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Bambi (character)
Encyclopedia
Bambi, a young roe deer
, is the main character in Felix Salten
's Bambi, A Life in the Woods
and in the Disney
films based on the book. Bambi has starred in two movies, Bambi
and Bambi II
, has had cameos in several Disney cartoons, and has been parodied on occasion by other animation companies. In the Disney films his species was changed to the white-tailed deer
, which would be more familiar to American audiences. His image is a Disney icon, comparable to the recognition of Jiminy Cricket
or Tinkerbell
, and he is even shown on Disney stock certificate
s. He appears as a summon in the video game Kingdom Hearts
, and as one of the guests in the animated television series House of Mouse. He also makes cameos in No Hunting
(1955), Who Framed Roger Rabbit
(1988), and The Lion King 1½
(2004).
In the first film, Bambi is not very strongly personalized to strengthen the environmental perspective of the film. Bambi, as with most of his friends, could be any deer in any forest. In his early youth, Bambi has wide eyes, spindly legs, a curious nature and high-pitched voice. As he grows he gradually becomes more mature, but even in adulthood he seems a very young buck, with a delicate build and a fairly naïve nature.
The naturalistic animation in the first film was helped by a pair of four-month-old fawns sent to the studio by Maine
game wardens. However, human models were also used for one scene: actress Jane Randolph
and Ice Capades
star Donna Atwood
acted as live-action references for the scene where Bambi and Thumper are on ice. Disney also had Rico LeBrun, a painter of animals, come to the studio to lecture on the structure and movement of animals. Nature photographer Maurice Day spent months in a forest in Maine, recording animals for the animators, as well.
, and comes into conflict with his present and future rival, Ronno. Whereas in the first film he follows life wherever it led him, in this film he is more assertive in order to bond with and impress his father. In the first movie Bambi’s status as the young prince had little impact on the flow of the story. In this film his rank becomes a key part of the storyline as he sets out to prove to himself and others, most of all his father, demonstrating that he deserves to be prince and can live up to his father’s name.
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
, is the main character in Felix Salten
Felix Salten
Felix Salten was an Austrian author and critic in Vienna. His most famous work is Bambi .-Life:...
's Bambi, A Life in the Woods
Bambi, A Life in the Woods
Bambi, a Life in the Woods, originally published in Austria as Bambi. Eine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Walde, is a 1923 Austrian novel written by Felix Salten and published by Paul Zsolnay Verlag...
and in the Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
films based on the book. Bambi has starred in two movies, Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
and Bambi II
Bambi II
Bambi II is a 2006 Disney animated feature directed by Brian Pimental that initially premiered in theaters in Argentina on January 26, 2006, before being released as a direct-to-video title in the United States on February 7, 2006...
, has had cameos in several Disney cartoons, and has been parodied on occasion by other animation companies. In the Disney films his species was changed to the white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, which would be more familiar to American audiences. His image is a Disney icon, comparable to the recognition of Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" , a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his children's book Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Disney in 1940...
or Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell
Tinker Bell , is a fictional character from J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and its 1911 novelization Peter and Wendy. She has appeared in multiple film and television adaptations of the Peter Pan stories, in particular the 1953 animated Walt Disney picture Peter Pan...
, and he is even shown on Disney stock certificate
Stock certificate
In corporate law, a stock certificate is a legal document that certifies ownership of a specific number of stock shares in a corporation...
s. He appears as a summon in the video game Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
, and as one of the guests in the animated television series House of Mouse. He also makes cameos in No Hunting
No Hunting
No Hunting is a 1955 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon features Donald Duck participating in an overly-dramatic hunting trip after being inspired by his pioneer ancestor. The film was directed by Jack Hannah and features...
(1955), Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy-noir film directed by Robert Zemeckis and released by Touchstone Pictures. The film combines live action and animation, and is based on Gary K. Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, which depicts a world in which cartoon characters...
(1988), and The Lion King 1½
The Lion King 1½
The Lion King 1½ is a 2004 American direct-to-video animated film released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on February 10, 2004. The film is the third installment in the Lion King series. The DVD went to the Disney Vault in January 2005...
(2004).
Bambi
The naturalistic animation in the first film was helped by a pair of four-month-old fawns sent to the studio by Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
game wardens. However, human models were also used for one scene: actress Jane Randolph
Jane Randolph
Jane Randolph, born Jane Roemer , was an American film actress. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio and died in Gstaad, Switzerland....
and Ice Capades
Ice Capades
The Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympicand National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition....
star Donna Atwood
Donna Atwood
Donna Atwood was an American figure skater. She competed in pair skating and won the gold medal at the 1941 United States Figure Skating Championships with partner Eugene Turner. In 1949, she married John H. Harris, the first owner of the Ice Capades, with whom she had two children...
acted as live-action references for the scene where Bambi and Thumper are on ice. Disney also had Rico LeBrun, a painter of animals, come to the studio to lecture on the structure and movement of animals. Nature photographer Maurice Day spent months in a forest in Maine, recording animals for the animators, as well.
Bambi II
In Bambi II, Bambi is much more distinctly personalized. In this film which fills in the gap between the death of his mother and when he was next shown as an adult, Bambi finds himself faced with a number of challenges. First, there is the death of his mother and his consequential move to live with his father, the Great Prince of the Forest. His father is reluctant to learn to be a father. In addition, Bambi begins to develop feelings for FalineFaline
Faline is a doe in Felix Salten's novel Bambi, A Life in the Woods and its sequel, Bambi's Children as well as in the Walt Disney movies Bambi and Bambi II. Her mother is Ena...
, and comes into conflict with his present and future rival, Ronno. Whereas in the first film he follows life wherever it led him, in this film he is more assertive in order to bond with and impress his father. In the first movie Bambi’s status as the young prince had little impact on the flow of the story. In this film his rank becomes a key part of the storyline as he sets out to prove to himself and others, most of all his father, demonstrating that he deserves to be prince and can live up to his father’s name.
External links
- Bambi at Disney Archives