Bambi Signature Edition on Blu-ray

bambi signature review

Bambi Signature Edition on Blu-ray

The Bambi Signature Edition has just been released to coincide and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Disney classic animated film. Is it worth picking up this release?

bambi signature edition

Bambi, the Disney Studios fifth animated film, was released during World War II on August 9, 1942 in London. The New York City premiere was on August 13. The initial reaction to the film was semi-negative, mainly due to the perceived move away from Disney’s fantastical animated worlds. Disney regularly re-released animated films about every ten years or so, in order to capture new audiences and keep the films in the public eye. Of course, this also helped the bottom end, since the film could recoup and surpass initial costs.

Today, Bambi is considered a Disney classic by any standard.

Should you pick up the Bambi Signature Edition on blu-ray?

The film is gorgeous and the blu-ray transfer is top-notch. It’s amazing how sharp and clear the film is. The audio even feels new. I think it comes down to whether you own the 2011 release or not.

bambi signature edition blu-ray

Bambi Signature Edition Special Features

If you already own the 2011 blu-ray release, then you’re not going to find much a difference, except for a few of the features. Most of the brand new content is good, but not as deep, historically, as we’ve seen on previous releases.

BRAND NEW:

  • THE BAMBI EFFECT – “Bambi” was full of innovations for its time. Let’s take a look at how those past innovations affected future Disney animated titles all the way up to todaySTUDIO STORIES: “BAMBI” – Recordings of Walt Disney. Listen in on intimate moments where he discusses the challenges, pitfalls and triumphs during the production of “Bambi.”
  • DELETED SCENE: BAMBI’S ICE AND SNOW – Bambi coaxes Thumper and his brothers and sisters to come play on the ice during the first snow.
  • DELETED SCENE: THE GRASSHOPPER – A grasshopper confronts Bambi and Thumper and finds himself in quite a predicament.
  • BAMBI FAWN FACTS – Think you know everything there is to know about Bambi and his forest companions? Well, it’s time to discover some fun real-life facts about the creatures that live in the forest he calls home.
  • OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT: “AFRICA BEFORE DARK” – Oswald Short.

Overall, the Bambi Effect featurette was the best of the bunch. The Studio Stories was well done, with a mixture of Walt’s actual voice and an actor’s voice. The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short was very surprising and a wonderful way to show how much animation changed from Oswald to Bambi.

bambi signature edition

CLASSIC:

  • DELETED SCENES – Two Leaves, Bambi Stuck on a Reed, Winter Grass, Twitterpated
  • THE MAKING OF BAMBI: A PRINCE IS BORN
    -STORY: TELLING THE TALE
    -CHARACTERS: DRAWN TO NATURE
    -ACTORS: GIVING VOICE TO ANIMALS
    -ART DESIGN: IMPRESSIONS OF THE FOREST
    -MUSIC: NATURE’S SYMPHONY
    -HISTORY: BACK TO THE BEGINNING
  • TRICK OF THE TRADE (Excerpt)
  • INSIDE THE DISNEY ARCHIVES
  • THE OLD MILL: ANIMATED SHORT
  • ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER
  • THE GOLDEN AGE

The Classic features were well done, but I had seen them all before. There’s a lot more history involved with them, so you have to check them out if you haven’t seen them before. The transfer is not as crisp as the new features, but they’re full of information.

Bambi Signature Edition on Digital HD

As with other releases, Bambi comes with a download code for the Disney Movies Anywhere digital download. This is the first time Bambi has been offered in this format and might be reason enough to buy the blu-ray.

The Digital HD version also has an extra feature not found on the blu-ray:

CELEBRATING TYRUS WONG (DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE) – A heartfelt look at the man who played a key role in the success of “Bambi.” Much like Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle, Tyrus Wong had a unique signature style all to his own. The soft water-colored backgrounds and beautiful palettes in “Bambi” were inspired by Tyrus’ concept art paintings.

Speaking of celebrating Tyrus Wong, there was a small, stand-up print dedicated to Tyrus inside the package.

bambi signature edition

Overall, I loved the Bambi Signature Edition blu-ray release. If you don’t own the 2011 copy, then you need to buy this one. Even if you own the 2011 release, the Signature Edition is a beautiful transfer and is worth a look.

Are you going to pick up the Bambi Signature Edition on blu-ray?


FTC Disclosure: A copy was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that ImagiNERDing receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. Thank you for your support!

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