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Bambi (1942)
Bambi (1942) poster
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Bambi (1942)

Animation, Drama, Family • 1h 9m

Overview

Bambi's tale unfolds from season to season as the young prince of the forest learns about life, love, and friends.

Director: David Hand

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Best Audio Release

Disney Blu-ray includes a lossy mastering of the original mono mix, most likely the best sounding version since no LD or VHS included it

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2011

TSPDT

2026: #693
2025: #674
2024: #661
2023: #649
2022: #649

Length

69 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

Walt Disney's Bambi

Last Updated

4 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Best Audio Release

Disney Blu-ray includes a lossy mastering of the original mono mix, most likely the best sounding version since no LD or VHS included it

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2011

TSPDT
2026: #693
2025: #674
2024: #661
2023: #649
2022: #649
Length
69 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
Walt Disney's Bambi
Last Updated
4 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

See more →
Forbidden Planet poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

West Side Story poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Capelight 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Capelight's 5.1 is sourced from the original 6-track. The fidelity is comparable to the 4.0 from the 4-track available on previous BDs.
An alternate 5.1 mix was created for the 1999 MGM DVD / LaserDisc, It boasts better high end detail throughout, but the trade off is reduced bass.

See additional info for more detail.

Additional Info:

West Side Story was produced as a 70mm Todd-AO presentation, with an accompanying 6-track audio mix in the following channel configuration: see diagram. 35mm presentations used a 4-track or a mono mixdown instead.

The original 6-track elements were thought to have been lost until they were recovered and restored in 2010. In 1981, for the film's 20th anniversary, a new 6-track mix was created by upmixing the available 4-track elements.

Capelight's release is sourced from original 6-track elements uncovered in 2010, but unfortunately it's not as detailed as it should be, owing to unnecessary noise reduction. It's by no means bad, but it could be better. As the Lc/Rc channels are mixed into into L/C/R, it's also essentially no different to a 4-track fold-down. This isn't exactly an issue as left/right center channels mix down to L/C/R very well, but a better way of handling this would be to use Atmos objects to position those channels where they should be, as Disney did on The Sound of Music.

The 4-track mix was included in a discrete form on MGM's previous BD, it trades blows with Capelight's 6-track-derived 5.1.

Interestingly, the 1999 MGM LaserDisc/DVD release includes a different 5.1 mix, which sounds a bit more detailed than the two other tracks. It's sound signature is on the brighter side, with a slight emphasis on the treble instead of bass like other releases. Although that accounts for some of the perceived detail, even after matching EQ there are spots where Capelight loses out. It's a slight upmix, with split surrounds and LFE. Whether it was derived from 4-track or 6-track elements is not clear, though it matters little, as the end result would have been very similar in either case. There are no booklet notes stating the source used, but it sounds very similar to the matrixed 1992 LD, which was attributed to the 6-track. Still, given that the original elements were thought to have been lost, I would assume that this refers to the 1981 mix.

Previous LaserDisc releases are similar to the discrete 1999 track. All LD releases are missing the intermission music and a brief whistling sequence.

The 7.1 upmix on MGM's Blu-ray offers little of value.

Best English-Friendly:

Germany Capelight 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Capelight's 5.1 is sourced from the original 6-track. The fidelity is comparable to the 4.0 from the 4-track available on previous BDs.
An alternate 5.1 mix was created for the 1999 MGM DVD / LaserDisc, It boasts better high end detail throughout, but the trade off is reduced bass.

See additional info for more detail.

Additional Info:

West Side Story was produced as a 70mm Todd-AO presentation, with an accompanying 6-track audio mix in the following channel configuration: see diagram. 35mm presentations used a 4-track or a mono mixdown instead.

The original 6-track elements were thought to have been lost until they were recovered and restored in 2010. In 1981, for the film's 20th anniversary, a new 6-track mix was created by upmixing the available 4-track elements.

Capelight's release is sourced from original 6-track elements uncovered in 2010, but unfortunately it's not as detailed as it should be, owing to unnecessary noise reduction. It's by no means bad, but it could be better. As the Lc/Rc channels are mixed into into L/C/R, it's also essentially no different to a 4-track fold-down. This isn't exactly an issue as left/right center channels mix down to L/C/R very well, but a better way of handling this would be to use Atmos objects to position those channels where they should be, as Disney did on The Sound of Music.

