Way Back Wednesday - The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid was released in 1989 by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Can you believe it's been 20 years? The film is given credit for reviving the animated feature film genre and starting of the era known as the Disney Renaissance.

Ariel is a 16-year-old mermaid princess and dissatisfied with life under the sea and curious about the human world. With her best fish friend Flounder, Ariel collects human artifacts and goes to the surface of the ocean to visit Scuttle the seagull, who offers very inaccurate and comical knowledge of human culture. Ignoring the warnings of her father, King Triton, and court musician, Sebastian the crab, that contact between merpeople and humans is forbidden, Ariel still longs to be part of the human world; to this end she has filled a secret grotto with all the human artifacts she has found.

Of course, what Disney movie would be complete without a hero and a villian? Prince Eric is the human love interest of Ariel. After saving Prince Eric from drowning, Ariel falls hopelessly in love, but King Triton refuses to accept the "human." In a fit of misery, Ariel visits the evil Ursula and makes a deal.

Ariel is transformed from a mermaid to a real girl and has 3 days for Prince Eric to give her "loves real kiss" or she'll be turned back into a mermaid and become Ursula's slave. Payment for this service is Ariel's singing voice.

Like all Disney movies, this one has a feel-good meaning and a happy ending. Beautiful animation and uplifting songs help bring this classic story to life.