Get ready to fawn over ‘Bambi’s’ big television debut on Disney Channel

Heartwarming, timeless and beautiful are just three adjectives that deserve to be lavished on Bambi. Walt Disney’s 1942 animated classic took five years to make and almost 50 years to make it to the small screen. The film, which follows the life of a deer from fawnhood to full antlers, makes its world television debut on the Disney Channel, naturally.

A bit of trivia about the film: It pioneered the technique of what’s called personality animation, in which artists study the anatomy and movements of live animals in order to accurately recreate their animated counterparts. The movie became Walt Disney’s personal favorite because of the work and artistry involved in its making.

“Bambi,” Sunday at 7 p.m. the Disney Channel. For all ages, with parental discretion (the hunting scene may be disturbing to small children).

MORE KIDS SHOWS

Brother Future (Sunday at 5:30 p.m. KCET) is a “Wonderworks Family Movie” about a modern-day Detroit kid who finds himself traveling back to the antebellum South, where he is picked up as a runaway slave--and becomes aware of all he has taken for granted. For ages 8 and up.

Musical Encounters (Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m. KCET) features young performers who introduce listeners to the sounds of different musical instruments and demonstrate how those instruments are played. For 5- to 10-year-olds.

David Hartman hosts Seasons of Life, a five-part series that explores the human life cycle. The first episode (Tuesday at 8 p.m. KOCE), follows developments from conception to age 6. For parents.

An Episode of Nova, called “The Hunt for China’s Dinosaurs” (Tuesday at 8 p.m. KCET and 9 p.m. KOCE) accompanies paleontologists on a dinosaur hunt--for dinosaur remains, that is--in the Gobi Desert. For ages 11 and up.

In “Flight of the Doves” (Thursday at 4 p.m. Showtime), two British children run away to Ireland in search of their grandmother. For 8- to 11-year olds.

You won’t catch Henry’s Cat lounging lazily on the sofa too often. The adventurous yellow feline heads for Hollywood and dreams of being a famous doctor In “The Birthday Caper” and “A Funny Feeling” (Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Showtime). In “Treasure Hunt” and “Out for the Count” (Tuesday 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Showtime) he searches for hidden treasure and meets Count Dracula. For 6- to 11-year-olds.

The Adventures of Pete and Pete: The Valentine’s Day Massacre (Saturday at 7 p.m. Nickelodeon) is a half-hour’s worth of antics from the brothers Pete, who often show up on Nickelodeon in short bits. This humorous Valentine’s Day special concerns a crush on a math teacher and a dead squid named Edna. Confused? Don’t worry, it all gets tied together. For 8- to 12-year-olds.

Looking for a good reason to go to class? The NBA All-Star Stay in School Jam (Saturday at 9 a.m. NBC, TNT, Nickelodeon) features lots of celebrities and some of your favorite basketball players who will entertain and relay this message: School is cool! For all ages.

Hey teachers! Did you know that more than 2,000 public television programs are available on videotape for sale or rental to schools, colleges, libraries, hospitals and other institutions? PBS Video publishes an annual catalogue and a bimonthly newsletter detailing those programs available. For more information, write PBS Video, 1320 Alexandria Place, Alexandria, Va. 22314-1698. Or call 1-800-424-7963 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.EST.