Bambi (1942) is one of Disney’s most heartwarming coming-of-age films, with a story about a white-tailed deer named Bambi. Together with his friends and family, we see his journey from an adorably clumsy and curious fawn to an awkward, but strong, stag. It’s a film that will have you saying “that’s adorable” one moment, and “Damn, Bambi is badass” the next. Thus, it’s a film that is as impressive storyline wise as it is visually, and that’s because of the characters. That’s what I’ll be focusing on today; the best Bambi characters.
When I watched this movie, nostalgia hit me like a truck; it was lovely. I felt like a child again, seeing Bambi prancing around with Thumper and Flower. It was just a magical experience to watch something I held so dear to my heart as a child. While the story and the visuals drew me in, it’s the characters that are still dancing around in my mind. Thus, I’m itching to pen a list of Bambi’s characters, and so I will. Here’s a list of the 5 best Bambi characters. Enjoy!
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5. Flower
What can I say about Flower? He’s as cute as a button, as easy-going as an autumn breeze. He lives his life without worries, wasting no energy on unnecessary actions. He does whatever he wants to do and not necessarily what he needs to. Therein lies the basis for a great secondary comedic relief character, who makes us laugh in various ways. Whether he’s blushing when called “flower” by Bambi or when he’s flabbergasted by a pair of striking eyes, Flower gives us many good laughs. In turn, I consider him among the very best of Bambi characters.
Some may consider “funny characters” lackluster and find them somewhat distracting; a fair point. I have always disliked how some comedic relief characters feel forced and don’t seem to actually work within the context of the movie. However, this is not the case with Flower. If anything, it’s a great example of how a lesser character, with small amount of time on the screen, can compliment the lead character and improve the storyline overall. The way it’s achieved is by making Flower only a part of the scene if need-be, and giving the character a warm and loving personality. Therefore, I don’t find Flower too overpowering as a “funny character”, and instead find him heartwarming and fitting.
I Considered Friend Owl For the 5th Spot.
Lastly, I would like to mention that the 5th spot was a toss-up betwen Flower and Friend Owl. I could’ve gone either way, but I found Flower to be more entertaining and more fitting. Simply put, I found the Friend Owl to be mildly intrusive. What I mean is that whenever he was on the screen, he took up way too much space, as if the movie was about him. Thus, he seemed like a character that didn’t need to be in it as much as he was, while I feel that Flower struck a much better balance, feeling complimentary to Bambi and Thumper, without taking anything away.
4. Faline
Faline’s youthful fearlesness is what makes her a go-getter. She’s not too bashful or too proud to take a chance on something she wants, running head-first into every situation with a smile on her face. Whether it’s her light-hearted nature and easy-going way of approaching life or her admirable courage to make friends and find love, Faline’s the vivacious character who’s living her best life.
There’s something special about a character that makes the entire movie change feeling, isn’t there? Whenever Faline was on the screen, her fun-loving behavior and youthful carelessness gave the movie a very easy-going nature. While other characters somewhat fit that role as well, it’s Faline who’s Bambi’s love interest. As a result, we see her in a different role than being a “friend. In turn, I find Faline to feel like a warm hug; a safety blanket of sorts, whose handful of moments in the movie add a feel-good vibe to it.
3. Bambi’s Mother
If there’s one character that teaches us about the harsh reality of life and death, it’s Bambi’s mother. In the beginning, she shows us how to take care of a child and how to teach them right from wrong, while still giving them room to find themselves on their own. In the end, she gives us a bleek reminder that life can be taken away in an instant, without an explanation or a proper goodbye. Therefore, Bambi’s mother serves a pivotal role in telling Bambi’s coming-of-age story.
When it comes to Bambi’s relationship with his mother, I find it to be a beautiful depiction of a mother-son bond. Subtlety is used to impressively well in order to make their relationship feel heartwarmingly real and very genuine. When you consider that film-makers nowadays struggle creating convincing relationships, it’s impressive that Bambi’s bond with his mother comes across so deep and “everlasting”. There’s something about showing us a relationship, rather than telling us about it, that makes a bond come across so much more believable. Therefore, I consider Bambi’s mother to be one of the 5 best Bambi characters.
2. Thumper
Thumper is a ball of joy, with an infectious personality. It’s like he’s an energizer for everyone else, making them feel better and making them look better in the film itself. Therefore, I find Thumper to be an exceptional character, who transcends being a “comedic relief” sidekick. I wholeheartedly find Thumper to be the “soul” of the movie, while Bambi is the “heart” of it, and that’s why the gray-haired rabbit strikes a chord so well. You see, it’s about Thumper’s contrastic personality and wholesome behavior that compliments the lead character, Bambi. Thus, when you look at Bambi and Thumper, whoever you like more, you will undoubtedly find yourself in one or the other. And therefore, it’s the perfect balance between 2 characters.
The fun-loving energy between Thumper and Bambi makes their friendship feel so relatable. After all, comedy is the best way to get to know someone, isn’t it? From the very beginning, we see Thumper teaching Bambi how to talk and walk, even making fun of him for calling a skunk “a pretty flower”. He even laughs at Bambi for not being able to jump properly. But that is the reason their friendship feels so real, because that’s what real friends do. We make fun of each other, but we also help each other. A sense of humor goes a long way, doesn’t it? After all, it’s a way to lighten the mood, making even the toughest of challenges in life feel easier. Therefore, it shows us how valuable good friends are, as they make life feel so much more fun!
Thumper is a really well-written character, who depicts a best friend in the most positive of ways. Therefore, Thumper is takes the 2nd spot on my list of the best Bambi characters!
1. Bambi
The film tells the coming-of-age story of a young deer named Bambi. We follow his gentle soul from birth to adulthood. We see him enjoying life to the fullest, while also facing trials and tribulations. In turn, we’re left with a sense of understanding of what it means to be a child, what it means to be an adult, and everything in-between. While it’s done with the utmost subtlety, there’s more shown than there’s said in this Disney motion picture. It’s about the seasons, what the colors represent. In addition, there’s emphasis on the good people around you, and the bad people that surround you. It’s about the perspective, the view and opinion of one white-tailed deer named Bambi.
I think that Bambi is the perfect movie to show your child, as Bambi’s life story shows us how much we laugh, how much we struggle, and how much we triumph over in our life. There’s an underlying sense of growth that is shown through actions, not through physical appearance, that I find impressive. When he’s young, he struggles to walk, speak and interact with others. When he’s older, he has to figure out what he feels toward Faline, why sometimes we have to fight and how we might lose the safety we once felt. Therefore, Bambi’s coming-of-age story sticks out in the Disney catalogue of films, and thus I give it high marks and high praise.
It’s Close Between Bambi and Thumper.
In all honesty, it’s a much closer race between Bambi and Thumper than I’m willing to admit. Either one could’ve been crowned, as they are both 10 out of 10 characters. I could’ve made an excellent case for Thumper, as his charismatic personality is infatuating. But in the end, I felt like Bambi was the superior character, with more depth and a better storyline. Therefore, prince Bambi claims the throne on my list of the 5 best Bambi characters!