The 4-track mix was included in a discrete form on MGM's previous BD, it trades blows with Capelight's 6-track-derived 5.1.

Interestingly, the 1999 MGM LaserDisc/DVD release includes a different 5.1 mix, which sounds a bit more detailed than the two other tracks. It's sound signature is on the brighter side, with a slight emphasis on the treble instead of bass like other releases. Although that accounts for some of the perceived detail, even after matching EQ there are spots where Capelight loses out. It's a slight upmix, with split surrounds and LFE. Whether it was derived from 4-track or 6-track elements is not clear, though it matters little, as the end result would have been very similar in either case. There are no booklet notes stating the source used, but it sounds very similar to the matrixed 1992 LD, which was attributed to the 6-track. Still, given that the original elements were thought to have been lost, I would assume that this refers to the 1981 mix.

Previous LaserDisc releases are similar to the discrete 1999 track. All LD releases are missing the intermission music and a brief whistling sequence.

The 7.1 upmix on MGM's Blu-ray offers little of value.

Hud poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Hud poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Shrek poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)

Upcoming Release:

Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos

Best Video:

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Additional Info:

The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray

Shrek poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)

Upcoming Release:

Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos

Best Video:

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Additional Info:

The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray

Shadows poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion = BFI, both HD resto: source

Best Audio:

BFI Blu-ray (slightly)

Shadows poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion = BFI, both HD resto: source

Best Audio:

BFI Blu-ray (slightly)

Shadow of a Doubt poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Universal Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Universal Blu-ray

Seconds poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK MoC Blu-ray uses the same restoration as Criterion but has more natural contrast and more organic grains see caps

Best Audio:

MoC Blu-ray has the exactly same audio as Criterion Blu-ray

Seconds poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK MoC Blu-ray uses the same restoration as Criterion but has more natural contrast and more organic grains see caps

Best Audio:

MoC Blu-ray has the exactly same audio as Criterion Blu-ray

The Searchers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas

The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.

Additional Info:

Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video. The old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.

That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNRhttps://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l

The Searchers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas

The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.

Additional Info:

Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video. The old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.

That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNRhttps://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l

Harlan County U.S.A. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Before Sunrise poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

More from David Hand

See more →
Fantasia poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

2010 Disney Blu-ray see caps

Best Audio:
  • 1991 CAV LaserDisc includes an approximation of the original Fantasound mix in Dolby Surround using the surviving magnetic mixdown, using Stokowski's original mixing notes as a reference. Original aggressive pans and dynamic range are left in tact.

  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

  • The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

Best English-Friendly:

2010 Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

2010 Disney Blu-ray see caps

Best Audio:
  • 1991 CAV LaserDisc includes an approximation of the original Fantasound mix in Dolby Surround using the surviving magnetic mixdown, using Stokowski's original mixing notes as a reference. Original aggressive pans and dynamic range are left in tact.

  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

  • The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Mono track is on the included Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray missing original mono. LaserDisc probably better

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Mono track is on the included Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray missing original mono. LaserDisc probably better

More from Disney

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The Emperor's New Groove poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:
  • 2001 DVD for uncensored cut with rock and extras

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray, caps

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray only has an Atmos remix with a phasing issue

Best English-Friendly:
  • 2001 DVD for uncensored cut with rock and extras

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray, caps

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray only has an Atmos remix with a phasing issue

Chicken Little poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 3D Blu-ray has a slightly better audio mix

Chicken Little poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 3D Blu-ray has a slightly better audio mix

Atlantis: The Lost Empire poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray

Cinema DTS-ES centre channel information unconfirmed

Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray

Cinema DTS-ES centre channel information unconfirmed

Brother Bear poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2008 Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

2008 Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2008 Disney Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

2008 Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

2008 Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2008 Disney Blu-ray

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe poster
4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical Cut: Streaming

Extended Cut: 2006 Disney DVD

Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Streaming: Kaleidescape > Movies Anywhere > Disney+

Extended Cut: 2006 Disney DVD

Best Audio:

Theatrical Cut: 2008 Disney Blu-ray has the original 5.1 mix in LPCM or Dolby TrueHD depending on the region, both sound identical.
Streaming has a Dolby Atmos remix. Kaleidescape is lossless (TrueHD 7.1), others are all lossy (E-AC-3 5.1 JOC) at varying bitrates.

