Review of The Little Mermaid (1989) by Cj W — 11 Nov 2013

To begin, The Little Mermaid is a remarkable achievement in Disney animation, when you compare this film to nearly every Disney film since 1961's 101 Dalmatians, it blows them all away in nearly every aspect.

The animation is just stunning and so much more intricately done than its predecessor, Oliver and Company. It's actually almost impossible to believe that this film came out the year after Oliver and Company, because the animation here is so fluid and alive.

All the backgrounds perfectly illuminate the characters, but never do they seem dull or static, they move and grab your attention with their perfect shadings and bright colors. The animation just fits perfectly along with the marvelous screenplay written by Musker and Clements, it is probably the most insightful script for a Disney film since The Fox and the Hound.

It captures the Hans Christian Anderson classic by portraying Ariel as the only mermaid who actually realizes themselves fully, all the other mermaids and mermen have forgotten their human halves and have isolated themselves to the sea.

But Ariel, who does like the sea, wants to experience the other half of herself, and her curiosity has made this her one true love in life. I think many people interpret her love as being for Eric, but it is not so much that she loves Eric more than the fact that he is her one true way of fully loving herself, he somewhat completes her.

However, that is just my interpretation, but I think we all can agree that the screenplay is more than just what lies on the surface. But may be the greatest aspect of this film is the songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, they are so well written and composed that you can't help but love them, and they definitely tell us what was to come with the Disney Renaissance.

The Little Mermaid is probably a top 15 Disney film and the 5th best film of the Renaissance, also, it is a film you should check out.