The Little Mermaid (1989)
Based on the 1837 Danish fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
Intro song (“Fathoms Below”). In the kingdom of Atlantica, located under the Atlantic Ocean, Sebastian, a crab who serves as adviser and court composer to King Triton, the ruler of Atlantica, conducts a show involving the daughters of Triton however Ariel, Triton’s youngest 16-year old daughter and mermaid princess, does not show up to participate (“Daughters of Triton”). Ariel is dissatisfied with her underwater life, but is fascinated by the human world. With her best friend Flounder, a fish, Ariel visits Scuttle, a seagull who gives Ariel inaccurate information about humans, and collects human artifacts in her grotto. She ignores the warnings of her father that contact between merpeople and humans is forbidden (“Part of That World”).
One night, Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian travel to the ocean surface to watch a birthday celebration for Prince Eric. Ariel falls in love with Eric at first sight. Suddenly a violent storm arrives, wrecking the ship, and knocking Eric overboard. Ariel rescues Eric and brings him to shore. She sings to him, but leaves just as he regains consciousness to avoid being discovered. Fascinated by the memory of her voice, Eric vows to find the girl who saved and sang to him, and Ariel vows to find a way to join him in his world. Sebastian sings a song to try to make Ariel change her mind about Eric but to no avail (“Under the Sea”). Discovering a change in Ariel's behavior, Triton questions Sebastian about her behavior and learns of her love for Eric. An outraged Triton travels to Ariel's grotto and destroys her collection of artifacts in a misguided attempt to protect her. After a remorseful Triton leaves, two blue eels named Flotsam and Jetsam convince Ariel to visit Ursula the sea witch, who plans to use Ariel as ransom to get Triton's magical trident.
Ursula sings (“Poor Unfortunate Souls”) and makes a deal with Ariel to transform her into a human for three days in exchange for Ariel's voice, which Ursula puts in a nautilus shell. Within these three days, Ariel must receive "true love's kiss" from Eric. If Ariel gets Eric to kiss her, she will remain a human permanently. Otherwise, she will transform back into a mermaid and belong to Ursula. Ariel accepts and is then given human legs and taken to the surface by Flounder and Sebastian. Eric finds Ariel on the beach and takes her to his castle, unaware that she is the one who had rescued him earlier. Chef Louis attempts to cook dinner including Sebastian while singing (“Les Poissons”). Ariel spends time with Eric, and at the end of the second day, they almost kiss (“Kiss The Girl”) but are thwarted by Flotsam and Jetsam. Furious at Ariel's close success, Ursula disguises herself as a young woman named Vanessa and appears onshore singing with Ariel's voice. Eric recognizes the song, and Ursula, transformed in Vanessa, casts a hypnotic enchantment on Eric to make him forget about Ariel.
The next day, Ariel discovers that Eric will be married to Vanessa. Scuttle discovers Vanessa's true identity and informs Ariel, who immediately pursues the wedding barge. Sebastian informs Triton, and Scuttle disrupts the wedding with the help of various sea animals. In the chaos, the nautilus shell around Ursula's neck is destroyed, restoring Ariel's voice and breaking Ursula's enchantment over Eric. Realizing that Ariel is the girl who saved his life, Eric rushes to kiss her, but the sun sets and Ariel transforms back into a mermaid and Vanessa transforms back into her true form of Ursula. Ursula then kidnaps Ariel. Triton confronts Ursula and demands Ariel's release, but the deal is inviolable. At Ursula's urging, Triton agrees to take Ariel's place as Ursula's prisoner, giving up his trident. Ariel is released as Triton transforms into a polyp and loses his authority over Atlantica. Ursula declares herself the Queen of the Seven Seas, but before she can use the trident, Eric intervenes with a harpoon. Ursula attempts to kill Eric, but Ariel intervenes, causing Ursula to inadvertently kill Flotsam and Jetsam. Enraged, Ursula uses the trident to grow to a monstrous size.
Ariel and Eric reunite on the surface just before a gigantic Ursula separates them. She then gains full control of the entire ocean, creating a storm and bringing sunken ships to the surface. Just as Ursula is about to kill Ariel, Eric commandeers a wrecked ship and kills Ursula by impaling her in the abdomen with its splintered bowsprit. With Ursula dead, Triton and the other polyps in Ursula's garden revert to their original forms. Realizing that Ariel truly loves Eric, Triton willingly changes her from a mermaid into a human permanently and approves her marriage to Eric. Ariel and Eric marry on a ship and depart, with all of Ariel's friends and family watching them as well (“Part of That World”).
TRIVIA
Visual Style
Ariel’s hair color was hotly debated between the animators to be either blonde and red.
The color that Disney Imagineers created for Ariel's tail was created just for the film and was aptly called "Ariel".
Technology
The Little Mermaid featured a return to filming live actors and actresses to use as reference for the animators.
Music
Features music and lyrics by the duo of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman
Easter Egg(s)
During King Triton’s entrance, among the crowd are Kermit the Frog, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
In Prince Eric’s dining room hall, there is a picture portrait which resembles Princess Aurora and Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty.
During the wedding sequence between Eric and Vanessa, the King and Grand Duke from Cinderella are among the guests.
Deleted Scene(s)
A deleted scene reveals that Ursula is King Triton’s witch sister who tried to overthrow him but failed, leading to her banishment into exile.
Notable Scene(s)
“Under the Sea”
“Part of That World”