The Little Mermaid (1989)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

“The Little Mermaid” sparked the Disney Renaissance of the ’90s, burning unforgettable songs like “Under The Sea” and “Part of Your World” into the memories of Gen X and Millennials alike.

Since then, Pixar and other studios have pushed animated features to levels we never thought possible. Digital framerates, lighting, sound and design are near perfection, making Disney’s 1989 release feel a little dated.

But old isn’t necessarily bad. So listener Jackson M. posed this question to Shat The Movies: Does a 35-year-old “The Little Mermaid” still hold up? And it was a tough one to answer.

Plot Summary:

In this episode, the Shat Crew explores whether Ariel was a nightmare child, why King Triton entrusted her safety to a singing crab and how Disney handled a teen mermaid’s transition into a human girl.

In the 1989 animated musical classic The Little Mermaid, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, Jodi Benson voices Ariel, a curious and spirited young mermaid princess with an insatiable desire to explore the human world above the sea. As the youngest daughter of King Triton (Kenneth Mars), ruler of the undersea kingdom of Atlantica, Ariel is drawn to the forbidden world of humans, much to her father’s disapproval. She collects human artifacts and dreams of living on land, where she feels she truly belongs.

One night, during a daring exploration, Ariel saves Prince Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes) from a shipwreck and instantly falls in love with him. Determined to be with Eric, Ariel makes a dangerous pact with Ursula (Pat Carroll), the sea witch. Ursula offers Ariel a chance to become human for three days in exchange for her voice. If Ariel can win Eric’s love and receive a “true love’s kiss” within that time, she will remain human forever; if she fails, she will belong to Ursula.

As Ariel navigates the complexities of the human world with the help of her friends, the lovable Flounder (Jason Marin) and Sebastian (Samuel E. Wright), the Caribbean crab who serves as King Triton’s advisor, she finds herself closer to her dreams. However, Ursula’s treacherous plans threaten not only Ariel’s chance at love but also the entire underwater kingdom.

The Little Mermaid is a timeless tale of courage, love, and self-discovery, featuring unforgettable songs like “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” and “Kiss the Girl,” which won Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Join our podcast review as we dive deep into Ariel’s undersea adventure to see if this Disney classic still enchants audiences today with its magic, music, and message.

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