The Little Mermaid (film)
"The Little Mermaid" is a 1989 animated film produced by Walt Disney, marking a pivotal moment in the company's animation history and contributing to its resurgence in the late 20th century. This film tells the story of Ariel, a curious and adventurous mermaid who dreams of living on land and falls in love with Prince Eric. Notably, the film features a strong female protagonist, showcasing Ariel's intelligence and independence, which was a departure from the traditional portrayals of female characters in earlier Disney films. The musical score, including the Oscar-winning song "Under the Sea," adds to the film's charm and popularity.
"The Little Mermaid" was significant as it heralded a new era for Disney animation, utilizing emerging technologies like computer-generated imagery in its final scenes. The film not only resonated with audiences at the time but also laid the foundation for future Disney films, influencing the portrayal of gender roles and character development. Its success led to a merchandising boom and revitalized interest in Disney's animated features. In 2023, Disney released a live-action remake of the film, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, which sparked discussions about representation and cultural sensitivity in modern cinema. Overall, "The Little Mermaid" remains a beloved classic, celebrated by multiple generations.
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The Little Mermaid (film)
Identification Animated film
Directors John Musker and Ron Clements
Date Released November 17, 1989
The Little Mermaid solidified the beginning of the Disney renaissance in animation, while playing to the hearts and minds of the children of the 1980s.
Key Figures
John Musker (1953- ), animated film directorRon Clements (1953- ), animated film director
The last of five feature-length animated films released by the Walt Disney Company in the 1980s, The Little Mermaid came on the shoulders of two other Disney works. The success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), a mixed live-action and animated film, had helped build an audience for a large-scale animated feature. Meanwhile, Oliver and Company (1988) demonstrated that a market also existed for films fitting Disney’s traditional animated-feature format, the musical. Learning from the successes of both films, Disney made some changes to The Little Mermaid during its final year of production, tailoring it for the audiences of the late 1980s. The company also chose to set the film in a fantasy world, as it had in former classics with great success.
The result was a breathtaking glimpse of life under the sea featuring the mermaid Ariel and her friends. The musical elements of the movie included classic Broadway-like songs mixed with such Caribbean-flavored numbers as “Under the Sea,” which received an Academy Award for Best Song. The film also won the Oscar for Best Score. The movie signified the beginning of computer-generated two-dimensional animation at Disney, as the process was tested on the final scenes of the film. Further, The Little Mermaid included something new to Disney animated features that was a rarity even in previous live-action films: a strong heroine. Before Ariel, most of Disney’s leading females relied on their Prince Charmings and were only the source of conflict. Although she is such a source in The Little Mermaid, Ariel is also an intelligent, inquisitive young woman who makes her own decisions. Ultimately, it is Prince Eric who kills the villain Ursula, but it is Ariel’s courage that drives the story. This is a change from the Disney norm and the beginning of a trend by the company to use both genders in intelligent leading roles. Ariel reflected the growing equalization of the sexes in media that occurred during the 1980s. These elements combined to make Disney’s The Little Mermaid a staple for the company and one with lasting power, enjoyed by generations of children and adults alike in the following decades. In 2023, Disney released a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid to mixed reviews.
Impact
Disney’s version of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid became the strongest-performing full-length animated feature since Walt Disney’s death. Grossing over $110 million in the United States, The Little Mermaid gave Disney animation a resurgence that would allow it to dominate the 1990s animated feature genre. It also sparked a merchandising spree for Disney and led a missing generation of consumers to become reacquainted with the Disney name.
The success of The Little Mermaid continued into the twenty-first century, as new generations of children discovered the film, and merchandise related to the movie continued to reap strong profits. In 2023, interest in the franchise was renewed even more when Disney released a live-action version of its classic animated film. Starring Halle Bailey, a Black actor, in the title role, the film received mixed reviews and stirred up controversy upon its release. While Bailey encountered some racist backlash for her leading role, supporters praised her performance for providing a positive role model to young Black viewers and increasing Black representation in Disney films. The remake also encountered criticism for failing to cast the role of Ursula to a drag performer, as the original character was based on the drag queen Divine.
Bibliography
Haas, Linda, Elizabeth Bell, and Laura Sells. From Mouse to Mermaid: The Politics of Film, Gender, and Culture. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995.
Johnston, Ollie, and Frank Thomas. The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. New York: Disney Editions, 1995.
Kurtti, Jeff. The Art of The Little Mermaid. New York: Hyperion Books, 1997.
Murray, Conor. "'The Little Mermaid' Draws Criticism for Flounder's Uncomfortably Lifelike Design—The Latest Controversy for the Film." Forbes, 28 Apr. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/04/28/the-little-mermaid-draws-criticism-for-flounders-uncomfortably-lifelike-design-the-latest-controversy-for-the-film/?sh=3d6db4b81a9f. Accessed 26 July 2023.