Bambi 2013

In a quiet Maine forest, a doe brings a curious male fawn into the world named Bambi, who is destined to one day wear the title of Great Prince of the Forest, the steadfast guardian of all woodland creatures. From his earliest days, Bambi grows inseparable from his mother, and he spends his hours soaking up the rhythms of the forest with a child’s wonder. He makes friends who will define his coming years: Thumper, an exuberant young rabbit who helps him learn to walk and speak; a self-assured young skunk who, flattered by a nickname he’s given himself as “Flower,” accepts the name with a grin; and a graceful female fawn named Faline. Curious and eager to understand the world, Bambi repeatedly asks questions about life beyond the glade, while his mother’s loving cautions gently remind him that the world can be beautiful and perilous.

One sunlit day in a meadow, Bambi catches a fleeting glimpse of the ancient stag known as the Great Prince, whose experience and calm presence anchor the forest. As the Great Prince leads them uphill toward safety, a human hunter—whom all the animals simply call Man—approaches, and the three of them hurry back into the sheltering trees just as Man fires his gun. In the rush, Bambi becomes momentarily separated from his mother, but the Great Prince arrives in time to guide them to safety through the danger.

The following winter finds Bambi growing, his bond with his friends deepening. In the snow, he and Thumper play, while Flower slumbers through the cold. When Man returns, a chase ensues and tragedy strikes as Bambi witnesses his mother being shot, leaving him alone and bereft. In a quiet, poignant moment, the Great Prince consoles him and reveals a powerful truth: he is Bambi’s father, and he will help guide him through the forest’s trials.

As spring returns, Bambi has matured into a young buck, and his circle of friends has grown with the forest’s rhythm of life. The trio is warned by Friend Owl about becoming “twitterpated,” a playful but earnest note on how love can surprise them all. Yet romance blooms for each of them in their own way—Thumper and Flower each find partners, and Bambi encounters the enchanting Faline once again. A belligerent older stag named Ronno challenges Bambi for Faline’s affections, but Bambi earns the right to pursue her after fending off the rival in a tense contest.

Then a new danger casts its shadow: the scent of smoke and the sight of a hunter’s camp pull Bambi toward the flames and the danger they bring. His father warns him that Man is back, bringing more hunters and a growing threat to the forest. In the chaos, Faline is separated from Bambi, and she is cornered by Man’s fierce hunting dogs. Bambi fights to protect her, warding off the dogs and escaping the hunters himself, yet he is shot by Man but miraculously survives. The campfire’s embers spark a wildfire that sweeps through the forest, forcing all inhabitants to flee toward safety. They find refuge on a riverbank, where the community gathers to endure the devastation and begin the slow process of rebuilding their home.

When spring returns again, Faline gives birth to twins, and Bambi stands ready as the new Great Prince of the Forest, his father’s legacy guiding his every choice as he watches over the woodland world and all its creatures with the quiet strength that the forest relies on.