Back in the day, it would have been considered highly unusual for a cartoon to tackle some of the subject matter that animators faced while telling the tale of a loveable deer named Bambi. But these weren’t any old animators left to bring the parable of growth and maturity to the big screen. These were Disney animators and calling all the shots was Uncle Walt himself. The result was a textbook example of the style of family entertainment that made Walt Disney a beloved household name.

When the film begins, Bambi is a youngster living in the forest with his stern, yet wise, father and a loving mother. Young Bambi is soon befriended by lively rabbit named Thumper and an introverted skunk named Flower. Together they learn various lessons of life in the often-dangerous forest. They learn, for example, that fire can have devastating results and that the only thing more dangerous than fire is a creature called “man”.  Before all is said and done, Bambi will also learn the power of love and the heartache of loss. Still, he manages to survive and start a family of his very own.

Unlike many of Disney’s animated features, Bambi was a little slower paced, taking on a lyrical mood that accentuated the pastoral themes. Thumper managed to provide some comical relief when necessary but the result was a touching film that connected with audiences emotionally - in some cases, to tears. It remains one of the great and timeless films of the Walt Disney legacy, one likely to be adored by many generations to come.