Tear Jerker / Bambi II

A prince does not...

• The very beginning of the movie. As it starts right after Bambi's mother's death and Bambi calling out to her, unaware of her fate, then he's found by the Great Prince and is told by him that she "can't be with [Bambi] anymore". And then the scene proceeds to show the Great Prince leading Bambi to his den, the latter just quietly looking up at the stag before entering and falling asleep.
• Shortly after meeting Ronno, Bambi's friends are all picked up by their mothers. Bambi just stands there and watches them with a smile until their backs are turned. It's a harsh reminder to him and the viewers that his mother is gone.
  • When Bambi declines Faline's offer to accompany him to his den, he visibly stutters when saying "M-my father's coming for me", as if he's correcting himself. One must wonder if he was going to say "Mother"...
• Bambi's dream where he sees his mother, runs up to nuzzle her, and is reassured that she'll always be with him — only to wake up and realize that he was nuzzling a rock. The particular piece of music that accompanies this scene is simply called "Bambi's Dream", but it features the melody from "Love is a Song." And just in case that wasn't sad enough, it also contains a few notes that sound for all the world like "Whispering Winds." What makes it even more tragic is the ambiguity of whether it really is her coming back to see him one last time or it it really is just a despair induced dream.
  • And some time later, after Bambi is saved by his father from being mauled by Man's dogs and from being shot, this brief exchange takes place after they return to the den:
    Bambi: She's never coming back, is she...?
    Great Prince: (stays silent for a moment, then looks down in grief) ... No.
• In fact, much of the aftermath of the dogs' attack counts; after Bambi and his father escape from danger, the latter scolds Bambi for having fallen for Man's trick and freezing when told to run away - while it was harsh coming from him, it's hard to blame the Prince for this reaction when he's just recently lost his mate, and nearly lost his son right after. One phrase in particular is made worse in hindsight later in the movie after Bambi falls off a cliff:

  Great Prince: What if I hadn't gotten to you in time?! You could have been...

• After being told to leave with surrogate mother Mena, a heartbroken Bambi argues with his father for seemingly rejecting him and just when their relationship was getting stronger, telling him he wishes his mother was here instead of him. As he prepares to leave with Mena later, however, he turns back and nuzzles his father one last time. The Great Prince remains still, but his despondent expression says it all. And then when Bambi and Mena are finally out of sight, the Prince slowly steps back and walks away, and he's utterly miserable.
• Throughout the scene, the Great Prince is trying usher away Bambi, having changed his mind and wanting to call off the arrangement. He tries to explain this to Bambi when he finds out Mena's purpose, but he is too hurt to listen and leaves upset, convincing the devastated Great Prince he has screwed things up with his son and to go back to plan after all.
  • In hindsight, Bambi did have a point in being mad at his father: not only did he lose his mother and had to come to terms with the fact that she was gone for good, he latched onto the Great Prince since he was all he had left for a family even if he didn't know him that well. He spent most of the movie trying to impress his father and prove his bravery, taking every lesson to heart whenever they were together, only to find out his original plan of sending him away. More than upset, Bambi felt betrayed.
• Look at Bambi's acting throughout his brief time under Mena's care. Whenever her back is turned he is slumped down utterly heartbroken, whenever he is in Mena's sight however, he puts on a brave front or forces a gentlemanly smile.
  • To make matters worse, Ronno appears and openly mocks his situation. Bambi doesn't take this well at all.
    Ronno: It's a shame you have a dad that's so ashamed of you, he'd give you away...
• Speaking of Mena, take a close look at her during her introductory scene; she looks visibly saddened. It's easy to overlook because of her bit role in the film, but it's very likely she's not taking the loss of her Childhood Friend much better than Bambi or his father.
• The clear implication during the climax that Bambi is reliving the trauma of his mother's death, right down to the trapped Mena repeating her final words. After an utterly chilling stare from the realization he has lost his mother, his father, and is now about to lose even his would-be stepmother, Bambi pulls a Heroic Sacrifice and turns the vicious dogs onto him. No kid should have to undergo all that.
  • What arguably makes this worse is that it's subtly implied that Bambi blames himself for his mother's death, somehow reinforced by the way he looks at Mena after she unknowingly repeats his mother's last words.
• Arguably, Bambi's Disney Death. No one in the audience is going to believe he is dead, but the Great Prince sure did, and with just one single tear.
  (Bambi falls off a rock down a slope)
  Great Prince: BAMBI!!!
  • In few moments Bambi had just escaped from being killed by dogs — having managed to defeat the last one on his own — and was about to reunite with his father, only to fall off a high cliff edge; once the Great Prince rushes down the slope and finds Bambi at the bottom, believing him to be dead, all he can do is nuzzle his son gently and starts crying. Although Bambi wakes up shortly after, the scene's still heartbreaking to watch, more so since you can actually hear the Great Prince weeping...
  • The moment preceding it: the Great Prince urges Bambi to get up, yet when there's no response he says "A prince does not..." but can't bring himself to finish saying it out of anguish. He then starts mourning his son, genuinely believing that he died. Adding to the tragedy is that those exact words were what led Bambi to accuse the Prince of not caring about him, and thus leading the Great Prince to go through with sending him away after all (although he definitely wasn't happy with carrying it out). Not only does the Prince believe Bambi's dead, it was the moment it finally hit him just how much Bambi needed him as a father far more than being a prince — and, for all he knew at the time, it was too late to fix this.
  • The Great Prince was already still greatly wounded from losing his mate. For a moment it seemed he had also lost his son, and effectively his family. It's heavily implied by his reaction and gestures that he blames himself for this, due to his decision of finding a new mother to Bambi indirectly leading up to it in the first place. This makes it only more effective when Bambi awakens and calls him "Dad" for the first time.
  • A subdued one, but look at the other characters as this happens. Mena and Flower are hanging their heads mournfully and Friend Owl silently watches, while Thumper just slowly hops up closer with a shattered empty gaze, unable to comprehend that his best friend is seemingly dead.
  • It soon turns into a happy tearjerker when Bambi wakes up: as the Great Prince's just about to leave, convinced that he's lost his family, he hears Bambi call him "Dad" for the first time and turns around to see him still alive. The Prince then starts nuzzling his son again, reassuring him. The rest of the characters soon rejoice in seeing their reunion, with Thumper crying in Flower's arms and Mena sharing a glance with Friend Owl before she leaves.
• The midquel as a whole conveys the Great Prince as a Broken Ace, shattered by the loss of his partner and attempting to remain aloof and unaffectionate to his son under good intentions, fearing it will ruin his upbringing. Any moment Bambi doesn't get the gestures of love and approval he wants is only more heartwrenching because you can tell by facial acting exactly what his father really wants to tell him. Bambi's Disney Death is sad not from any suggestion Bambi could be gone, but being the pivot the Great Prince finally breaks down and realizes how worthless this attitude really is.
• "This is where I first met your mother." Up until this point, the Great Prince has pointedly refused to discuss Bambi's mother at any length... not out of concern for Bambi, but to spare himself what is obviously a great deal of pain. The effort it takes to say this one line is written all over his face, and it is heartwrenching.

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