Bambi II

While I premiered in Argentinian theaters, Bambi II went direct to video in America. Holding the record for the longest time span between franchise installments, it was released 64 years after Bambi. It starred Alexander Gould, Patrick Stewart Rendon Baerg, Nicky Jones, Cree Summer, and Andrea Bowen.

Taking place between Bambi’s mother dying and him growing up, Bambi (Gould) runs into his father (Stewart) who takes over raising him. However, The Great Prince of the Forest sees his duties to his herd and asks Friend Owl (Kieth Ferguson) to find a doe to raise Bambi.

Despite it the odd choice to have Captain Picard voice Bambi’s father, Bambi II is actually pretty decent for a direct to video sequel.

It has some pretty good character development in the realm of The Great Prince, in that he starts off as just wanting some other doe to take care of Bambi so he can focus on the rest of the herd. But since he has to because no doe will be able to feed herself and Bambi, he realizes taking care of him isn’t all that bad a deal.

Also, another threat was introduced in this film, one that acts alongside man: dogs. Which is actually a pretty interesting idea, since audiences actually do want a threat they can see, but the film can’t just show man and erase the tension that the first film gave. This film actually portrays dogs as much more vicious.

#65

Bambi

When Disney decided to make a coming of age story, he wound up with the 1942 film Bambi, based on the book Bambi, I Life in the Woods. Featuring a deer growing up in the forest and befriending a rabbit and skunk, Bambi won the Academy Award for Best Sound, Best Song and Original Music Score.

The film begins as a doe gives birth to a fawn, who she names Bambi. His father is the Great Prince of the Forest who guards the woodland creatures from the dangers of man. Bambi is quickly befriended by an energetic rabbit named Thumper, a sunk named Flower and a female fawn named Faline. As Bambi asks about the world around him, he grows attached to his mother who cautions him about the dangers of life in the forest.

During Bambi’s first winter, his mother is shot and killed by a hunter while helping him find food. The Great Prince leads Bambi home. Many years later, Bambi has matured into a young stag and his childhood friends have entered adulthood as well. They are warned of Twitterpation by Friend Owl and that they will eventually fall in love. They treat the concept of romance with scorn, but Thumper and Flower both encounter romantic counterparts and change their minds. Bambi also encounters Faline and begin courtship, which is interrupted by an older stag named Ronno, who attempts to force Faline away from Bambi. Bambi successfully manages to defeat Ronno in battle.

Bambi is soon awaked by the smell of smoke and is warned of a wildfire by his father. The two flee to safety, but Bambi is separated from Faline. He searches for her and finds her cornered by hunting dogs. He wards them off and makes it to his father with Faline on a riverbank. The following spring, Faline gives birth to twins under Bambi’s eye as the new Great Prince of the Forest.

Bambi is a great film in many aspects. The animation can be drab or colorful depending on the scene, which works with the film taking place in a forest that changes with the seasons. There’s also not a lot of dialogue in the film, but the film does well in conveying emotion and story without it. Also, not having man appear in the film at all gives it greater tension. The music is also the film’s strongest point, which might be why it won those awards. “Little April Showers,” which plays when Bambi witnesses his first rainstorm is one of the best scenes. And where Dumbo failed in pacing, Bambi excels. Making it shorter would have ruined it and making it longer would have been unnecessary.

The only negative aspect was that Thumper could sometimes get annoying. But that didn’t happen often.  

Final Call: Great film with great storytelling and music. Some minor annoyances, but that doesn’t do any disservice. It easily surpasses the Edge of Satisfaction and stops at #2.