Bambi in the Wild West

"Bambi in the Wild West" is the fifth episode of the American animated television series Bambi. It first aired on September 11, 1999, on ABC as part of Disney's One Saturday Morning.

Summary
After Bambi begins to doubt if he can ever succeed at things by himself, Friend Owl decides to tell him and his friends the tall tale of Drifter Bambi and how he saved the town from being overtaken by Devious Raccoon and his gang of wild west baddies.

Plot
Bambi struggles to free the squirrel and chipmunk from the trap set up by Man, but is having trouble. With help from Thumper and Flower, he barely manages to free them in time, as they get to a safe place just as Man starts firing at them. As the animals recoup, Bambi starts to feel a bit sad, and Friend Owl arrives to ask him what's wrong. Bambi denies that there's something wrong, but believes that he wants to help someone and do big things all by himself without any help, but after listening to Friend Owl, Bambi realizes that he actually likes getting help from his friends, but he still believes he should do bigger things without any help. Realizing this, the owl decides to finally tell Bambi and his friends a tall tale about a deer drifter who'll soon become the hero of the Wild West.

On the hills of the Old West is a deer drifter who goes by no name, roaming the hills and looking for any signs of trouble. One day, he comes across a western town that appears to be like a forest, just set in the Western. He goes over to it, and immediately gets the attention of many other inhabitants of the town, including Thumpin' Rabbit, Wild Flower, and Deputy Owl, who are all curious at what the mysterious deer drifter could be. When the deer drifter enters the tavern, the bartender Faline the Delightful, greets him, before the deer drifter introduces himself to her.

When Faline tells the Drifter Deer about a devilish raccoon who goes by the name of Devious Raccoon, and his gang of no-good western animals, he realizes that the town needs a sheriff. Despite that he's more of a drifter than a sheriff, the encouragement of the townsfolk eventually gets him to go meet Deputy Owl, who gives him his own sheriff badge, and promotes him to becoming a sheriff for the sake of those townsfolk. Drifter Bambi, now a sheriff, holds a meeting with the other townsfolk, where he tells the townsfolk that the devious raccoon and his misfit gang of wild west thieves will arrive in town at sunset tomorrow, so the drifter deer will have to prepare for his upcoming showdown with Devious Raccoon.

At noon, the drifter deer begins practicing his skills by using bananas to shoot at target dummies. He can't really aim well at first, and after a few tries, begins to doubt if he really is the right sheriff for the town, so he asks Thumpin' Rabbit for assistance in the battle, but he doesn't want to help out, believing that the deer should be able to do it by himself. After dozens of attempts, the drifter deer just gives up, assuming that he isn't fit for the job, and leaves town, hoping to find a new place, but Thumpin' Rabbit convinces him to come back, as without him, the town will never be safe. Eventually, the drifter deer agrees, so the next day, the rabbit helps him in his banana aiming, and eventually, the deer is able to aim the bananas all by himself without the help of his best bud.

That evening, as the sun is starting to set, the clock chimes as the townsfolk retreat to their hiding spots, but not before Thumpin' Rabbit wishes Drifter Bambi good luck, as the deer proceeds to just stands there, ready to face whatever awaits him. Soon, Devious Raccoon and his wild west thief gang arrives in the town, as Bambi meets them face-to-face, and they proceed to stare at each other for some time. Eventually, the raccoon and his gang shoots the bananas first, but Bambi swiftly dodges them, as he proceeds to shoot some bananas at them. Eventually, Bambi gets distracted by them, and shoots the bananas on the ground instead at the raccoon and his gang, making him fear that he will lose until they accidentally slipped and shoot the bananas at themselves, messing themselves up and causing them to ultimately run away from the town.

The town celebrates Drifter Bambi's victorious win, and invites him to become a permanent resident of the western forest town, in addition to becoming a part-time sheriff, to which he accepts. And from that moment on, Drifter Bambi was a force to be reckoned with, using his quick-draw skills and amazing banana aiming to stop baddies, and when he's not protecting the town, he likes to have fun in the tavern with all his pals, knowing that he is indeed popular among them. Bambi, amazed by the story, wants Friend Owl to tell him another tall tale, but the owl refuses, saying that he has more important things to deal with, but he does tell him that if Drifter Bambi can believe in himself to do big things all by himself, so can he. Just then, Bambi hears a call from Faline, asking him to rescue a raccoon who is hanging from a tree, and, although reluctant at first, wanting to get help from his friends, he eventually rescues the raccoon all by himself. As Faline thanks Bambi for saving the raccoon, Thumper and Flower run up to him and ask him for help, only for Bambi to burst out in laughter, as he follows the duo, and Faline points out that some things never change.

Production
Coming soon!

US

 * Bambi: Playful Buddies (VHS)
 * Bambi: Season 1, Volume 1 (DVD)

Reception
Coming soon!