Thirty-five years ago this week, Disney released Ron Clements and John Musker’s The Little Mermaid, and pop culture was never the same. Between its iconic visuals and addictive soundtrack, the movie has long since become one of the Mouse House’s most beloved movies, and for good reason. Ariel’s story is timeless and continues to inspire the imagination. Even if some want to claim parts of the story are problematic, The Little Mermaid has a message that resonates to this day.
I grew up with The Little Mermaid, so I have a lot of fondness for it. Ariel was one of my favorite Disney princesses as a kid, and I was entranced by the underwater world she inhabited. Now, I’ve watched as several of my young cousins have fallen in love with her and her story (and her villain, in a rather memorable case), which only further proves its impact hasn’t lessened at all. Even with a solid live-action remake released just last year, the original is still superior.
The Little Mermaid Has Some Of Disney’s Best Characters
And The Animation Is Pretty Perfect, Too
I imagine I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know the story of The Little Mermaid at this point, but in case anyone’s forgotten: the movie follows the titular princess, Ariel (Jodi Benson), as she longs to explore the world up above and learn the ways of humans. When the sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) offers her a deal, wherein Ariel must give up her voice in exchange for legs, she takes it, paving the way for her romance with the dashing Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes).
Like most Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid tells its story at a brisk pace, effectively establishing each character and their personality right before diving into the meat of the plot. Ariel’s impulsive decision to give up her voice, frequently criticized today, can be understood within the first moments of her appearance. Her desire to know more about the human world is so strong she’d willingly explore a dangerous shipwreck, so of course she’d jump at any chance to go above the surface. Her curiosity is one of her defining features, making her one of the most compelling Disney princesses.
There’s so much we can learn from Ariel; for example, a world different from our own doesn’t have to be scary, and in fact, we should be more open to learning about other experiences.
Every character is clearly defined and expertly drawn, and that extends to the evil Ursula, one of Disney’s best villains. Ursula’s character design is the most inventive; the lower part of her body is that of an octopus, she’s able to slink and float across the screen in a visually arresting manner (something that is also a testament to the impressiveness of the animation). As a whole, The Little Mermaid makes the most of its underwater setting. This is best seen in the standout musical number “Under the Sea,” which features numerous sea creatures breaking out into song and dance.
Why I Believe The Little Mermaid Endures
The Soundtrack Is A Pretty Big Part Of It
On the topic of the music specifically, The Little Mermaid‘s soundtrack is quintessential Disney. Alan Menken’s delightful tunes, from the soulful yearning of “Part of Your World” to the menacing allure of “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” both define the movie’s voice and tell us so much about the characters singing them. I actually enjoyed 2023’s Little Mermaid remake and felt that the new songs added to it were strong, but whenever I revisit its soundtrack, I always go back to the classics.
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The Little Mermaid has only become more poignant over the years. There’s so much we can learn from Ariel — a world different from our own doesn’t have to be scary, and we should be more open to learning about other experiences. Yes, there’s little doubt that the choices she makes are reckless and ill-advised, but the film doesn’t claim otherwise. Ariel faces the fallout of her actions, leading to the genuinely chilling and thrilling climactic battle with Ursula. I’m still stunned at how dark the ending is, seeing as Ursula’s ultimate fate isn’t as ambiguous as other Disney villains’.
The Little Mermaid has endured in pop culture for 35 years, and I expect it will continue to do so, even as Disney puts further stock in its live-action offerings. There’s something deeply comforting about the classic style of hand-drawn animation, and it’s a joy to revisit it. I’m already looking forward to when I can rewatch it again.
9/10
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 Walt Disney animated film written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. It stars the voices of Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Christopher Daniel Barnes, with music from Alan Menken. The plot follows a young mermaid named Ariel that wishes to abandon her life underwater and join the humans on land.
- Ariel is one of the best Disney princesses (and Ursula one of the best villains)
- The soundtrack is full of iconic, brilliant songs
- Hand-drawn animation is always a delight and comfort
- Ariel’s story has a timeless message