The Little Mermaid (1989)
- The original script for The Little Mermaid was written over a decade before production finally began in 1989.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing John Musker, Ron Clements's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical romantic fantasy produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, the film follows Ariel, a 16-year-old mermaid princess voiced by Jodi Benson, who is fascinated by the human world above the ocean's surface. After falling in love with Prince Eric, Ariel makes a desperate bargain with the sea witch Ursula, voiced by Pat Carroll, trading her beautiful voice for human legs to pursue her dream of living on land.
The Little Mermaid is widely credited with single-handedly launching the Disney Renaissance, the period of critical and commercial revival that would produce some of the studio's most beloved films. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's score, featuring "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," and "Kiss the Girl," brought a Broadway musical sensibility to Disney animation that revitalized the studio's storytelling approach. Jodi Benson's vocal performance gave Ariel a warmth and yearning that made her immediately sympathetic.
Pat Carroll's Ursula, inspired by the drag performer Divine, was one of Disney's most entertainingly villainous creations. The Little Mermaid earned $211 million worldwide and won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
