
Bambi as a fawn in Bambi II

Young adult Bambi surprised by Faline in Bambi
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 certificates.[1] 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 brief cameos in Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Lion King 1½.
Personality[]
Bambi[]
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.[2]
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 Faline, 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.
- ↑ "One Share at a Time". Real Savvy Moms Go Green: all about moms. Retrieved 23 April.
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: ; ; accessyear - ↑ "Bambi Character History". Disney Archives. Retrieved 23 April.
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