MovieChat Forums > Bambi (1942) Discussion > Darkest Animated Film Ever?

Darkest Animated Film Ever?

posted 16 years ago by rainfyre66
77 replies | jump to latest

If you go on the Pinocchio message boards, you get a lot of debate over whether or not Pinocchio is the darkest animated film ever. It didn't occur to me until today that Bambi is probably the darkest animated film ever (anime doesn't count, fyi). I don't know about the rest of you, but even with all the cute and charming characters, it used to depress the hell out of me when i was a kid! I rewatched it today, and I still have to agree it's probably the darkest animated children's film ever.

Reasons?

Bambi's mom of course, and the whole tense "don't go on the meadow" set-up, that's a notorious Disney-traumatizes-you-for-life scene. The whole hunter killing animals thing is pretty dark overall. When the quail freaks out and gets shot out of the sky while trying to escape has disturbed me since i was a kid. The forest fire caused by man. The buck trying to take Faline by force and the intense fight that follows. The scary looking dogs that look like they could be from the Resident Evil films. Bambi's distant relationship with his father.

What makes this all the more dark is that the film is going for realism, it's not a fantasy like Pinocchio or The Black Cauldron, or the other fantasies that get named. It's a story about man vs. nature, and man is the enemy.

Your guys' thoughts?

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] DanMorgan 13 years ago

I'm intrigued by all of the comments on The Plague Dogs, really need to see it now. Although, I'd be shocked if it's darker than Grave of the Fireflies. That is one of the saddest movies ever made, let alone animated.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] RdVirus777 12 years ago

I'm sure there's darker but, try Grave of the Fireflies. It's an amazing movie by studio Ghibli but, it's extremely sad. Maybe one of the saddest movies ever made.

We all go a little mad sometimes
- Norman Bates

[–] CasseroleWorshipper 11 years ago

try Grave of the Fireflies.

BAREFOOT GEN is an even darker film about the same subject.

Of Pixar movies, I thought TOY STORY 3 was surpisingly grim.
I don't mean to impose, but I am the Ocean.

[–] SMALLWHEELS101 12 years ago

you know, I never had a disney film ruin me as a child, I don't understand you guys. Yes it was sad that his mom dies but its not like they show anything, hell they show more in the lion king, and no one ever labeled that as a dark film. Alice in wonderland made you feel like you were on an acid trip and the pirates in peter pan got drunk and talked about slitting throats, but as a child I thought nothing of it..u wanna see something really dark watch fritz the cat and don't let ur kids watch it.

[–] jrcfan6 12 years ago

I don't know how to answer if Bambi is darker or Pinocchio(since the OP brought up that film) , because when someone says Bambi is dark they mean it made them sad. When they say Pinochio was dark they mean it made them feel afriad. Therefore it is hard to compare Bambi being dark to Pinocchio or most of the other films people are bringing up because they are called dark for diffrent reasons.

I'm not like other people, I can't stand pain, it hurts me.

[–] Bohemian_Ash87 11 years ago

Bambi was somewhat dark... but speaking on relative terms.... Grave of the Fireflies has to be the most horrid, bleak, and darkest anime I have ever seen. Most people that watch it (adults included) end up with teary eyes by the end of the movie.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] golachica1311 10 years ago

I think that the top 3 darkest Walt Disney films of all time are rated like this...

1. Pinocchio
2. Bambi
3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Xator_Nova 10 years ago

Plague Dogs.

"Citizen Kane" fan, "Frozen" fan, and "Boyhood" fan. ;)