Tagged: Disney

Walt Disney was a genius on many levels but one that doesn’t get talked about often enough was his way of directly reaching children in gentle and moving ways. He emphasized strong stories and inventive characters, letting the animation style and music convey the emotions. From the title sequence to the first song, “[[[April Shower]]]”, you are transported into the world of [[[Bambi]]]. The latest in Walt Disney Home Entertainment’s long line of high definition restorations, [[[Bambi Diamond Edition]]] is out this week and automatically goes on the Must Have list.

I don’t remember seeing this as a kid, but watching it twice through my children’s’ eyes made this message work across then generations. I’ll tell you upfront that the Blu-ray edition is gorgeous to watch and listen to. Thanks to the patented multi-plane process, the subtle colors and painterly approach to the forest and its denizens have never looked better. Given its emotional wallop about halfway through, it makes sense that the story feels simple but is actually streamlined.

Once we meet Bambi and his mother, we move into the deer’s world. That’s when the cartoony look arrives with the arrival of Thumper. Despite his talkativeness, there are long silent stretches where the score and beautiful scenery get to shine. The flora and fauna are detailed enough to feel real without overwhelming the animals inhabiting the land.  Thumper, the owl, and Flower the skunk are some of the best animals Disney’s Nine Old Men created because they studied the real things as well as young children, finding commonalities that can be used to entrance the young audience.

And when Bambi’s mother dies, the loud crack of the rifle remains one of the most riveting sounds in all cinema. The unseen enemy, man, is not condemned but accepted as one of life’s dangers. As Bambi’s father arrives to take responsibility, he stands majestic, his place in the animal hierarchy secure. Bambi has to grow up sooner than most of his peers but does so and the transition from child to teen to adult is one of the stronger threads holding the film together. (more…)

I first visited Ursula K. LeGuin’s Earthsea series in my Fantasy Literature college course. Her books were short and eloquent, wonderfully transporting me to another place and time. The strength of her work is that is has endured through the years and inspired others. In 2006, Japan’s Studio Ghibli ([[[Princess Mononoke]]]) released their animated adaptation, [[[Tales from Earthsea]]], and it stealthily came to the United States last August via Walt Disney Pictures. Opening so late in the summer season hurt it at the box office, so it is welcome that the DVD release is finally here this week.

The movie doesn’t adapt any one novel but takes elements from the first four books in the series: [[[A Wizard of Earthsea]]],[[[ The Tombs of Atuan]]],[[[ The Farthest Shore]]], and [[[Tehanu]]]. With LeGuin’s blessing, the movie told a relatively new story about Earthsea filled with omens, sorcery, deception, destiny, and a love for the land. To be honest, it’s been so long that I couldn’t recall the source material and was treating the story as something entirely new. Apparently, LeGuin herself was less than thrilled and fans of the books were split.

To be sure, there are dragons, sorcerers, Kings, common folk and Arren, the sword-wielding youth who becomes the focal point of the tale. As he ventures into the countryside, Arren is joined by Sparrowhawk the Archmage, and together they take refuge at the home of Tenar, who is an old friend of the Archmage and caretaker to the young Therru, who has just been rescued by the men.

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