Extended Cut: 2006 Disney DVD DTS 5.1

Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical Cut: Streaming

Extended Cut: 2006 Disney DVD

Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Streaming: Kaleidescape > Movies Anywhere > Disney+

Extended Cut: 2006 Disney DVD

Best Audio:

Theatrical Cut: 2008 Disney Blu-ray has the original 5.1 mix in LPCM or Dolby TrueHD depending on the region, both sound identical.
Streaming has a Dolby Atmos remix. Kaleidescape is lossless (TrueHD 7.1), others are all lossy (E-AC-3 5.1 JOC) at varying bitrates.

Extended Cut: 2006 Disney DVD DTS 5.1

The Mandalorian and Grogu poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Shanghai Knights poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Germany Universum Film Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

US Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Germany Universum Film Blu-ray

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray

Caveat: Not a DTS-ES 6.1 mix like in cinemas, unsure if the centre rear channel is preserved in the LPCM 5.1 track

Additional Info:

Disney DVD has much more bonuses, most of which were not ported over to the Blu-ray.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray

Caveat: Not a DTS-ES 6.1 mix like in cinemas, unsure if the centre rear channel is preserved in the LPCM 5.1 track

Additional Info:

Disney DVD has much more bonuses, most of which were not ported over to the Blu-ray.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the original Japanese audio with the best English subtitle translation

US Funimation Blu-ray for the Bandai dub
Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Upcoming Release:

4K remastered US theatrical re-release in 2024 courtesy of GKIDS with either the Japanese audio with Disney's English subtitles or the English dub by Bandai

Not yet confirmed for a US home video release

Best Video:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan "4K Remastered" Disney Blu-ray has the original 6.1 mix

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the DTS:X remix

Funimation US Blu-ray for the Bandai dub

Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Additional Info:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray has the best picture quality but has no English subtitles or original theatrical 6.1 mix.

All "4K Remastered" and 4K Blu-ray releases (including from Disney) are taken from a 35mm filmout rather than the original digital source, and then heavily DNR'd, destroying original detail and making lines smearier than before. The Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray is the least bad presentation of the 4K remaster, being encoded with a very healthy bitrate and HDR10+ metadata, and with a top-notch DTS:X remix, with the original 6.1 mix included on the pack-in "4K Remastered" Blu-ray.

The film has multiple English subtitle translations, and the Disney subtitles done by Linda Hoaglund and Judith Aley with Aura are often seen as the best translation, with these subtitles present on the Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray, making this the definitive option for viewers who want to watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles.

Best English-Friendly:

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the original Japanese audio with the best English subtitle translation

US Funimation Blu-ray for the Bandai dub
Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Upcoming Release:

4K remastered US theatrical re-release in 2024 courtesy of GKIDS with either the Japanese audio with Disney's English subtitles or the English dub by Bandai

Not yet confirmed for a US home video release

Best Video:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan "4K Remastered" Disney Blu-ray has the original 6.1 mix

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the DTS:X remix

Funimation US Blu-ray for the Bandai dub

Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Additional Info:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray has the best picture quality but has no English subtitles or original theatrical 6.1 mix.

All "4K Remastered" and 4K Blu-ray releases (including from Disney) are taken from a 35mm filmout rather than the original digital source, and then heavily DNR'd, destroying original detail and making lines smearier than before. The Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray is the least bad presentation of the 4K remaster, being encoded with a very healthy bitrate and HDR10+ metadata, and with a top-notch DTS:X remix, with the original 6.1 mix included on the pack-in "4K Remastered" Blu-ray.

The film has multiple English subtitle translations, and the Disney subtitles done by Linda Hoaglund and Judith Aley with Aura are often seen as the best translation, with these subtitles present on the Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray, making this the definitive option for viewers who want to watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles.

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Bambi (1942) backdrop