Review - Disney's Bambi: Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

Disney; G; 70 minutes

Now available on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD combo pack is Disney's Bambi: Anniversary Edition. This marks the very first time the 1942 animated classic has been released on Digital HD. As an added bonus, the combo pack comes a 'free' Collectable Tyrus Wong Lithograph.

Directed by David Hand (supervisor for the other scene directors), the film was based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten. The film received three Academy Award nominations: Best Sound, Best Song (for "Love Is a Song") and Original Music Score.

Bambi tells the story of the fawn Bambi, as he explores the wonders of the forest and befriends a rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower. While there are many beautiful things about the forest, there are also many dangers, including hunters.

Bambi learns about the harsh ways of the forest after a tragedy occurs, leaving him to be raised by his father, Great Prince of the Forest. Several years passes by and Bambi is now full-grown, which leads him to learn about romance after he stumbles upon a female deer named Faline.


The Blu-ray contains brand-new extras, as well as classic extras that have appeared on previous releases.

New Bonus Extras are:

• THE BAMBI EFFECT – “Bambi” was full of innovations for its time. Let’s take a look at how those past innovations affected future Disney animated titles all the way up to today.

• STUDIO STORIES: “BAMBI” – Recordings of Walt Disney. Listen in on intimate moments where he discusses the challenges, pitfalls and triumphs during the production of “Bambi.”

• DELETED SCENE: BAMBI’S ICE AND SNOW – Bambi coaxes Thumper and his brothers and sisters to come play on the ice during the first snow.

• DELETED SCENE: THE GRASSHOPPER – A grasshopper confronts Bambi and Thumper and finds himself in quite a predicament.

• BAMBI FAWN FACTS – Think you know everything there is to know about Bambi and his forest companions? Well, it’s time to discover some fun real-life facts about the creatures that live in the forest he calls home.

• OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT: “AFRICA BEFORE DARK” – Oswald Short.

• CELEBRATING TYRUS WONG (DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE) – A heartfelt look at the man who played a key role in the success of “Bambi.” Much like Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle, Tyrus Wong had a unique signature style all to his own. The soft water-colored backgrounds and beautiful palettes in “Bambi” were inspired by Tyrus’ concept art paintings.

CLASSIC Bonus Extras are:

• DELETED SCENES – Two Leaves, Bambi Stuck on a Reed, Winter Grass, Twitterpated

• THE MAKING OF BAMBI: A PRINCE IS BORN

• STORY: TELLING THE TALE

• CHARACTERS: DRAWN TO NATURE

• ACTORS: GIVING VOICE TO ANIMALS

• ART DESIGN: IMPRESSIONS OF THE FOREST

• MUSIC: NATURE’S SYMPHONY

• HISTORY: BACK TO THE BEGINNING

• TRICK OF THE TRADE (Excerpt)
• INSIDE THE DISNEY ARCHIVES
• THE OLD MILL: ANIMATED SHORT
• ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER
• THE GOLDEN AGE

Final Thoughts: I recall my parents taking me to the theaters when I was a seven-year-old to see Bambi's re-release in 1988, and like every other child, I cried when Bambi's mother died. It left a horrible impression on me, one so bad that I had never rewatched the film again; well, that is until I reviewed the Bambi: Anniversary Edition Blu-ray.

Viewing the film as an adult, I can now enjoy the beautiful animation, the excellent voice-cast, and the incredible musical score, which the latter is my favorite part of the movie. I still don't care for what happens to Bambi's mother, but from my understanding the death scene also occurred in the original novel (which I have never read).

The picture quality on the Blu-ray is excellent; showcasing the outstanding animation. It's also loaded with bonus extras; some new and a few old ones from previous releases, though all the features were new to me.

Overall, the Disney's Bambi: Anniversary Edition is a must have for any fan of Disney animations. I highly recommend adding it your collection.

* I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.