Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale, Disney’s The Little Mermaid introduced many of us to Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton. First released in theaters in 1989, the film emerged a beloved classic and led to a renaissance for animated features. More importantly, it inspired children everywhere to find their own voices and their own identities and dare to discover where they fit into the world. In May 2023, Disney debuts a new version of The Little Mermaid for audiences worldwide. Although Ariel’s siren song has been heard—many times—for over three decades, audiences are ready to be entranced and inspired all over again.
INTRODUCTION SOMETHING WONDERFUL UNDER TEHE SEA • SWIMMING INTO THEATERS IN 2023, A LIVE-ACTION FILM VERSION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID IS ABOUT TO BECOME PART OF OUR WORLD
CHAPTER 1 A CLASSIC TALE • THE SEA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF LORE AND LEGEND, BUT THE STORY OF ONE PARTICULAR MERMAID HAS SURVIVED FOR 186 YEARS
CHAPTER 2 A SPLASH IN HOLLYWOOD • TINSELTOWN AND MERMAIDS WERE A PERFECT MATCH
CHAPTER 3 DIVING IN • DISNEY NEEDED A HERO TO SAVE THE COMPANY, AND IT FOUND HER UNDER THE SEA
CHAPTER 4 COLORFUL CHARACTERS • ARIEL’S FRIENDS AND RELATIONS ALL CAME INTO FOCUS, BUT THE VILLAIN TOOK TIME TO DEVELOP
CHAPTER 5 A RACE AND THE REWARDS • WITH A PREMIERE DATE FAST APPROACHING, DISNEY PULLED IN ALL THE HELP IT COULD HIRE — AND IT PAID OFF
CHAPTER 6 BREAKING GROUND AND MAKING WAVES • THE LITTLE MERMAID ROSE TO THE TOP, BUT THE WATERS WERE SOMETIMES TURBULENT
CHAPTER 7 RISING UP TO THE REAL WORLD • THE LITTLE MERMAID BECOMES A THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE
CHAPTER 8 EARNING ITS SEA LEGS • FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THE LITTLE MERMAID HAS WEATHERED ALL STORMS TO EMERGE TRIUMPHANT
CHAPTER 9 GET TO KNOW THE NEW ARIEL • HALLE BAILEY IS READY FOR HER TIME IN THE SUN
The Little Mermaid
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