"Poor Unfortunate Souls."
synopsis
A mermaid princess sacrifices her voice to pursue life — and love — on land, striking a dangerous bargain with the sea witch Ursula that threatens both kingdoms.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
This marked the true beginning of the Disney Renaissance. The songs drive character motivation, especially Ariel’s longing in “Part of Your World.” The pacing is clean, the villain iconic, and the emotional arc coherent. It’s fairy tale melodrama done with surprising structural discipline.
A rainy afternoon and a tolerance for dramatic yearning.
Absurdist's Corner
A teenager trades her literal voice for romantic aspiration, yet the narrative treats silence as a minor inconvenience. Also quietly absurd: that a prince falls in love largely without conversation.
fun facts
Music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman revitalized Disney animation.
The film nearly didn’t get made due to budget concerns.
Ursula’s design was inspired partly by drag performer Divine.
It won two Academy Awards for its music.