Disney had seen me in other films and still photos and wanted to use my eyes and facial expressions to help draw animations on little Bambi. Before we got to the studio, Mom and I teased each other about maybe having to put on deer skin and move around on all fours.ĭonnie Dunagan: Mr. Disney had picked me to be the facial model for the deer. I heard the news through media that was published, Mr. Soon, we sensed at the studio that it was my eyes and expressions they were interested in.Īt the time, as there were not as many cartoons as today, what kind of work did you think you were going to do when you first heard you got the role of young Bambi?ĭonnie Dunagan: My mother and I had no idea how animation stories were filmed. What was your first thought when you were asked to be the voice of a deer?ĭonnie Dunagan: My mother and I laughed and tried to understand how even wonderful Disney could put my child face and eyes on a little deer. Then the two of us laughed about how I would try to look like a deer.īefore this, I had been in the following films, from age 4½: Mother Carey's Chickens, as Peter, 1938 Son of Frankenstein, also as a Peter (von Frankenstein), 1940 Fixer Dugan, 1939 Forgotten Women, 1939 Tower of London, 1939 as Prince Richard Vigil in the Night, 1940 and Meet the Chump, 1941. Disney called my mother in Westwood, California.near UCLA, and told her he would like me to come to the studio and talk about me being the facial model for an animation story of a little deer. How did you get cast in Bambi? What did you do before that role?ĭonnie Dunagan: No one in my many interviews has asked that bright, joined question. Dunagan took the time to answer some questions as part of a virtual roundtable discussion. Just last week, in anticipation of the film's Diamond Edition Blu-ray debut, Mr. Since then, he has been very happy to speak to fans and journalists about the early days of animation, an experience that he looks back on with much fondness. Six years ago, we at were granted an interview with Dunagan who, at the time, was just opening up about his experiences working on Walt Disney's beloved fifth animated feature. Throughout his decorated military career, he kept his childhood stardom a secret. In fact, he made a name for himself in the United States Marines Corps, having received a number of awards and honors before retiring as Major in 1977. That isn't to say he didn't find excitement in life after widening his big brown eyes for Walt Disney's animators. As it happened, Bambi marked the end of his movie career. Having seven film credits under his belt, 5½-year-old Donnie Dunagan was a seasoned Hollywood veteran when he was called to provide the visual model and voice for Disney's famous deer.
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