WDCC highlights Bambi for Spring 2000 piece

Spring 2000 Special Event Sculpture From the Walt Disney Classics Collection Highlights a Tender Moment from Walt Disney's Bambi

Charming New Sculpture Available For Four Weeks Only March 18  - April 15, 2000

The tender bond between mother and child is celebrated in "My Little Bambi," the Spring 2000 Special Event Sculpture from the Walt Disney Classics Collection. Derived from Walt Disney's classic animated feature Bambi, the heartwarming new porcelain sculpture authentically captures the newborn "prince of the forest' as he nestles close to his mother.

The memorable scene is a favorite among Disney lovers, and the sculpture's limited availability is sure to make the release even more appealing. "My Little Bambi" is available for one day only at events hosted by participating Walt Disney Classics Collection retailers from March 18 - April 15, 2000.

"We have listened to our loyal collectors and have reduced the number of WDCC Sculpture Events for year 2000," states Paul Phillips, vice president and general manager of Walt Disney Art Classics, producers of the Walt Disney Classics Collection. "It is our desire to make our charming 'Bambi' sculpture very special by limiting its availability and by decreasing the number of sculptures actually produced."

To make the event even more exciting, the Walt Disney Classics Collection has also created a complementing ornament of Thumper, Bambi's little rabbit friend. The Thumper ornament is available at the event for $35 (suggested retail value $50) with the purchase of the "My Little Bambi" sculpture (suggested retail price: $165). In addition, a silver butterfly charm is tucked inside each Bambi sculpture box as a special gift.

The message and timing of the piece make "My Little Bambi" a perfect gift for Easter, Mother's Day or a cherished addition to any personal collection.

Walt Disney began production on Bambi as work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was slowing down. Over the next six years an elite group of core animators and artists labored to bring Felix Salten's serious and realistic story of Bambi to the screen. In striving for realism, the Disney animators attended nature lectures, visited local zoos, watched specially produced film footage shot in the forests of Maine, intensely studied nature photos and attended life drawing classes featuring two fawns that had been donated to the Studio.

Production on Bambi proceeded very slowly, with meticulous attention given to every detail, but Walt Disney was very pleased with the results he saw, "Thanks, fellows, that's great stuff, no kidding. Those personalities are just pure gold."

Bambi had its world premiere in London on August 8, 1942. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Sound, Best Song ("Love is a Song"), and Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Additionally, the film also received the "Parents Magazine" Medal Award and the "Cine Revue Magazine" Gold Medal. Since its initial release, the popularity of the film has endured and today Bambi is considered one of the true masterpieces in the Disney animation film library.

-- Posted December 28, 1999