Day 5: Bambi

Bambi (1942)

Starring: Bobby Stewart, Donnie Dunagan, Hardie Albright, John Sutherland, Paula Winslowe, Peter Behn, Tim Davis, Sam Edwards, Stan Alexander, Sterling Holloway, Will Wright, Cammie King, Ann Gillis

Songs: "Love is a Song," "Little April Shower," "Let's Sing a Gay Little Spring Song," "Looking for Romance (I Bring You a Song)"

Bambi is a coming-of-age story of a young deer.  Bambi hangs out with his friends Thumper (a rabbit) and Flower (a skunk) and finds out some hard truths -- life is cruel and human beings can be even crueler.  This movie is, I feel, the best movie to date.  Like Dumbo, it's entertaining and charming and emotional... and like Fantasia, it's artistically beautiful.  

The backgrounds in this film are stunningly beautiful.  The score is understated and lovely.  The animation is technically impressive and wonderful.  And the character designs are perfect -- the animals are very realistic but they are still capable of human expressions.  Interesting to note is that the Disney artists studied deer anatomy extensively -- and it shows.  Comparing Bambi to the deer in Snow White kind of blows one's socks off.  Not only does it look like there was ten or fifteen years worth of skill and technological advancement in the five years between these two movies, but they don't even look like they were drawn at the same animation studio.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937):

Bambi (1942):

This is the first movie so far that is one I'd say I had a big connection with as a kid.  (I didn't dislike the others though, but this one I did really love.)  I'd even say it was one of my top ten or so.  I actually hadn't seen it in a while before I watched it just now... I had forgotten how enjoyable it!

What I Liked: Honestly, pretty much everything!  If I was to single out one thing, it would be the child voice actors for Bambi, Thumper, and Flower.

What I Disliked: Man coming in and shooting people and setting fires and whatnot.  Nothing about the movie though.

Should You Watch This Movie: Yes, definitely.