The characters in The Little Mermaid are downright legendary. Ariel is one of Disney's finest creations. From the moment she first graces the screen with her royal presence, she captivates the audience as we take this journey with her. Jodi Benson's voice acting is simply superb. Her vocals, whether it be in dialogue or song, are sublime and truly unrivaled. Ariel is such a memorable and classic character because of Benson's work. Additionally, the character animation of Ariel is incredible as well. When Ariel loses her voice, one would think that the character development would take a hit, but in fact, Ariel is just as strong of a character without her voice as she was when she had a voice. Her gestures and facial expressions bring so much life to this phenomenal character. Ariel earns her right to be in the conversation as Disney's greatest princess and one of its greatest characters period. Furthermore, Ariel's supporting characters are just are fantastic as they define what it means to be a "scene-stealer." Sebastian is one of my favorite characters of all-time. He is more than just the comedic sidekick; he is the heart behind the film. Akin to Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio, Sebastian acts as the glue for the entire film, flawlessly supporting Ariel while also keeping her head out of the clouds on some occasions. Samuel Wright does an exquisite job providing the voice for Sebastian as he turns in one of the best vocal performances in animation history. Plus, Sebastian knows how to put on a show! Two of the greatest scenes in Disney history come in The Little Mermaid when Sebastian is our star in the "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" sequences (more on those gems in a bit). Flounder and Scuttle provide some awesome comedy and are excellent supporting characters.
Now, it is time for my seemingly daily praise of a Disney villain. Ursula is one of the finest Disney villains ever, plain and simple. Once again, the vocal work on display here elevates a character to astronomical heights. Pat Carroll's performance consists of menace, wit, suaveness, and mystery, impeccably blending them all together to create this iconic character. The character animation shines through again as the sea witch's appearance is devastatingly vicious. Before Carroll can even blow us away with her vocals, the animators have us shaking in our boots at the sheer sight of Ursula. Moreover, Ursula's diabolical scheme is spectacularly vile. She wants to rule the ocean, but her plans are far more nuanced and calculated than simply attempting to overpower King Triton (another great character, might I add). She sees an opportunity to win this battle fair and square with no rebuttals from Triton. Ariel is her target, and she will stop at nothing until she has all the power, going as far as to disguise herself as a human to trick Eric into (almost) marrying her so Ariel could not. Once more, a Disney villain steals the show as someone we just love to hate.
A review of The Little Mermaid would not be complete without mentioning the breathtakingly gorgeous music and songs from Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Each song is a genuine classic, easily allowing this soundtrack to be one of Disney's five best. Ariel's anthem, "Part of Your World," never ceases to take my breath away due to Benson's sensational performance and the stunning visuals surrounding Ariel in this scene. A hallmark of the songs in the Disney Renaissance is the ability of the main characters to express their inward wants and desires through music (Think "Belle" in Beauty in the Beast; "I Just Want to Be King" in The Lion King; "Reflection" in Mulan, etc.). With "Part of Your World," Ariel instantly becomes a legend because we can immediately relate to her hopes and dreams. The film's theme song, "Under the Sea," is a colorful, endlessly entertaining number starring Sebastian and his crew of underwater friends. It is nearly impossible to avoid singing along to this gem. Ursula's number, "Poor Unfortunate Soul," is one of the best villains songs to date. The way Ashman and Menken progress the story while also developing Ursula as a character is magnificent. The "Kiss the Girl" sequence always brings the biggest smile to face without question. It is an absolute delight from beginning to end and is a joy to sing along to. The score itself is also marvelous, especially when Prince Eric (yet another great character) takes Ariel on a tour of the kingdom and in the finale.
Perhaps the highest praise I can give The Little Mermaid is that I believe Walt Disney would have been proud of this film. This is old school Disney magic like we haven't seen since Sleeping Beauty in an animated film. Every scene is immaculately executed, each character is faultlessly brought to life, each song is vintage Disney, and the animation is strikingly brilliant. The Little Mermaid truly has everything, and if I could give it more than a ten on my ratings, I would in a heartbeat.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: "Part of Your World" was nearly cut from the film because during a test screening, filmmakers noticed that children were growing increasingly restless while watching the scene. Producer Jeffrey Katzenberg even recalls a story of a child dropping popcorn on the ground and noticing that the child was more interested in picking up the popcorn than watching the scene. Katzenberg requested that the scene/song be cut from the film entirely, which was met with vehement disagreement by directors John Musker and Ron Clements as well as Howard Ashman. To prove their point, a second test screening was arranged for a more adult-skewing audience. The reaction was vastly different, even moving some adults to tears during this scene. The scene/song was, obviously, left in the film, and Katzenberg claims that he has never been happier to be proven wrong.
Behind the Scene: "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" were both nominated for Best Original Song at the 1990 Academy Awards and the score was nominated for Best Original Score. "Under the Sea" and the score would win their respected categories at the Oscars, a feat that Disney would go on to repeat with their next four musicals (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Pocahontas). The Little Mermaid was also nominated for four Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical, becoming the first animated film to ever garner such a prestigious nomination.
Favorite Character: Ursula and Sebastian are extremely worthy picks for this section, but I have to go with Ariel as my favorite. She is simply one of the greatest characters in Disney history. Whether she is under the sea or on land, she is radiant, charming, and the quintessential Disney princess. I have already praised Jodi Benson's vocal work, but I have to praise it some more. Her performance is stunning, providing layers and dimensions to Ariel whether she is singing "Part of Your World" or conversing with Scuttle about a "dinglehopper." Ariel is the ultimate dreamer, hopelessly devoted to her dreams and desires while also never forgetting where she came from and who helped get her to this point. When she sails off into the sunset with Eric at the end, anyone with a heart will feel as if she has earned that happy ending without question.
Favorite Scene: I must preface my comments for these next two sections with this: it is literally impossible to choose a favorite scene or favorite song in a film that is packed with classic scenes and classic songs. For this section, though, if I had to choose, I would go with the "Kiss the Girl" sequence. Undoubtedly one of the most romantic songs in Disney history, Sebastian stops the show entirely with this jovial and enchanting number. The animation on display is top notch as well, especially when the medley of creatures surround Eric and Ariel's boat for their big finale. It is a climatic moment in the film, and it just so happens to be one of the best moments in the film as well.
Favorite Song: It is hard to pick against "Part of Your World" for this section. Ariel's personal anthem is a beautiful song from Ashman and Menken (Side note: you're going to see Menken's songs in this section a lot). Once again, they masterfully progress the story while also developing the character of Ariel and giving her a chance to brightly shine. All of these songs are spectacular, but there is just something different about "Part of Your World." Its wholly relatable, endlessly quotable, extremely powerful, and uniquely Disney.
Updated Ranking: Since we started the Summer of Magic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has led the way at #1. Today, there's a new sheriff in town.
- The Little Mermaid
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
That is how you kickoff a second Golden Age of Disney! The Little Mermaid is a triumph in every sense of the world, and Disney is only getting started with its Renaissance. Before we proceed to the other masterpieces, though, we must first tackle a sequel. Tomorrow, Disney's first animated follow-up, The Rescuers Down Under!
-Cody Fleenor
No comments:
Post a Comment