Faline | |
Bambi character | |
| |
First appearance | Bambi, a Life in the Woods |
Created by | Felix Salten |
Voiced by | Cammie King (Bambi) (fawn) Ann Gillis (Bambi) (adult) |
Information | |
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Full name | Faline |
Nickname(s) | Princess (by Ronno) |
Species | Roe deer (novel) White-tailed deer (films) |
Gender | Female |
Occupation | Bambi's wife |
Affiliation | The Forest |
Family | Ena (mother) Gobo (twin brother) (deceased) |
Spouse(s) | Bambi |
Children | Geno and Gurri (twins) (Bambi) Ferto (book) |
Relatives | Bambi's mother (mother-in-law) (deceased) Great Prince of the Forest (father-in-law) |
Nationality | American |
Faline is a fictional character in Felix Salten's 1923 novel Bambi, a Life in the Woods and its sequel Bambi's Children, as well as in the Disney animated films Bambi and Bambi II. Her mother is Ena. First shown as a fawn and later as a young adult doe, Faline's role is as Bambi's friend and later wife.
Faline was featured as one of the guests in Disney's House of Mouse.
Appearances
Bambi, a Life in the Woods
Faline, sister to twin fawn Gobo, showed considerably less personality than in the animated films despite an extended role. There was little to indicate romantic ideas in her behavior as a fawn, and when she and Bambi were grown up it was Bambi, not Faline, who was the pursuer and dominant figure in their romance. Also, in the novel, they separated shortly after mating much as real deer do. She was last seen toward the end of the book, old and grey.
Faline and Gobo were also Bambi's cousins in the novel, as it states that Aunt Eena (Ena as she is known in the book) is Bambi's mother's sister. Walt Disney did not include this in the original film because it would have been incest when Faline gave birth to Bambi's twins.
Bambi's Children
Faline plays a much larger role in this sequel to Bambi, a Life in the Woods, being the mother to Bambi's twin fawns, Geno and Gurri. At this point in the storyline, Bambi has assumed his role as protector of the herd, and his family is known as the "First Family." Bambi's Children is more stiffly written, and the characters come across that way as well, dialogue and actions being more formal than in the earlier book. Faline worries about her fawns, but is willing to give them the independence needed to learn how to survive as adults. She is still frightened of elk, and can be harsh in her emotions and stubborn, but is also big-hearted as well as she adopts two orphaned buck fawns.
Disney films
Bambi
In the animated film adaptation of Bambi, Faline first appears as an energetic, giggly young fawn who Bambi encounters while gazing at his reflection in a small pool while frolicking in the meadow. At first, he is startled by her playful behavior, they quickly become friends and chase each other through the meadow. Faline later appears halfway through the film as a lovely young adult doe, and Bambi falls in love with her. Their blossoming romance is soon interrupted by Ronno, the childhood bully who turned into a dark monster. He had a crush on Faline since childhood, and he tries to force Faline against her will to go with him, like he did when they were kids. Bambi fights back, like he did when they were kids, and he eventually knocks Ronno off the cliff and into the river.
Bambi and Faline are later separated during the wildfire. When Faline wakes up and searches for Bambi, she finds herself cornered by a pack of Man's hunting dogs, which Bambi fights off, and Faline is able to escape. Bambi and Faline are later reunited with all the woodland creatures seek refuge from the forest fire on a riverbank. The following Spring, Faline gives birth to a pair of twin fawns, Geno and Gurri. Bambi is standing on top of the hill with his father watching, and his father retires and walks away, and Bambi becomes the new Great Prince of the Forest.
Bambi II
Faline's personality takes on a calmer, milder side. She still has a major crush on Bambi, and she comforts him after his mother's death. She seldom raises her voice, treating those around her respectfully and kindly. After Faline and Bambi meet a bully deer named Ronno, he develops a crush on her, and he tries to impress her with his lies about his alleged acts of courage. Faline doesn't like him, because he's a bully, but Ronno doesn't care, and he even tries to force Faline against her will to go with him. Bambi yells at Ronno to leave her alone, and Ronno turns around and picks a fight with Bambi, and Thumper becomes angry enough to push Bambi right into Ronno, causing him to fall into the mud.
The following Spring, a now teenage Bambi gets stuck by the ill-tempered Porcupine's quills, resulting in an accidental kiss that leaves Faline in a dreamy, blissful daze. When Bambi tells everyone that he has to go, because his father is waiting for him, Thumper complains that he doesn't have time for them anymore, and Faline asks: "Isn't that wonderful?"