by the American Film Institute.
It may not be the perfectly entertaining movie, but Bambi is an important movie. At the very least, it is a real work of art.
DisneyEverywhere Rating – If we didn’t have anything nice to say, we never would have written this review!
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