Waves of Enchantment: The Little Mermaid’s Role in Reviving Disney Animation

In the depths of creative drought, one mermaid surfaced to breathe new life into an ailing empire.

Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid emerged as a beacon of hope for Walt Disney Feature Animation, signalling the dawn of an extraordinary era known as the Disney Renaissance. This vibrant tale of longing, rebellion, and romance not only captivated audiences but also redefined what animated features could achieve in terms of artistry, storytelling, and commercial triumph.

  • The film’s groundbreaking score and songs propelled it to Oscar glory and set a new standard for musical animation.
  • Innovative animation techniques and character designs breathed fresh vitality into Disney’s classic style.
  • Its blockbuster success rescued the studio from financial woes and inspired a decade of animated masterpieces.

The Shadowy Depths: Disney’s Pre-Renaissance Peril

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Walt Disney Productions teetered on the brink of irrelevance in the animation world. The studio, once synonymous with timeless classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Jungle Book, had stumbled through a series of lacklustre releases. Films such as The Black Cauldron in 1985 bombed spectacularly, costing over $25 million and failing to recoup its budget amid scathing reviews that decried its dark tone and disjointed narrative. Internal strife compounded the issues; veteran animators retired without successors, budgets ballooned, and live-action ventures overshadowed animation divisions.

Management upheaval added to the turmoil. Following Walt Disney’s death in 1966, the company prioritised theme parks and television, leaving animation underfunded. Roy E. Disney’s resignation in 1984 highlighted deep dissatisfaction, prompting the appointment of Michael Eisner as CEO. Eisner recognised animation’s potential but needed a hit to justify investment. Proposals for new films proliferated, yet many languished in development hell. Amid this chaos, directors Ron Clements and John Musker pitched an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s melancholic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, transforming its tragic undertones into a buoyant musical spectacle.

The decision to greenlight the project marked a pivotal shift. Disney’s animators, starved for inspiration, embraced the challenge. They drew from Broadway influences, infusing the story with vibrant energy absent in recent outings. Production spanned four years, with a $40 million budget that tested the studio’s resolve. Early test screenings revealed rough edges, but refinements honed the film’s appeal, positioning it as the antidote to years of mediocrity.

Ariel’s Irresistible Allure: Crafting an Iconic Heroine

Ariel, the curious redheaded mermaid, embodied youthful defiance and wide-eyed wonder, qualities that resonated deeply with audiences. Her design evolved through countless sketches; animators sculpted her lithe form and flowing tresses to evoke fluidity and grace, mirroring the ocean’s ebb and flow. Voiced by newcomer Jodi Benson, Ariel’s performance blended innocence with determination, her crystalline tones capturing every sigh of longing for the human world above.

The character’s arc—from seashell-collecting dreamer to legged adventurer—mirrored broader cultural shifts towards female empowerment in late-80s media. Yet Disney tempered rebellion with romance, ensuring Ariel’s journey culminated in partnership rather than isolation. Iconic scenes, like her grotto serenade “Part of Your World,” showcased meticulous lip-syncing and expressive eyes, drawing viewers into her psyche. This emotional depth elevated her beyond mere princess archetype.

Supporting cast enriched the tapestry. Sebastian the crab, with his Jamaican patois and orchestral aspirations, provided comic relief through Samuel E. Wright’s spirited delivery. Flounder, the loyal fish, added heartfelt camaraderie, while Prince Eric’s dashing heroism grounded the fantasy in relatable charm. Antagonists shone brightest; Ursula’s voluptuous villainy, inspired by Divine and medusa myths, oozed menace and camp, her eels Flotsam and Jetsam slithering with sinister glee.

Symphony Beneath the Waves: The Menken-Ashman Musical Mastery

Alan Menken’s score and Howard Ashman’s lyrics formed the film’s pulsating heart, earning Academy Awards for Best Original Score and “Under the Sea.” Drawing from Broadway traditions, they crafted earworms that propelled the narrative. “Under the Sea” erupted in calypso rhythms, its lavish sequence featuring 1,000 hand-drawn bubbles and bioluminescent effects that dazzled spectators.

“Poor Unfortunate Souls” stood as a showstopper, Ursula’s serpentine dance animating with theatrical flair. Ashman’s personal touch infused authenticity; as a gay man facing the AIDS crisis, his themes of otherness echoed Ariel’s outsider status. “Kiss the Girl” blended samba beats with tender orchestration, while “Les Poissons” delivered slapstick hilarity via Chef Louis’s culinary frenzy.

The soundtrack’s immediate success spawned platinum albums and enduring radio play, a rarity for animation. Menken and Ashman redefined Disney’s musical formula, paving the way for Beauty and the Beast and beyond. Their collaboration captured the era’s pop sensibilities, blending synth flourishes with orchestral swells for timeless appeal.

Animation Renaissance: Technical Tides Turning

The Little Mermaid heralded Disney’s adoption of the Computer Animation Production System (CAPS), revolutionising workflows. Though not fully CGI-reliant, it employed digital ink-and-paint for richer colours and smoother linework, evident in the shimmering underwater palette. Traditional cel animation reached new heights; the pentacle transformation sequence demanded frame-by-frame mastery, with Ursula’s tentacles writhing in organic fury.

Surface reflections posed unique challenges. Animators pioneered roto-scoping techniques to mimic rippling water, creating photorealistic effects unprecedented in Disney canon. Lighting played a starring role; shafts piercing the depths evoked ethereal beauty, contrasting the murky lair’s gloom. Background artistry flourished under art director Michael Peraza Jr., with coral reefs and shipwrecks bursting in verdant detail.

