Disney's The Little Mermaid - The Muny (2024)

FAQs

What is the solution in The Little Mermaid? ›

The solution of the original story the prince falls in love with the wrong girl and the little mermaid dies. The conflict of the story stays the same but in the Disney version the little mermaid and the prince get married and she doesn't die.

Alana has a red-violet Dress and wears a matching seashell bra. She has violet eyes and black hair, as well as a small pink tiara on her head. Her tiara is drawn differently between the films and the animated series.

While this delightful adventure takes you under the sea, there is no actual water and you will not get wet.

In the movie The Little Mermaid (Clements & Musker, 1989), Ariel displays symptoms of disposophobia, which is defined as the fear of getting rid of things.

Possibly the most toxic message that the film is in that Ariel risks her life, then gives everything up for one boy – which doesn't say much about female values. She gives up her beautiful voice for him, her mermaid identity, and ultimately her dignity to become part of his world.

There's long since been a fan theory that Ariel and her sisters represent bodies of water from each of the Seven Seas. While the sisters mostly stay in their palace, it makes more sense to have them frequently travel to, if not live in, the oceans they represent.

But in a desire to re-market these ladies to a chic clientele, it appears that they decided to shave more than a few pounds off of Ursula the Sea Witch and Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts. Because in order to be fashionable, you must be thin.

It's a family reunion with all seven mermaid sisters from Disney's exciting theatrical release, The Little Mermaid -- Caspia, Indira, Perla, Karina, Mala, Tamika, and Ariel fashion dolls – together in this one Ultimate Ariel and Sisters set!

After the Little Mermaid sacrifices herself to save the prince, the daughters of the air save her life and turn her into an ethereal spirit like them. They explain that because of her selflessness, they are giving her an opportunity to earn her very own soul and ascend to heaven.

Because of the Little Mermaid's sacrifice, she is given a chance to do good deeds for all her lifespan (300 years like the merpeople) and she will receive her soul and rise up into Heaven when her lifespan ends.

Was The Little Mermaid actually filmed underwater? ›

Filming underwater was deemed too challenging and impractical, so the production used blue screens and nautical footage as inspiration to create the ocean scenery. Despite using CGI, the filmmakers faced challenges in ensuring that it all looked realistic, all while keeping true to the beloved original film.

Queen Athena

Ariel / Mother

Throughout the film, Ursula is driven by vengeance and a lust for power. Her prolonged vendetta against King Triton fueled her desire to usurp him in revenge for her banishment from the palace.

The original character in the 1989 movie was inspired by the triple threat drag queen, actor, and singer Divine, a fact that was mere speculation at first, but has since been confirmed by those involved with the film. Divine catapulted to cult fame after appearing in Pink Flamingos, John Waters' filthy 1972 comedy.

Every major character in the film struggles with some attachment to the illusion of happiness, to a false belief that they aren't enough, now. King Triton believes happiness can only be found by keeping his daughters under his thumb.

In the Disney movie, Ariel marries Eric and the two live happily ever after. In Andersen's fairy tale, the Little Mermaid takes the knife and agrees to kill the prince. But when she tries to do it, she finds that she can't kill him, and instead, she sacrifices herself to save his life and turns into sea foam.

The central story of The Little Mermaid is, of course, 16-year-old Ariel's identity crisis. She feels constrained by her patriarchal mer-society and senses she doesn't belong. She yearns for another world, apart from her own, where she can be free from the limits of her rigid culture and conservative family.

Ariel's journey highlights the importance of self-expression and the struggle to be heard. This desire for transformation also comes with a cost. In order to become human, she must give up her voice, the very thing that allows her to express herself and connect with others.