When this movie was released in the late 1980s, it was a real delight; because it was proof that the animated feature film was still alive and well. The movie is the Little Mermaid, a beautifully drawn story about a mermaid named Ariel who wants to become human and marry the prince of her dreams.
Objecting to his daughter’s desires to turn human is King Triton, who manages to crack the crab, Sebastian for information about his daughter. The source of evil in this film is the magnificently drawn sea witch, Ursula; who persuades Ariel to make a deal to become human for a while and engage the prince, but only at the price of losing her voice to the evil Ursula.
This whole film is a delight. I have nothing but compliments for the Little Mermaid. The art work is rich and colorful, especially with all those underwater scenes. When I see all those bubbles, I’m glad they took the time and money to animate every individual bubble.
The tightly told story is credited to directors Ron Clements and John Musker. Animated film directors usually don’t get noticed until they’re either retired or dead. Let’s start giving the credit a little early this time.
The film is chockfull of good songs that carry the movie forward, and they’re fun to listen to. The music in this movie is fantastically superior than most modern musicals. The music brings back memories of great Hollywood musicals like Singing in the Rain, Me and My Gal or other Walt Disney classics like the Jungle Book. A lot of the time, the music in modern animated musicals sounds like MUSAK with words; but the music in this film is terrific, especially that calypso number, Under the Sea; which is sung by a cast of sea creatures, and fronted by Sebastian the crab who thinks that life under the sea is just fine. In fact, Under the Sea is the best number of the film and recalls some of the great Disney music of the past like When You Wish Upon a Star and Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da.
I also think that this movie created a classic animated character with Sebastian the crab, similar to Jiminy Cricket. And Ursula the witch is right up there with some of the great villains of the past. Name any classic Disney villain, from the wicked step-mother to Captain Hook, and Ursula is in that category.
Best of all (this is my favorite part); this is a film for people of all ages. Young children will beyond a doubt love this movie; and it is witty witty witty for the adults.
I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. I enjoyed everything about it, including the music.
This movie bares comparison to some of the great Disney Classics. This really is a contemporary animated film which is as good as those great films from 40, 50, and 60 years ago. Little Mermaid is a return to the great tradition of animated feature films.
The Little Mermaid is a very good film.
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