The Marten

The Marten is the main antagonist of Disney's 1957 True Life Fantasy Perri (the live-action sequel to the 1942 film Bambi). She is a vicious marten who originally wanted to kill Perri's family in order to feed her young, but later wanted to kill her at any cost.

Personality
The fact that she pursued Perri throughout her whole life shows that she's not simply an animal trying to survive. She even seemed to take pleasure in the idea of killing her. She is also shown to be extremely protective of her young as she tries to fend off the raccoon from going into her nest. Like other martens, she also hates water and doesn't swim unless needed.

Role
While Perri’s mother searches for food, the marten attacks her treetop nest. When Perri’s father calls out to lure the marten away, the predator kills him, leaving Perri’s mother to carry each of her children to a safer nest. Perri is the last baby to be moved, but manages to elude the marten by hiding under cedar shavings. The marten is finally distracted by a raccoon attacking her nest, but the raccoon is stung by a porcupine and so retreats.

After Perri discovers Bambi and his children, she hears birds cawing about the marten on the loose. Perri decides to return to her nesting ground and discovers that her nest has been destroyed by the marten. Perri looks up at the marten and the predator chases after her. Perri swims across the river, but the marten couldn't, because she hates water. After Perri and Porro's encounter with the bobcat, the marten decides to cross the dam to get to her, but the dam breaks, causing the marten to fall into the water. The marten gets back on land, shrieks at Perri in defeat, and leaves.

When winter comes, once again, the marten tries to find another way to get to Perri. The marten tries to walk on the ice bridge, but the ice breaks and the current washes the marten up shore.

Soon, spring returns, and the forest animals find mates. Perri responds to Porro’s mating call, but a lightning storm interrupts their romance and causes a raging fire. Perri escapes by standing on a bobcat’s back in the middle of the creek. As Perri makes it safely back to land, the marten finally manages to cross the river to Perri's home after the wildfire caused one of the trees to fall down. Porro finds Perri and warns her about the marten nearby. Porro distracts the marten and the predator chases him. The two are unaware that the bobcat is stalking them. The marten corners Porro onto a weak branch. As the marten approaches Porro, the branch breaks and they both plunge down to the bobcat. Porro escapes, but the marten is killed by the bobcat. Porro emerges unscathed, and they will soon be able to start a new family.