Why no Bambi?

[JiminyandTink]

What do you mean, there's a whole Bambi attraction in MK...

 

[Brad Bishop]

It's a classic, but I don't think kids these days know about it or parents don't want to watch it. I've actually never walked around the parks and wondered by aren't there any characters from Bambi present. I think it's just one of those films that is kind of forgotten.

What's funny is that your average person thinks of Bambi as a kids movie or "baby film" because they think of the scenes at the beginning where Bambi was learning how to walk, slipping on the ice, and Thumper and Flower are there and everything's just cute.

Bambi gets dark. Real dark, real quick. It's probably one of the most adult (not that kind) movies that they've made.

Mom doesn't just die, she's freaking shot. The entire forest burns down. There's panic. The hunters are out and the quail panics and, even though the other quails tell her, "Stay put," she tries to fly away and is shot.

I don't have a problem with any of it, I just think it's funny that it's so often thought of as a "baby movie".

 

[Brad Bishop]

All I know is Bambi made me cry when I was little and I still have a Bambi pillowcase from when I was about 7 years old.

Another one that's tough: Old Yeller

If you (general) haven't seen it, it's worth checking out.

 

[DfromATX]

Another one that's tough: Old Yeller

If you (general) haven't seen it, it's worth checking out.

I saw Old Yeller as an adult, but it didn't upset me nearly much as Bambi did (maybe because I was an adult). I remember all those things you mentioned in your other post. I remember being very upset seeing Bambi. Those hunters made me so angry! But in all honesty, I was very sensitive as a child. I can remember Fox and the Hound and Dumbo upsetting me too.

 

[raven]

True, but the question was more based on the fact that I've recently watched Bambi and done some internet research about its background and legacy. All the reviews will tell you what a masterpiece it is; the fact that 'Man' is one of the greatest Disney villains; that the death of Bambi's mother is a shared traumatic incident for a whole generation of adults and yet there is hardly anything in the theme parks reflecting this legacy.

So if Man in a villain, wouldn't the guests be the villain? Not sure how Disney would market that in the park making guests feel that they themselves killed his mother.

 

[DfromATX]

So if Man in a villain, wouldn't the guests be the villain? Not sure how Disney would market that in the park making guests feel that they themselves killed his mother.

I haven't given it much thought until now, but I suppose they could keep it "cutesy." They could do a ride similar to the old Snow White one. Instead of the witch they could do fire, but keeping it quick of course and ending it with Bambi living happily ever after with his wife and baby Bambies.

 

[deltaandthebannermen]

So if Man in a villain, wouldn't the guests be the villain? Not sure how Disney would market that in the park making guests feel that they themselves killed his mother.

Ha! No, I didn't mean the parks would feature Man as such. When reading up on the film, I was surprised to find that Man is rated as one of Disney's greatest villains. This fact contributes to the strong legacy of the film which is almost entirely absent from the parks.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It would make a good kiddie ride or dark ride. It's not like WDW is ever "finished," it could always happen. Respect the deer!

 

[ShoalFox]

It would make a good kiddie ride or dark ride. It's not like WDW is ever "finished," it could always happen. Respect the deer!

I always thought it was "fear the deer"

 

[raven]

Ha! No, I didn't mean the parks would feature Man as such. When reading up on the film, I was surprised to find that Man is rated as one of Disney's greatest villains.

This could also be due to the fact that Bambi was released smack dab in the middle of WWII. Films were highly influenced by current events then.

 

[GVentola]

Years ago, I had an idea for a Bambi ride. It would start in a rabbit den, and you go up out of the den and see newborn Bambi with his mother. Then you go to an icy patch where the ride vehicle spins around like Bambi on ice. Then there's a forest "fire", in which somehow the ride vehicle "jumps" over a fallen tree or two to escape. Finally, it goes back to a peaceful forest setting. I thought it would be good for the now extinct Camp MinnieMickey at Animal Kingdom.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Well, indeed, but it just struck me as odd seeing as Snow White, Pinocchio and Dumbo all have presence in the parks and even the Three Cabelleros. With the obvious exceptions of the 'compilation' films the next animated feature to seem invisible at the parks is Lady and the Tramp, and even that has a restaurant at WDW. Even The Sword in the Stone has 'the sword in the stone' as Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. It just seems that from the early period it's an odd exclusion.

You possibly have the answer right there. All those characters, although animated, were drawn walking upright on two legs, Bambi was drawn as a realistic animal. How would you represent Bambi standing upright. The ones that they can get away with like Pluto and Thumper, for example were cartoonish enough that the suspension of disbelief will work. I don't see how Bambi can be shown in any way that will be acceptable. If you think of Bambi just as another animated character the whole story takes a different tone. That's my opinion anyway!

 

[ShoalFox]

You possibly have the answer right there. All those characters, although animated, were drawn walking upright on two legs, Bambi was drawn as a realistic animal. How would you represent Bambi standing upright. The ones that they can get away with like Pluto and Thumper, for example were cartoonish enough that the suspension of disbelief will work. I don't see how Bambi can be shown in any way that will be acceptable. If you think of Bambi just as another animated character the whole story takes a different tone. That's my opinion anyway!

Well, Marie from the Aristocats appears on two feet in the parks. She's not particularly cartoonish.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Well, Marie from the Aristocats appears on two feet in the parks. She's not particularly cartoonish.

Looked pretty cartoonish to me! What can I say, there is a difference.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

You possibly have the answer right there. All those characters, although animated, were drawn walking upright on two legs, Bambi was drawn as a realistic animal. How would you represent Bambi standing upright. The ones that they can get away with like Pluto and Thumper, for example were cartoonish enough that the suspension of disbelief will work. I don't see how Bambi can be shown in any way that will be acceptable. If you think of Bambi just as another animated character the whole story takes a different tone. That's my opinion anyway!

But that would only potentially rule out a meet & greet, not an attraction.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

As an interesting note, Bambi got a nice (and very conspicuous) nod recently in the new Grizzly Peak Airfield at DCA: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/condor-flats-becoming-grizzly-peak-airfield.894636/page-10

 

[deltaandthebannermen]

Years ago, I had an idea for a Bambi ride. It would start in a rabbit den, and you go up out of the den and see newborn Bambi with his mother. Then you go to an icy patch where the ride vehicle spins around like Bambi on ice. Then there's a forest "fire", in which somehow the ride vehicle "jumps" over a fallen tree or two to escape. Finally, it goes back to a peaceful forest setting. I thought it would be good for the now extinct Camp MinnieMickey at Animal Kingdom.

I like this idea. You see, this is the sort of attraction I would have expected to have featured somewhere, somewhen in a Disney park. The whole 'going through the forest; through the seasons' thing seems perfect for a dark ride.

 

[Goofyernmost]

But that would only potentially rule out a meet & greet, not an attraction.

Again, I cannot imagine an attraction with Bambi considering the story line. Would we be in a random animal shaped omni-mover dashing through a forest with hunters shooting and fire raging? It is tough to make a fun attraction out of a movie that is mostly remembered for it's major tragedy.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Again, I cannot imagine an attraction with Bambi considering the story line. Would we be in a random animal shaped omni-mover dashing through a forest with hunters shooting and fire raging? It is tough to make a fun attraction out of a movie that is mostly remembered for it's major tragedy.

It can be a portion of the story, not the whole story. Like the little Bambi exploring the forest part. Focus on the beautiful scenery, playing with the other animals, etc. pooh is not exactly strong on plot points lol.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It's cute but it's kinda boring.

I watched the behind the scenes portion of the DVD once, and it was simultaneously fascinating while great for napping.