Review: ‘Bambi’ Blu-ray (2017 Signature Collection)

The Walt Disney Studios has released a new Blu-ray combo edition of its 1942 classic Bambi as part of its Walt Disney Signature Collection.

The film is also celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, hence the “Anniversary Edition” labeling. And the beloved feature is making its debut on Digital HD, too (which I think would be the main reason to pick up this release).

The new Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD combo includes the following new bonus features (in addition to the “classic features” from the film’s last Blu-ray release in 2011):

“The Bambi Effect” – Bambi was full of innovations for its time. This bonus features looks at how these innovations affected future Disney animated titles all the way up to 2016’s Moana.
“Studio Stories: Bambi“ – Listen in on an audio interview with Walt Disney along with visuals from the making of Bambi. Uncle Walt talks about the challenges, pitfalls, and triumphs during the production of the film. This was probably my favorite of the newly created bonus features. Great stuff. Here’s a clip.

Two Deleted Scenes – Narrated by Disney Legend Floyd Norman, story boards and a newly created scratch track are included. The deleted scenes are “Bambi’s Ice and Snow” where Bambi, Thumper, and Thumper’s siblings play in the first snow and “The Grasshopper” where a grasshopper confronts Bambi and Thumper and finds himself in quite a predicament.
“Bambi Fawn Facts” – Probably the least appealing bonus feature for me on the Blu-ray was this very Disney Channel (i.e. loud and obnoxious) featurette that spewed out facts about deer and some of the other real life forest friends we encounter in Bambi. I recommend skipping it altogether and reading a book about the animals instead.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in Africa Before Dark – A restored Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short is included for your viewing pleasure.
Celebrating Tyrus Wong Mini-Documentary (Exclusively on Digital HD versions) – If you’re not familiar with story artist Tyrus Wong, his work made an indelible impression on Bambi and on the Disney Studios. Wong died late last year at the young age of 106 (really). This bonus feature is definitely worth watching.

Bambi concept art by Tyrus Wong (© Disney)

About the film, it’s a masterpiece. The transfer on this Blu-ray is pristine as we have become accustomed to with these animated treasures from the Disney vault. If you haven’t seen Bambi in a while, I highly recommend watching it on your TV or favorite digital device.

(And about that one scene, even Walt Disney’s daughter Diane was mad at him for including it in the film. Check out this clip.)