The Little Mermaid

Movie Details:

Voice Cast & Characters:

• Jodi Benson as Ariel, the 16-year-old adventurous and headstrong mermaid princess of Atlantica who is fascinated with the human world and falls in love with Prince Eric.
  • Benson also voices Vanessa, Ursula’s human alter-ego and disguise she uses to sabotage her deal with Ariel.
• Christopher Daniel Barnes as Prince Eric, a dashing and dreamy human prince who is saved by Ariel and is determined to find and marry her.
• Pat Carroll as Ursula, a manipulative and conniving sea witch who takes Ariel’s voice in exchange for turning her into a human, planning to use Ariel as ransom to get her father’s magical trident and take over Atlantica.
• Kenneth Mars as King Triton, Ariel’s strict and overprotective father and the ruler of Atlantica who is prejudiced towards humans.
• Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, a red Jamaican-accented Caribbean crab who serves as King Triton’s advisor and court composer.
• Jason Marin as Flounder, a yellow tropical fish resembling a royal angelfish who is Ariel’s best friend.
• Buddy Hackett as Scuttle, a seagull who shares Ariel’s fascination with humans and teaches her about “human stuff”.
• Paddi Edwards as Flotsam and Jetsam, Ursula’s symbiotic and insidious pet green moray eels.
• Ben Wright as Grimsby, Eric’s no-nonsense and loyal steward. Wright had played characters in previous Disney films like Roger Radcliffe in One Hundred and One Dalmatians and Rama in The Jungle Book. This was his last role; he died four months before its release.
• René Auberjonois as Louis, Eric’s eccentric and unhinged chef who attempts to cook Sebastian, but fails.
• Edie McClurg as Carlotta, Eric’s good-hearted and gentle maid.
• Will Ryan as Harold, a seahorse who serves as Triton’s herald.

Storyline:

In Disney’s beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.

About Movie:

The Little Mermaid is an American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Loosely based on the 1837 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, with a screenplay by Linda Woolverton. The film features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, who also produced the film alongside Musker.

The story follows Ariel, a teenage mermaid princess voiced by Jodi Benson, who dreams of becoming human after falling in love with Prince Eric (voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes). To pursue her desires, Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula (voiced by Pat Carroll), trading her voice for human legs. The narrative explores themes of longing, sacrifice, and the quest for identity.

Walt Disney initially attempted to adapt The Little Mermaid into an animated film during the 1930s and 1950s but faced challenges in development. After the success of The Great Mouse Detective (1986), directors Musker and Clements proposed a new adaptation to Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. With Ashman’s involvement, they transformed the project into a musical format similar to The Little Mermaid, despite initial concerns that it would not appeal to male audiences.

The Little Mermaid premiered at the New York Film Festival on September 29, 1989, and was released in theaters on November 17, 1989. The film received critical acclaim for its animation, music, and character development. It grossed approximately $235 million worldwide during its theatrical run, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1989. The film is credited with revitalizing Disney’s animated feature films and marking the beginning of the Disney Renaissance.

The film won two Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Under the Sea.” It also received nominations for Best Original Song for “Belle” and “Be Our Guest,” as well as Best Sound.

Following its success, The Little Mermaid spawned a media franchise that includes a direct-to-video sequel released in 2000 focusing on Ariel’s daughter Melody and a prequel in 2008. The original film was adapted into a stage musical that premiered in Denver in July 2007 before moving to Broadway in January 2008.

In addition to various adaptations, The Little Mermaid has been re-released multiple times, including an IMAX version in 2002 and a 3D re-release in 2012. In recognition of its cultural significance, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2022.

A live-action adaptation directed by Rob Marshall is set to be released in May 2023, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel. Overall, The Little Mermaid remains a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences for its enchanting story and memorable music.

Budget & Box Office Collection: