BAMBI (1942) Blu-Ray Review

While the DVD industry is said to be on the decline, Walt Disney Home Video has been making up for it, releasing their classic films on Blu-Ray. Each of these has been well worth the upgrade. The latest is BAMBI.

What to say about BAMBI that hasn’t been said before? This is a favorite animated film of many, and with good reason. The animation, with the use of the multi-plane camera to add depth to the scenes, is still impressive. Not to mention the story. The scene, in the snow, with Bambi in the woods calling for...well, in the off chance you haven’t seen the film in the past seventy years, I won’t give it away. But it is still powerful today.

The Blu-ray transfer is, as per Disney’s usual standards, quite stunning. It may not be as awe inducing as the recent releases of FANTASIA or ALICE IN WONDERLAND, but that is only because it has always had a more subdued color palette. The film does look the best it probably ever has.

There are all sorts of extras.

New to Blu-ray is an introduction by Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller. There are two new deleted scenes, along with a deleted song. These are all recreated from story notes.

The big new feature is the “Inside Walt’s Story Meetings” viewing option. When you watch the film in this mode, you can hear actors reciting transcripts of Walt and his animators discussing the film during the writing process. Early animation and illustrations are also onscreen to illustrate.

Like the other recent Disney animated films, the film is available in Disney View mode with original artwork on the sides of the screen to fill up a widescreen TV.

The Blu-ray also contains the extras from the previous DVD which include documentaries on the making of the film, excerpts from a 1957 TV episode, as well as THE OLD MILL animated short which also used the multiplane camera.

Also included with the Blu-ray is a DVD version of the film.

The Blu-ray also contains a new feature, "Second screen". With this (that I was unable to test) you can watch the Blu-ray and sync up a laptop or iPad to give you extra trivia notes, animated segments, and more while you watch the film.

Once again, Disney releases the definitive edition of a classic film on Blu-ray. If you like the film and have a Blu-ray player, don’t miss it.

BAMBI will be available March 1, 2011 from Walt Disney Home Video