Bambi Diamond Edition (1942)

Studio: Walt Disney Productions, RKO Pictures
Theatrical Release August 21, 1942
Director: James Algar, David Hand
Rated G

Releases From The Disney Vault on March 1, 2011

Review by Rob Grabowski

This timeless Disney Classic has always been a favorite and where would the world be if not able to reference to the fact that Bambi’s mom meets an untimely demise. While after 35 years of knowing what is going to happen I can’t help but still yell at the TV in hopes that the outcome would be different. While that never seems to work out so well, seeing the early interaction between Bambi and all of the furry animals, like his best friend Thumper, certainly is endearing and wonderful to watch.

Seeing any Disney movie in the Blu-ray format is always a treat and truly is eye candy and Bambi is no different. The vibrant colors and sharp images are certainly what makes the investment into a home theater worth the money and effort. And hearing Bambi in the DTS-HD High Resolution 7.1 channel surround mix has an aural nuance that envelops the listener with a strong front mix and the 4 rear speakers fill in the sound from all areas of the room adding dimension. The subwoofer gets a rest from the usual action movie rumble but definitely keeps the deep tone in check with the rest of the mix. The musical score is certainly what compliments the beautiful visuals and storyline.

Bambi being offered in the Blu-ray format not only has an amazing remastered1080p picture and a DTS-HD High Resolution 7.1 channel surround mix but the bonus features offered only on the Blu-ray version certainly makes the Blu-ray version the only choice.

Review by Adam Bielawski

Although I seen Bambi back when I was a child, watching the scene where Bambi's mother dies by the hunter's gun still makes one get emotional.  Explaining it to my children was probably the same when my parents told me when I was a little boy, “why does the man have to kill Bambi’s mom?” The animation is wonderful in Bambi and the colors are like new in the Blu-ray version. We spend an hour watching the cycle of life for a young deer to maturity. Disney really entertained us and does to this day with the greatest of family movies.

The special features gives you an in-depth look into the magic of making the 1942 classic Bambi, with introduction by Walt Disney and the crew involved in the making of this picture.  From scene to scene, the narrative walks you through what it took to bring nature to the big screen. As the animators present a newly born deer and how it begins to walk half hour after the birth. Educational for the little ones, as well as entertaining, the bonus feature seemed like a little bit of Wild Kingdom. In this day and age, we want every thing bigger than life, including our home screens, watching Bambi with such great colors just makes you get all into the movie and say, "Whatcha doing?", "I'm watching Bambi, Thumper in Blu-ray on my 42in television."

I will add this, my little 2 year old, loves Bambi, she cannot get enough. For the past 2 weeks all comes out of her is Bambi, Bambi, Bambi.  I am glad to have a Bambi, Thumper and Flower as stuffed animals. That just ads real life magic to a toddler. That is the magic of Disney, the love and happiness in the children. We as adult sometimes forget how beautiful and wonderful childhood is.

About Bambi Diamond Edition

The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of BAMBI to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection line-up of Disney’s greatest animated-classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, BAMBI Diamond Edition features the loveable and adorable wide-eyed fawn and his forest friends in Blu-ray high-definition on March 1, 2011.

The Diamond Edition debut of BAMBI, Walt’s fifth full-length animated classic, is an endearing tale about a young prince of the forest who learns valuable life-lessons about friendship, love, and the miracle of life. The movie is a must-own coming-of-age story that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has especially packaged with families in mind - providing the ultimate, interactive hi-def home entertainment experience with a newly enhanced digital restoration, enhanced picture and sound, games, activities and more.

 The new BAMBI Diamond Edition will be available as a 2-Disc Disney Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD). Those who wish to own the standard definition DVD version of BAMBI will need to wait seven additional weeks – until April 19, 2011.

Disney’s new “Second Screen” technology, which is being introduced for the very first time on the BAMBI Diamond Edition release, will further transform the at-home movie watching experience by empowering viewers with the ability to engage with film content on multiple media platforms and bring them to life in their own hands at the touch of a button. By simply downloading the new Disney Second Screen App onto an internet-connected computer or iPad™* and synching it to the movie, consumers will instantly be able to dive deeper into the film by engaging with fun interactive elements like animated flipbooks, galleries, photos, trivia and more.

