Mena

“*You know, your mom and I grew up together.*”―Mena[src]

**Mena** is a character in the film *Bambi II*. It is known that she grew up with Bambi's mother.

## Biography

### *Early-Life*

Little is known about Mena's past. She and Bambi's mother seem to have grown up together and knew each other before Bambi's birth.

### *Bambi II*

After the death of Bambi's mother, the Great Prince of the Forest asked Friend Owl to find a doe to become Bambi's foster mother. After a long search, Friend Owl found Mena, who appears near the end of the film and warmly greets Bambi, who is excited to see her at first, as she was a friend of his late mother's, but his feelings change when he learns her purpose (which was to look after him, a deal his father made with Friend Owl).

Bambi was initially reluctant to live with her and challenged the idea, but eventually relented and left with Mena home. On the way, Mena witnesses Ronno provoking and then fighting Bambi. After Bambi wins, Mena expresses concern for Bambi. However, Ronno recovers and leaps up to ram Bambi on the side. This causes Mena to stumble into one of Man's snares. Hearing Man's pets approaching, Mena orders Bambi and Ronno to flee. Ronno flees quickly, but Bambi is petrified with fear. As Bambi begins to run, Mena inadvertently repeats the dying last words of Bambi's mother.

This incites Bambi to turn back, determined to prevent another tragedy. In other words, he does not want to have Mena left behind to be killed, like his mother. Bambi is able to distract and elude the dogs as the Great Prince comes and frees Mena. Later she sees the Prince mourning his son's supposed death. To her and the Prince's relief, Bambi revives and is lovingly embraced by his father. She and Friend Owl share a glance, and she leaves, knowing Bambi and his father will be fine and that she isn't needed after all.

One spring, she was petitioned by Friend Owl to become the foster mother to her old friend's son, as Bambi's mother had died after a run-in with Man. Mena was glad to do so and would later be introduced to Bambi and his father, the Great Prince of the Forest. Bambi was initially reluctant to live with her and defiant towards the idea, but he eventually relented and left with Mena to live with her.

On their way to Mena's home, she became caught in a trap set by Man. The ringing of the bells attached to the trap beckoned Man's hunting dogs, who might would have devoured her if not for Bambi, who distracted them and led them away. She was freed from her trap by the Great Prince. In the aftermath of Bambi's confrontation with the dogs, it appears that she learned she would no longer be needed as the fawn's foster mother, as the Great Prince had decided to raise Bambi on his own. What became of her afterwards is unknown.

## Appearance

Mena has Light brown fur, a dark brown back stripe, a cream-colored belly, and green eyes, somewhat similar to the other does featured in *Bambi* and *Bambi II*.

## Relationships

* **Bambi's mother** - Friend
* **Bambi** - Friend
* **The Great Prince of the Forest** - Friend

## Behind the Scenes

Mena first appeared on January 26, 2006 in *Bambi II*, for which she was created. It is possible that she was inspired by Nettla, a doe from Felix Salten's original novel, *Bambi: A Life in the Woods*, who helps take care of Bambi after his mother's death. Interestingly, her name is similar to the name "Marena", the name of another character from Salten's novel, though Mena and Marena play totally different roles.

### Voices

In *Bambi II*, she is voiced by Cree Summer.

## Trivia

* It is possible that Mena's inspiration was Nettla, a doe from *Bambi, a Life in the Woods* who cared for Bambi after his mother's death.

## Gallery

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