Story
Young fawn Bambi (voiced by Alexander Gould) is distraught and forlorn when hunters kill his mother. His father, the Great Prince of the Forest (voiced by Patrick Stewart) and the oldest and wisest stag in the herd, takes him into his care.
The Great Prince is responsible for reigning over the forest and is unfamiliar with raising young deer, so he wants to find a suitable foster mother as soon as possible. But it’s the dead of winter, and the does can barely feed themselves let alone another young fawn. Reluctantly, the Great Prince agrees to look after Bambi until spring.
Bambi is desperate to earn his father’s appreciation and love and live up to his title of the Young Prince. But this is sometimes difficult when you’re young, curious and playful!
When hunters and their hunting dogs return to the forest, Bambi must use his skills and instincts to save himself and his friends.
Themes
Disney classic; father and son story; circle of life; animal life in the forest; love and loss; friendship; courage
Violence
Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest has some violence. For example:
- It’s implied that hunters (referred to as ‘Man’ and never shown directly) have shot Bambi’s mother.
- Hunters lay traps in the forest to catch deer.
- Vicious hunting dogs chase Bambi. Bambi needs to trick and fight them, and some of them are probably injured or killed.
Sexual references
There are no sexual references in Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There’s no use of substances in Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest.
Nudity and sexual activity
There’s no nudity or sexual activity in Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest.
Product placement
There’s no product placement in Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest.
Coarse language
There’s no coarse language in Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Over 60 years after the release of the much-loved Disney classic Bambi, Bambi II: The Great Prince of the Forest takes the viewer back to the tragic moment when Bambi realises that he has lost his mother and tells the story of the bonding between Bambi and his father.
Like the original, Bambi II has sad and scary scenes and themes, which warrant parental guidance for young and sensitive viewers. And, like Bambi, this movie is a wonderful depiction of the circle of life, as well as love and friendship.
These are the main messages from Bambi II:
- Every end means a new beginning.
- Parents and children can learn from each other.
Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include love, friendship, courage and responsibility.
This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like the:
- ethics of hunting for sport and leisure
- relationship between humans and nature.