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Patrick Stewart died at the age of 86 on October 28, 2026, and a look back at his career reveals some overlooked gems. Take her performance in the 2006 direct-to-video “Bambi” sequel “Bambi II,” which showcased her ability to blend a commanding tone with compassionate warmth. The film even managed to break the record, but all Disney had to do for this “achievement” was wait.
If you grew up in the 1990s, you’ll definitely have fond memories of being there for some of Disney’s biggest releases. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King were just a few of the legendary House of Mouse movies that came out in the 90s and immediately captured the collective imagination of children around the world. But the 90s and early 2000s were also the era of VHS, and instead of simply delivering these beloved animated films for home viewing, Disney decided to capitalize on their popularity with a series of lesser-known sequels overseen by its DisneyToon Studios division. These included sequels to the three aforementioned classics, “Cinderella,” “Pocahontas,” “The Lady and the Tramp,” “The Little Mermaid,” “101 Dalmatians,” and the sequel to “Bamboo.”
The latter actually holds the record not only for the longest gap between a Disney film and its sequel, but also for the longest gap between a film and its sequels. “Bambi II” arrived on August 13, 1942, 63 years and 143 days after the release of “Bambi”. Little did Walt Disney and his team of animators know then, that their charming and emotionally stirring tale of the beloved reindeer would one day receive a direct-to-video sequel (one that was actually “Between” or “Intertana”). At least Bambi II benefited from the prestige that came with Sir Patrick Stewart’s involvement.
Patrick Stewart played Bambi’s father in Bambi II
“Bambi II” debuted in 2006 as a Disney DTV sequel. The film was directed by Brian Pimentel, who previously worked on Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Silly Movie and Tarzan before making his directorial debut with the sequel to Bambi. Instead of picking up where its predecessor left off, however, “Bambi II” takes place between the death of Bambi’s mother and his maturation into adulthood in the original film. During these lost years, we see how the young flower (Alexander Gould) is raised by her father, the great prince of the forest (Patrick Stewart) and the return of beloved characters from “Bambi” itself, including the bunny Thumper (Brandon Berg) and the flower skunk (Nikki Jones).
At first, Stuart the deer isn’t too thrilled at the prospect of actually having to raise a child after Bambi’s mother dies—an infamous Disney moment that has traumatized generations of children. He even tries to find a new dove to take care of the young. But as she and Bambi spend more time together, she continues to step up to become the mentor her son needs and help shape the young deer into a worthy successor.
Naturally, Stewart is one of the best in this little-known sequel, which comes at an exciting time for the actor. Indeed, “Bambi II” arrives three years after Stewart’s personal favorite guest role on the hit sitcom “Frasier,” part of his post-“Star Trek” effort to showcase his considerable comedic talent on shows like “Family Guy,” “American Dad!” and “Extras”. His performance as the great lord of the forest, however, was a more classic Stewart performance, full of the gravitas and dignity he brought to his famous stage performances.
Patrick Stewart was the best thing about Bambi II
You’d guess, given his strong vocal talents, that Patrick Stewart has voiced several Disney characters in his time. But aside from The Great Prince of the Forest, his only major Disney voice role was as Mr. Woolensworth in 2005’s “Chicken Little.” Still, during the making of the feature, Stewart spoke of being “very excited” to be involved in the Bambi sequel, and why not? The movie may not live up to the original, but how could it? What’s more, “Bambi II” undoubtedly brought a lot of joy to the kids of the early 2000s — even if some critics were too harsh.
For example, Variety’s Joe Leydon noted that the animated sequel was “perfectly short on the visual splendor and gentle charm that made the original 1942 animation such an enduring classic.” He also criticized the film for showing “the flashy look of second-tier Disney vids,” which makes you wonder what he would make of Disney’s latest remake paroxysm. Still, Leydon still praised Stewart for being “the most engaging character” next to Bambi himself, praising the British actor for “an ace vocal performance.” You expected nothing less.
Fortunately, this was the last time Disney tried to continue the “Bamboo” story. The beloved creature did indeed become the monstrous bipedal reindeer that butt heads in 2025’s Bambi: The Reckoning, but otherwise it was left alone after the 2006 sequel. Disney threatened to remake Bambi in 2020, but that project seems to have been shelved in the interim.
