Ah, the 1980s. Big hair, neon everything, and a Disney animation studio so sleepy it could’ve been narrated by a lullaby. The magic was definitely on vacation, stuck between “please, no more” sequels and forgettable talking animals. Then Ron Clements, fresh off The Great Mouse Detective, dusted off an old Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and thought: “Hey, maybe a mermaid story could work.” Spoiler: it worked so well it launched a Renaissance.
A Tale as Old as Time (Literally)
Walt Disney had toyed with The Little Mermaid idea since the 1930s, but animating underwater hair in Technicolor? Yikes. So the idea got filed under “too hard,” right next to “make Donald Duck a space traveler.” Fast-forward to 1985: Ron Clements pitches the story to Jeffrey Katzenberg. Katzenberg’s first reaction? “Nope, too close to Splash.” Yes, a centuries-old fairy tale almost got canned because Tom Hanks played a mermaid man in a modern rom-com. Luckily, Katzenberg had a change of heart, and that two-page pitch saved Disney from decades of talking dog movies.
The Broadway Duo Who Made It Sing
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken weren’t just songwriters—they were theater magicians who turned The Little Mermaid into an underwater Broadway musical. Ashman insisted every character get an “I Want” song—a moment where they belt their deepest desires. Part of Your World almost got cut because kids found it boring (kids!). Ashman fought to keep it, dimming studio lights during recording, so Jodi Benson would sing it like a secret confession, not a big production number. Menken described Ashman as “controlling, impatient, demanding,” but also “the most supportive friend.” Apparently, a bit of creative strangling breeds legendary songs.
Ariel’s Look: A Melting Pot of Inspirations
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Face Model: Teenage Alyssa Milano (she only found out years later).
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Underwater Moves: Live-action model Sherri Stoner, who spent days pretending to be a mermaid, earning the unofficial title “professional mermaid.”
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Hair: Glen Keane’s big “no” to blonde locks gave Ariel her iconic red hair — inspired partly by astronaut Sally Ride’s zero-G hair, because science.
Ursula: The Sea Witch with Fierce Flair
Inspired by the legendary drag queen Divine and Dynasty’s Joan Collins, Ursula was part sea witch, part soap opera diva, and 100% fabulous. Originally, she had eight tentacles, but budget cuts chopped two off—animating all those writhing limbs was expensive. Ursula’s blood is blue (octopus fact!), which helped Disney sneak in “blood” without ruffling the MPAA’s feathers.
Deep Cuts & Wacky Anecdotes
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Sebastian’s Accent: Originally supposed to be British, Ashman convinced everyone to give him a Trinidadian accent for authentic Caribbean vibes—and, honestly, more fun calypso songs.
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Flounder’s Hero Moment: In an early draft, Flounder tricks a shark into biting a gunpowder keg. Boom! He saved Ariel’s tail with guts and guile. This didn’t make the final cut but shows our little fish had serious pluck.
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Alternate Ursula Backstory: She was once King Triton’s sister — yep, Ariel’s aunt! This family drama was scrapped for simplicity but imagine the holiday dinners.
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Mickey Cameos: Spot Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and even Kermit in the audience during King Triton’s concert. Yes, that’s right, Kermit made a cameo underwater.
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The Wedding Scene Lawsuit: Parents sued over the officiant’s “erection” — which was just his bouncing knee. Disney quietly edited the scene, but the rumor swims on.
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Bubble Animation in Tiananmen Square: The bubble sequences were hand-animated in a Chinese studio during the Tiananmen Square protests. The crew anxiously hoped the footage would reach Disney safely — and it did.
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Hidden Mickeys: Look for tiny Mickey Mouse silhouettes hidden in the background, including a cleverly disguised one in Ursula’s contract fine print. Animators loved sneaking these little signatures in.
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Jodi Benson’s Audition: She nailed it by mimicking Ashman’s demo so exactly that it was almost eerie. During final recording, Ashman created a private, intimate atmosphere by dimming the lights.
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The “Die Hard” Ending: Jeffrey Katzenberg insisted Ursula’s final battle be amped up, so she grows to the size of the Nakatomi Tower. An underwater skyscraper showdown? Sure, why not.
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Early Darker Endings: Some drafts had Ursula remain human-sized, defeated by Eric’s trident, with Ariel only regaining her voice after the battle. Another version had Eric call Ariel down from the wedding, causing a more confused and less romantic climax.
The Renaissance Begins
The Little Mermaid made waves — earning over $100 million worldwide, winning two Oscars, and starting the Disney Renaissance. Suddenly, fairy tales and Broadway-style musicals were back in vogue. Ashman and Menken’s “story songs” became the blueprint for Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and beyond.
So What Did We Learn?
The Little Mermaid wasn’t just a movie. It was a near-miss, a creative battlefield, a musical experiment, and a studio-saving splash of brilliance. It’s got red-haired rebellion, drag queen sass, bubble-induced nail-biting, and lawsuits over dancing knees.
Next time you hum Under the Sea, remember: it’s more than a song—it’s a victory anthem for creativity, guts, and a sea witch with killer eyeliner.
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