The Little Mermaid
Movie, 1989, The Disney Renaissance, Set in A kingdom by the sea
The Little Mermaid is #1 of 20 in release order and #10 of 20 in chronological order in the Disney Animated Classics.
The story
This colorful adventure tells the story of an impetuous mermaid princess named Ariel who falls in love with the very human Prince Eric and puts everything on the line for the chance to be with him. Memorable songs and characters -- including the villainous sea witch Ursula.
The Little Mermaid recap
Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, ruler of the merfolk, is fascinated by the human world and keeps a grotto full of objects salvaged from shipwrecks. Her father forbids contact with humans, and his court composer, the crab Sebastian, is told to watch her. During a storm, Ariel rescues Prince Eric from drowning and falls in love with him. When Triton finds out, he destroys her grotto in a rage. The sea witch Ursula, banished from Triton's court, offers Ariel a deal: three days as a human in exchange for her voice. If Eric kisses her before sunset on the third day, she stays human; if not, she belongs to Ursula. Ariel, mute, wins Eric's heart with help from Sebastian, her fish friend Flounder and the seagull Scuttle. On the second evening, Ursula disguises herself as a young woman named Vanessa and uses Ariel's voice to put Eric under a spell.
The Little Mermaid ending explained
Ariel marries Eric as a human after Eric kills Ursula. Scuttle and the animals break up Eric's wedding to Vanessa, Ariel gets her voice back, but the sun sets and Ursula takes her. Triton gives himself up in Ariel's place, and Ursula, with his trident, grows to giant size. Eric drives the bow of a wrecked ship into her. Triton, restored, sees that Ariel truly loves Eric and turns her human, and they marry.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before The Rescuers Down Under.
- Chronological order: after Beauty and the Beast, before Home on the Range.
What to watch before The Little Mermaid
Nothing. The Little Mermaid is the first of the Disney Animated Classics essentials, so it's the place to start.
Cast
- Jodi Benson as Ariel (voice)
- Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian (voice)
- Pat Carroll as Ursula (voice)
- Christopher Daniel Barnes as Eric (voice)
- Kenneth Mars as Triton (voice)
- Buddy Hackett as Scuttle (voice)
- Jason Marin as Flounder (voice)
- René Auberjonois as Louis (voice)
- Paddi Edwards as Flotsam & Jetsam (voice)
- Ben Wright as Grimsby (voice)
- Edie McClurg as Carlotta (voice)
- Will Ryan as Seahorse (voice)
Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker.