Not many people today know of the name Felix Salten author of Bambi; but I have through this film (like many people) and I am thinking of reading the original book including the sequel "Bambi's Children;" and I'm also a deer lover. This film is beautfully animated and directed by Dave Hand (Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs).

My favorite scenes from the film are when Thumper is teaching Bambi how say "bird" like teaching a forgein child (no matter from which country) English. And when Bambi first meets Faline (even to animal kids boys have their issues with girls). And also the scene in Spring, Friend Owl tries to shoo the birds away (who were singing), and also when he examples to grown-up Bambi,Thumper and Flower about being "twitterpated"

Say to a bunch of people, "Hey! Wanna watch Bambi?" and not a complaint will come.

I will admit that this movie is extremely good, but not quite worthy of the four stars it's been getting. Given it's old, the animation looks a little paint-y, if you get my meaning. But it was astounding. For the 1940's, this was the best animation available. The multi-panel shots especially. Those were the days.

Heart warming and breaking at the same time, the story had humor and charm, and the characters were quite funny. I liked the "Twitterpated" scene. Good laughs have come of that one in our family.

This is a classic that you just have to own.
I don't know anybody who hasn't seen Bambi.

You'd have to have a heart of stone not to fall for Bambi. For me, it's Walt's crowning achievement, and when I watch it today, it still gives the same feeling of nostalgia as it did when I was six years old. In fact, I find even more thought-provoking than I did when I was a child.

But what is it that makes Bambi stand out for me? There's magic here alright, but not the fairy magic like in so many other Disney films. There's humans, but they never appear on screen. I think that I was captivated by the way the musicians, the animators and the artwork all become synchronised, like the natural sounds of a real forest. What makes Bambi so wonderful is the feel of being so close to nature. During the scene where it starts to rain, we see Bambi's fascination with the little raindrops. As each little drop lands softly on something, we hear a little note from the orchestra. It is just so well synchronised, and it shows just how much love and dedication was put into it.

Also, Bambi flawlessly flips from mood to mood. We watch a scene that is sad, dark and melancholy. It all fades to black, and we are greeted with something light hearted, colourful and joyful. In many other films, something like that would stick out like a sore thumb, but somehow, in an almost magic way, that does not happen with Bambi.

What really annoys me is when I see people bash Bambi and call it 'anti-hunting pro-PETA trash.' I'm sure that when dear old Walt made this, he had nothing of the sort in mind. It also annoys me when I see people making a big deal out of one of the most touching and heartbreaking scenes in Bambi. (you know the one I'm talking about!) Sure, it's a poignant scene, but it is also only one tiny fraction of the actual film. So why must people take the Mick out of it, if there is no Mick to take? (That doesn't sound right!)

If you are fed up of the huge amount of CGI that's lost its novelty years ago, then pick up a two disc Special Edition DVD of this lovable classic, before Disney locks it up again.

Occasionally I see reviewers summarize Bambi as "A cute, simple story about a deer in the forest". Normally whenever I see this statement or one similar to it, I just skip the review all together. Trust me. That is about the most misleading thing a reviewer can say about this particular movie. It's much more complicated than that; Bambi pretty much covers all aspects of life: Birth, innocence, discovery, friendship, survival, loyalty, love, and of course, death. The movie begins with Bambi's birth and as the movie progresses we see Bambi's childlike innocence, while he discovers the world around him and develops friendships. And after Bambi and his mother are trying their best to survive the harsh winter, Bambi learns of loss. The scene where his mother dies is normally the thing people remember most about Bambi, and for a good reason. As Bambi starts walking away with his father and that scene starts to fade out, Bambi's childhood comes to an end. It truly is one of the greatest coming-of-age stories.

Then there's the animation and the music of Bambi. Whether it's a small chime in sync excuisitely with a raindrop or a full orchestra set to the big forest fire at the end, they both are so perfectly blended together that it almost feels poetic and really sets the emotional feel to the film.

It's one of the most honest films I have ever watched. There is simply nothing sugar-coated about it. Not once does this movie talk down to you. It doesn't need to. It's a beautiful film that revolves around the joys and tragedies of life. And just like life, as Bambi's story ends, a new story always begins.

I love this film. It's my favorite from Disney and probably always will be.

Every animator who knows even the slightest aspect of their industry, just hopes that they can get to be as half as good as Disney animators at the top of their game. Then again Bambi wasn’t just them at the top of their game, it is their top achievement full stop IMHO and the benchmark to which all other animation has had to live up to since. Many have tried and failed, even with the technology at the animator’s disposal these days none are able to touch this film for sheer scoop of artistry.

Back then of course, the Disney animators were the ones nobody could touch let alone beat: as they were highly trained in their techniques and with larger budgets than any other studio. Walt had set up art classes to train his boys since the days before Snow White. Live models (human, plant and animal) to scan and sketch, lessons designed to teach the artists about reality and to draw out that reality of motion onto the drawing board. These life drawing and motion studying classes are in effect the life-blood of this level of quality animation. No amount of polygons or high definition special effects can match the simplicity of an artist with a pencil; especially a Disney one in the height of what is referred to as the corporations Golden Age.

The Silly Symphonies also provided a immensely important training ground for this film, which is essentially the final product of that entire body of work; At times watching Bambi is like watching a moving painting, a true piece of art. The Silly Symphonies like The Old Mill where the dress rehearsal to this: the main act. Kept back over the years to allow for it’s blossoming while the simpler Dumbo and brasher Pinocchio sped past it in the production line.

Bambi was one of the first (not the first) of the major Disney films to put it supervising animators in charge of entire scenes rather than individual characters; the result is a cohesiveness of motion that is unlike almost anything that ever came before or arguably since. As such everything is scene becomes a logical progression to what has occurred before, any problems that may have become raised using this method are evaporated by the film’s length and the aging of the characters.

I spent a good part of my childhood going to a place called Knole Park, a beautiful part of South East England that has wild deer running freely, so use to the human visitors that they where quite content with us alien interlopers being amongst them; in spite of the fact that the park was once a deer hunting reserve (actually anyone bringing a picnic would find these wonderful creatures more were determined than Yogi Bear to get their share). Their graceful movements and sheer muscular power are hard to ignore when they are two feet away, with nothing between you and them.

I don’t think this film was as appreciated as much as it is today back that day when it was released; it certainly didn’t make much money on its initial release. mind you with the world going on a vital part of the market cut of (i.e. the whole of Europe), there was very little a film of this costly nature could.

Lupercal mentions the fact that it would take eight years for Disney to make another one story film. Yet this was really a result of the war and the effects it had on the available markets more than any creative leanings. Disney decided to postpone ‘true’ features for fiscal reasons, he was running a business after all. The films made from multiple shorts piled together were cheaper to make compared to a straight feature; since they didn’t required anywhere near as much pre-production.

Spoiler…

There’s no getting away from the fact that Bambi is a work of art, from the lust backgrounds, gently airbrushed to perfection; to the little details of the motion of animal movement. Yet that is only part of the picture the ‘Slice of Life’ story it tells has plenty of merit in itself. From Bambi’s first days in the forest, learning the difference between bird and butterflies, though not between flowers and skunk (For the record the skunk adopts the name after Bambi mistakenly calls him one). The glories of the open meadow that hides nothing, a beautiful place that can be deadly; and the death of Bambi mum there marks the first real tear-jerker in Disney’s run; something that would become a tradition.

Spoiler Ends…

Disney knew how to mix music and animation together seamlessly, April Showers is one of the most iconic songs to come out the Disney cannon. There is little dialogue in the film, but that is something that Bambi has in common with the two films that preceded it. Apart for that similarity the first films that Walt made until the war are very different from each other, yet this one has stood the test of time and will probably do so indefinitely.

In a very true sense this is one Classic animated film that has held up to time; one which others and I hold up to judge other films by…

Additional: I recently watched the latest release of this on my DVD copy (for the purpose of this review of course), the difference is that I watched the film with the cutlets of the meetings Disney had when planning the film out on. How many other classic Disney films would, or will get this treatment? In a roundabout way it’s as if the film has been given a DVD commentary by Disney himself, insightful and fascinating to listen to; a marvellous part of a great edition.

Bambi is a drama of a young fawn born into a world of natural beauty, untouched by human civilization. The movie chronicles the life of the Young Prince, Bambi, as he discovers nature, friends, love and tragedy. He befriends other characters like the excited rabbit, Thumper, the bashful skunk, Flower, and the lovely fawn, Feline. This movie also contains one of the most tragic scenes in Hollywood history as the heartless Man kills Bambi's helpless mother.

This is not a typical Disney movie. The care and attention put into this film by the directors and animators prove that they were out to create a realistic portrayal the life of animals and elemental nature. They even bought two fawns that lived in the studio so that the animators could study their movements. Every single detail of the animals, every leaf that rustles, every drop on dew is animated with the utmost precision to make this picture a treat to watch.

There is very little dialogue in this picture, only enough is said to let you know what is happening. This creates a feeling of peace and the natural quiet of the forest. The beautiful score carries the movie and twists the quietness into emotion. The score represents Bambi's thoughts and makes them known through both the music and his facial expression.

I have not yet bought this one on DVD, so I pulled out my 17-year-old VHS copy to view. I never realized how spoiled I was with the invention of DVD until I endured all the dust and scratches on the cells of this copy. Undoubtedly, the fully restored DVD edition of Bambi will be beautiful.

I will leave you with this quote from New York Post critic Archer Winsten:

"This picture is less occupied with the humors and slapstick of the ordinary Disney opus. It is a much more serious and elemental showing of nature. As such there is some question about its appeal to the very young...This reviewer is of the opinion that, like many another work of art dealing with activities of the young, its greatest appeal will be for thoroughly adult minds."

As a kid I couldn't quite appreciate this film as much as I can now.
When I was younger I always thought it was a little on the slow side since there wasn't a whole lot of dialogue and had more music, but this film is beautiful.

The backgrounds are amazing, and the animation is very smooth and was ahead of it's time when it came out.

The story is very touching. You can feel the emotion of the characters just through their expressions. This movie has some very moving scenes.

The characters are lovable and their designs are great. They had a great voice cast for this film. It's hard to find a little who's voice isn't overly obnoxious, but they managed to with this one. The music is great and really sets the mood in all the scenes. Of all the older Disney films I believe it's one of more unique soundtracks.

This is one of Disney's greatest classics. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Bambi is -in my eyes- a wonderful movie. Sure, it's not faithful to the original novel but who cares? It turned about than the book.

The animation of the deer and the others is astounding, to say the least. And the backrounds, effects and lighting (especially during the fight) is are jaw-dropping.

The characters come off perfectly: the Great Prince is regal and mysterious, Bambi's mother maternal and warm (her off-screen death still brings tears to my eyes), Thumper is fun and appealing, Faline is interesting and charming, Ronno (Bambi's rival) is powerful and intimidating, and the hero has you cheering for him.

But perhaps one of the things that strikes me in re-watching it is how, as Lupercal said, the deer are (especially as adults) kept very on-model to their real-life counterparts. Sure you see the 'whites' of their eyes, but their pupils aren't shrinked to human size nor are thick eyebrows pinned onto their heads, unlike in "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron."

In short a wonderfully done film, well deserving of its classic status.

This film is so touching, sad, and funny all at the same time. The plot is so real. Think about it, a child losing one of the only family memebers that he ever knew and then being introduced to a father he never knew. It's like watching someone's life in animal terms. I cried, I laughed, I said, "How cute!" about 5 million times! I love this movie!

Forget what preconceptions you might have. Get over the dated cuteness of the juvenile characters - because more than 60 years after it was made, 'Bambi' is still the standard by which western hand-drawn animation is judged, and it probably always will be.

Toonboy, in his review below, has said pretty well everything I wanted to say about the beauty of the animation and the use of music, so go read that - but I think I can probably push the point a little more. Watch something like 'Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron', where an entire Bryan Adams song is plastered over a sequence, and the _only_ relevance to what's on screen is the phrase 'get off of my back'. Then watch 'Bambi', where a drop of water falling on a leaf is exquisitely synchronised with a musical note, and that note is emotionally relevant to the movie. See a difference?

Disney went all-out for 'realism' in this movie (in the sense that he _didn't_, for example, in 'Dumbo'). The features of the young Bambi, Thumper, and Flower may be neotenized, but their movements are realistic, and the adult animals are barely even anthromoporhic. At the same time, the woodland scenery is painted with such poetic nuance and attention to detail that the film would almost be worth watching just for the backgrounds. I don't believe Disney ever really achieved this level of artistry again, even with the monster CGI capabilities available to it in the 21st century.

'Bambi' was also Disney's first wartime movie (at least as far as US audiences were concerned. Dumbo qualifies, just, but whereas 'Dumbo' was in the cinemas when Pearl Harbor was bombed (as anyone who remembers John Belushi in '1941' will doubtless recall), Bambi was in production after Pearl Harbor, and certainly well after the beginning of the European War.

As a result, though it was seen at the time as a blatant attack against hunting groups (at least by hunters), it has come to be seen by many more as a reaction to the horrors of World War II, and what mankind was capable of. All the same, Bambi's effects on the sensibilities of the public in relation to the treatment of animals shouldn't be underestimated. In this sense probably affected public attitudes more than any other movie Disney has ever made. I remember reading an article once titled something like 'Bambi made me a gay communist' (more on that later).

It's interesting to look at the role - or the non-role - of humans in 'Bambi', and how this has changed over the years. (*WARNING* The following section contains a major spoiler for 'Brother Bear')

In 'Bambi' humanity is portrayed as an utterly alien force, with whom communication is impossible. There is no interaction between the human and animal characters, anymore than there is between them and the forest fire which occurs in the movie. Trace the human-animal interaction through movies like 'The Fox and the Hound', forty years later. By now there is an aching desire to bridge the divide, in the scenes between Widow Tweed and Tod. Finally, fast forward another 22 years to 'Brother Bear', and you have a man who experiences being a bear, and chooses to remain as one. The communication which was impossible in 'Bambi' is now fully realised.

Quite apart from all that, 'Bambi' is just a magnificently put together movie. There is nothing about it that isn't perfection. Perhaps Disney realised it would be a tough act to follow, because it took him another 8 years before he made another conventional one-story animated feature.

Now, getting back to that gay thing. Look, I am not saying that Disney or his animators did this on purpose, but when I watched 'Bambi' for the first time as an adult, my jaw just dropped open at some of the scenes in the first half of the movie. The thing just seems to ooze gay symbolism (I'm not gay, BTW, so it's not like I was looking for it.) For heaven's sake, apart from Bambi and Thumper, we have Flower ( a guy called Flower?) who obviously has a crush on Bambi, and this is so obvious that 60 years later, Disney merchandising even seemed to forget that Flower was even a boy. Take a look at this official merchandise:

http://southcom.com.au/~fluke/bambi.jpg

Of course, everyone does eventually get 'twitterpated' ("Yes, even you, Flower", says the Owl), so who knows. I've brought derision down on my head for pointing this out before. Perhaps it's all completely unintentional. Whether it is or not makes zero difference to whether Bambi is a great movie, and if Disney will be remembered for one movie a thousand years from now, this will be it. And justly so.