Toon Disney Presents World Television Premiere Of Bambi II

BAMBI II makes its world television premiere on Toon Disney's Big Movie Show at 5:00 pm on Nov. 3, 2006. The direct-to-DVD sequel released Feb. 7, concerns the tender relationship between Bambi (voiced by Alexander Gould of FINDING NEMO) and his father, The Great Prince of the Forest (Patrick Stewart), following the death of his mother.

The Great Prince must now teach Bambi the ways of the forest. Their adventure together helps them overcome their initially awkward relationship, and allows father and son to discover in each other something neither expected: family. Unlike other direct-to-DVD sequels, this one takes place during the original timeframe of the ’42 masterpiece.

In its first week of availability, Walt Disney Pictures' BAMBI II sold more than 2.6 million units on DVD in North America.

Produced by DisneyToon Studios, production began in Glendale, California, and then was handed over to Walt Disney Animation in Australia for layout, animation and color. Post was done in Glendale.

Production in Australia occurred over a 16-month period with a crew of 250. In recreating the look and feel of the original (particularly Tyrus Wong’s pastel background pieces), the animators relied on Corel Painter digital painting software. The computers even allowed artists to occasionally incorporate actual backgrounds from the original into the sequel.

As far as animating the antlers of The Great Prince, which stymied even the original Disney animators, they made the deer itself in 2D and then had a separate 3D animator make a computer model of the antlers, which was later scanned and added to the Great Prince’s head.

BAMBI II was directed by Brian Pimental (whose writing and storyboard credits include TARZAN and A GOOFY MOVIE) and produced by Jim Ballantine (RAYMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and THE REN & STIMPY SHOW). Veteran Disney animator Andreas Deja served as consultant.