“Bambi”, a classical feature from Walt Disney Productions, formed a certain representation of nature for the audience. The resulting feelings were complicated: while viewers rediscovered sympathy for wild animals, it was, in some aspects, impractical. It influenced American hunters’ reputation for the worse as well. Therefore, what came to be known as the “Bambi Complex” is a problematic phenomenon that makes care for animals misplaced while putting false blame on hunters and humanity.
With “Bambi” being targeted at children, some of its details can make a problematic impression on them. First, despite being a buck, the character of Bambi is feminized by being portrayed as a target for men (Luke, 1998). Then, the world of nature is not portrayed accurately: for instance, it lacks any predation, with owls representing no danger to rabbits (Lutts, 1992). Humans became the main antagonists instead; the valiant struggle against them is shown as being vital to the forest’s survival (Isojärvi, 2019). The forest is, in general, a peaceful and safe place when humans are not there. These impressions caused a certain ecological position to become popular: that without humans, nature can heal itself from harmful influence (Bork, 2021). Thus, the downsides to the “Bambi Complex” are as follows: feminizing animals, omitting predation, and providing a false ecological impression.
The “Bambi Complex” excessively humanizes nature, ignoring its more dangerous aspects, placing blame on hunters, and touching upon problematic issues such as feminizing animals and praising ecology without humans. In children’s case, these problems may make their judgments on certain matters harsh, considering how emotional the picture is, and can even prove dangerous if they visit wild forests and approach wild animals. Therefore, the “Bambi Complex” is an ineffective way of motivating people and children to care about animals.
“Bambi”, a classic film from Walt Disney Productions, formed a certain representation of nature for the audience. It caused a reaction among hunters, causing them to re-analyze their activity and try to point out its more merciful aspects as virtues. Its both accurate and, at the same time, the humanized portrayal of animals makes for the best possible representation of animals for humans. Thus, the “Bambi Complex” is an optimal way of familiarizing humans with animals.
While some of the more negative episodes of the picture may be problematic for children, they raise important questions that need examination. Hunters had to analyze their activity and put more emphasis on some of its more noble rules (Lutts, 1992). The makers chose an optimal approach to the portrayal of animals, rendering them realistically, even bringing an actual deer to the studio for modeling (Balakirsky Katz, 2020). Bambi, on the other hand, had childlike eyes and a voice to cause more emotion. Despite the novel being set in Europe, the film featured American landscape and American wildlife to make it as close to the audience’s perception as possible. Thus, the main positive influence of “Bambi” is that it caused hunters to re-evaluate their actions and portray animals physically accurately and with human characteristics, making it easier for the audience to empathize with them.
The “Bambi Complex” proves useful and productive in causing humans to care for animals. Its significant effect influenced the hunters’ perception by other people before it was released, while its accurate portrayal of does and its emotional involvement are the optimal way of making the viewers care for animals. For children, the lessons taught by this picture are valuable, making them generally compassionate and more ready to care for wildlife, which will prove useful for ecology in the future. Thus, the “Bambi Complex” remains an effective way of instilling care for animals.
References
Balakirsky Katz, M. (2020). Bambi Abroad, 1924–1954. AJS Review, 44(2), 286–316.
Bork, K. (2021). Governing Nature: Bambi Law in a Wall-E World. SSRN. Web.
Isojärvi, A. A. (2019). Absent Patriarchs and Persuasive Enforcers of the Future Nation: A Contextualized Reading of American Wartime Fathers in Walt Disney’s Pinocchio, Dumbo and Bambi. Animation, 14(1), 37–51.
Luke, B. (1998). Violent Love: Hunting, Heterosexuality, and the Erotics of Men’s Predation. Feminist Studies, 24(3), 627. Web.
Lutts, R. H. (1992). The Trouble with Bambi: Walt Disney’s Bambi and the American Vision of Nature. Forest and Conservation History, 36(4), 160–171.