BAMBI 2

US, 2006, 75 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Patrick Stewart, Alexander Gould.
Directed by Brian Pimental.

After the popularity and success of Aladdin and The Lion King, the Disney studios decided to make sequels of many of their major hits, even going back to the 1940s for this sequel to the ever-popular Bambi.

The design of the film resembles that of the original, the delineation of the characters, Bambi, the Great Prince, Thumper, the owl, Flower the skunk… The backgrounds of the forest are similar as well – and the musical score resembles the past but it seems a pity that some of the themes were not incorporated more substantially into this sequel. The range of songs is very much that of the 1990s and the early 21st century Disney style, not as memorable as those in the original film.

The film proved very popular on television with family audiences – and probably with a number of parents and grandparents for whom Bambi was a favourite film.

Again, the plot is very simple, the Great Prince is concerned about Bambi who seems an awkward young deer. The Prince is somewhat severe but Bambi wants to emulate his father. In the spring, all his friends reappear and audiences will enjoy the bonds between them all as well as the comic touches.

There is a villain introduced, Ronno, a cantankerous deer who clashes with Bambi, taunting him, with Bambi having to resist and assert himself in his own right, buoyed with the support of his friends.

And the theme of father and son relationships is to the fore, the Prince having to look after Bambi when young, trying to find somebody to look after Bambi, sending him away for care, and then a reconciliation. Patrick Stewart brings grat vocal dignity to the Great Prince.

Light entertainment for very young audiences.