I found an article written back in 2009 on Time Entertainment online, regarding the top 10 Disney controversies. Coming in at number 7, Bambi (1942) was apparently a highly controversial film when it came out back in 1942. For what you might ask?
TEACHING CHILDREN LIFE LESSONS!!!
Tears beyond number have been spilled by impressionable tots when Bambi’s mother is gunned down by a hunter and when Simba is orphaned during a stampede in The Lion King. These gruesome scenes have caused some outrage: a bill proposed by a British industry-watchdog group in 2004 could have banned Bambi for causing children “psychological harm,”
Stop, just stop. "Gruesome" and "psychological harm" should not be used to describe these scenes. Yes, sad. Yes, a little violent. But kids will grow to see worse, if they haven't already, especially in 21st century society. Disney has been under constant fire for sugar-coating their films to the point of being unrealistic. The times when Disney tries to make a film that teaches perserverance in the face of adversity, even the death of a loved one, they get criticized. Jeez, now I see why Disney so carefully makes the decisons they make. They can never win.
Both Bambi and The Lion King (1994) are considered to be some of the most well-rounded and beloved films made by Disney. People of any age emphathize with the characters who go through such traumatic events, and love them more for it. Also, parents know what the movie entails and if they are not ready to take that step with their children, it is their responsibility not to show the film to them. We should not stifle the few times that Disney makes a movie with valuable life-lessons and real-world problems (no#princessprobs). Embrace it, hail it for taking on some more mature content! As we know, Disney has its hands in multiple arenas anyway.
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