These innovations slashed production times and costs long-term, proving animation’s viability against rising Pixar threats. Critics praised the film’s visual poetry, with Roger Ebert noting its “lush, swirling colours” that immersed viewers utterly.

Villainy with Va-Va-Voom: Ursula Steals the Show

Pat Carroll’s bombastic Ursula dominated screens, her gravelly timbre and exaggerated gestures cementing her as Disney’s premier post-Witch antagonist. Model Lea Salonga—no, design drew from drag icon Harris Glenn Milstead (Divine), with tentacled grandeur amplifying theatricality. Contract negotiation scenes crackled with manipulative glee, her “body language” song underscoring predatory charm.

Ursula’s demise—impaled by a ship amid lightning—delivered operatic catharsis, her inflation to sea witch proportions a visual coup. This boldness influenced future foes like Jafar and Hades, establishing villains as multifaceted stars rather than caricatures.

Box Office Breakers and Cultural Currents

Opening to $6 million on November 17, 1989, The Little Mermaid surged to $84 million domestically and $211 million worldwide, shattering expectations. Merchandise mania ensued; Ariel dolls flew off shelves, spawning a princess empire worth billions. Critics lauded its verve, earning Golden Globe nominations and two Oscars.

Cultural ripples extended globally. The film bridged 80s excess with 90s optimism, its feminist undertones sparking debate amid third-wave stirrings. Home video releases amplified reach, cementing VHS nostalgia. It rescued Disney stock, funding theme park integrations like Ariel’s Grotto.

Enduring Echoes: Legacy in Animation Lore

The Renaissance bloomed forthwith: The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin. The Little Mermaid inspired live-action remakes, Broadway adaptations running 2,425 performances, and video game spin-offs. Collecting surged; original cels fetch thousands at auctions, prized for their luminous detail.

Modern retrospectives affirm its spark. Amid streaming wars, its hand-drawn purity evokes analogue charm, reminding us of animation’s soulful essence. For collectors, it symbolises revival, a collector’s grail bridging eras.

Director/Creator in the Spotlight

Ron Clements and John Musker, the dynamic duo behind The Little Mermaid, epitomised Disney’s resurgence. Clements, born in 1953 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, honed his craft at the California Institute of the Arts, joining Disney in 1975 as an animator on The Rescuers. Musker, born in 1953 in Palo Alto, California, followed suit in 1977, contributing to The Small One. Their partnership ignited with The Great Mouse Detective (1986), blending steampunk intrigue and Basil Rathbone-inspired sleuthing.

Together, they helmed The Little Mermaid (1989), revitalising musical animation. The Rescuers Down Under (1990) explored Australian outback heroism with seamless CAPS integration. Aladdin (1992) dazzled with Robin Williams’s Genie, grossing $504 million. Hercules (1997) mythologised muscle and gospel choruses, while Treasure Planet (2002) fused steampunk sci-fi, despite box-office struggles. The Princess and the Frog (2009) returned to hand-drawn New Orleans jazz, earning acclaim. Post-Disney, their Musker & Clements banner eyed new ventures. Influences span Broadway, Golden Age Disney, and European fairy tales; their oeuvre champions bold heroines and spectacle, shaping animation for generations.

Actor/Character in the Spotlight

Jodi Benson, the luminous voice of Ariel, brought ethereal magic to The Little Mermaid. Born October 10, 1961, in Rockford, Illinois, Benson trained in musical theatre, debuting on Broadway in Marilyn: An American Fable (1983). Her Ariel audition in 1988 clinched stardom; directors sought a soprano evoking purity and spunk, which she delivered flawlessly.

Benson reprised Ariel in sequels The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000) and Ariel’s Beginning (2008), plus kingdom hearts games. She voiced Belle in Beauty and the Beast (1991) and its extensions, Cinderella in DreamWorks’ Cinderella? No, Disney’s Cinderella II, and tour guide Stella in Toy Story 2 (1999). Stage credits include Les Misérables (Fantine), Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita. Television roles spanned The Magic School Bus (Pat the Bus), Camp Lazlo, and Sofia the First.

Awards elude specifics, but her cultural footprint endures via concerts and conventions. Benson’s career trajectory underscores voice acting’s power, her versatile timbre embodying Disney princesses. Filmography highlights: Thumbelina (1994, Thumbelina), Pocahontas (1995, cameo), Mulan (1998, Mother), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, Quasimodo’s mother). Her warmth shines in memoirs and philanthropy, cementing Ariel as her signature legacy.

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Bibliography

Finch, C. (1991) The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms. New York: Harry N. Abrams.

Green, A. (1997) ‘Howard Ashman and Alan Menken: The Songwriting Team That Changed Disney’, Billboard, 15 March. Available at: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/62000/howard-ashman-alan-menken-disney (Accessed: 15 October 2023).

Korkis, J. (2017) The Revenge of the Disney Princesses: Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel and Beyond. Theme Park Press.

Musker, J. and Clements, R. (2012) ‘Directors’ Commentary’, in The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition DVD. Burbank: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Thomas, B. (1994) Disney’s Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules. New York: Abbeville Press.

Williams, O. (2009) ‘The Little Mermaid: 20 Years Later’, Animation Magazine, November. Available at: https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/the-little-mermaid-20-years-later/ (Accessed: 15 October 2023).

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