Film Synopsis:

As morning light breaks across the meadow, a young deer named Bambi is born and hailed as ‘Prince of the Forest.’ Soon Bambi emerges from the thicket on wobbly legs, much to the delight of his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, and Flower, the bashful yet lovable skunk. But the fun of nibbling on fresh blossoms and frolicking through the woods is only the beginning. Exploring his new world, and guided by the wisdom of Friend Owl,Bambi learns valuable life lessons with every adventure – experiencing the power of friendship, family, and love along the away.

The Making of the Film:

 

BAMBI was Walt Disney’s fifth animated full-length feature film which released in 1942 during World War II and took approximately five years in the making due to the exquisite artwork and attention to detail of each and every scene, character and figure.  The artwork itself was created by some of the legendary “nine old men,” including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl and Eric Larson and in order to achieve the film’s unprecedented level of realism, animators modeled anatomical studies using live animals (including a pair of fawns named Bambi and Faline) and imbued each with a uniquely endearing personality. Bambi’s delightful forest home received the same painstaking attention to detail, as background artists painted hundreds of landscapes based on extensive field research and nature photographs.

Walt Disney broke the longstanding animation tradition by casting child actors in the roles of Bambi’s young animals, including Bobby Stewart as Baby Bambi, Donnie Dunagan as Young Bambi, Hardie Albright as Adolescent Bambi and Peter Behn as Young Thumper. The cast also includes Sam Edwards as Adult Thumper, John Sutherland as Adult Bambi, Paula Winslowe as Bambi’s Mother and Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book’s Kaa, the snake) as Adult Flower.

Film Accolades:

BAMBI was nominated for three Academy Awards^® for Best Song (“Love Is a Song,”), Best Sound Recording, and Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. To date, BAMBI is No. 3 on the list of American Film Institute’s Top 10 Animated Films of All Times. And in 2004, the movie was commemorated with a first-class U.S. postage stamp and in the 1990’s the film inspired astronomers to name a pair of asteroids after the adorable characters – Thumper (April 20, 1993) and Bambi (October 17, 1995).

Bonus Features:

Backstage Disney:

• Inside Walt’s Story Meetings-Enhanced Edition - A fascinating, multi-tiered, interactive story-telling experience. Go back in time with dramatic voice re-enactments of the moments with Walt that led to the creation of this classic film.


• 2 Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes


• Deleted Song: “Twitterpated”


• Blu-ray Galleries—A collection of the extraordinary images originally created as part of the design process for BAMBI.

 

Family Play: Games & Activities:

• Disney’s Big Book of Knowledge: BAMBI Edition— An interactive educational gaming experience that uses the film as a learning tool. Players can customize their own Big Book of Knowledge and learn all about forest creatures, seasons and more! Each time a player completes a task, they are rewarded with new stickers to decorate their Big Book of Knowledge.

Digital Exclusive:

• The Golden Age

Classic DVD Bonus Features:

• The Making Of BAMBI: A Prince Is Born—A comprehensive look at the making of BAMBI covers the story, the characters, the actors, the art design, the music and the history of Walt Disney’s classic film using behind the scenes footage, production stills, animation, artwork and multiple interviews withperformers and behind the scenes participants.


• Tricks of the Trade (excerpt)—In an episode from the 1957 Disneyland TV show, Walt narrates the story of the multiplane camera, an animation innovation crucial to the production of BAMBI.


• Inside the Disney Archives—Disney Supervising Animator Andreas Deja guides viewers through Disney’s Animation Research Library, where artwork from past Disney animated feature films is stored, including early story sketches of Bobo the rabbit,” (who became Thumper),  glass paintings made for the multiplane camera and more.


• The Old Mill—Winner of the 1937 Academy Award® for Best Short Subject/Cartoon, The Old Mill was a testing ground for several techniques critical to Walt’s artistic vision for BAMBI, including the multiplane camera, animating realistic animals and experimenting with such natural occurrences such as wind, rain and lightning.


• DisneyPedia: Bambi’s Forest Friend

About Disney’s Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection:

 

Disney’s Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studio’s most prestigious animated classics. The Collection will be comprised with many of Walt Disney’s most treasured animated classic titles to be released through 2016. These titles represent the highest level of picture and sound, feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content, and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

About The Walt Disney Studios:

 

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!  For more information, please visit www.disney.com.