THE LITTLE MERMAID

The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney, 1989, Color, 83 minutes, ****
Released November, 1989


Marking the beginning of what is often referred to as the second era of Disney, The Little Mermaid was a bright and beautiful fairy tale set to music. Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's book, the animated film is a cheerful romp of a tale about a modern-day cute and spunky mermaid determined to befriend the humans onshore in spite of her father, King Triton's admonitions to the contrary.

After the success of this film, Disney produced nearly a decade of bright and colorful musical films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Lion King.

Produced by: Howard Ashman and John Musker
Directed by: Ron Clements and John Musker
Screenplay: Roger Allers, Howard Ashman, Ron Clements and John Musker,
Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen
Music Score: Alan Menken
Song Score: Howard Ashman and Alan Menken
Conductor: J.A.C. Redford
Production Design: Maureen Donley, Donald Towns
Art Direction: Michael Peraza Jr., David Towns
Film Editing: Mark A. Hester

Cast: (Voices) Jodi Benson [Ariel], Jason Marin [Flounder], Samuel E. Wright [Sebastian], Kenneth Mars [King Triton], Christopher Daniel Barnes [Prince Eric], Pat Carroll [Ursula], Buddy Hackett [Scuttle], Rene Auberjonois [Louis], Paddi Edwards [Flotsam and Jetsam], Will Ryan [Seahorse], Edie McClurg [Carlotta], Ben Wright [Grimsby], Sherri Stoner [Live-action model for Ariel]

Musical Program: Fathoms Below (Mens Chorus); Main Titles (Orchestra); Fanfare (Orchestra); Daughters of Triton (Daughters of Triton); Part of Your World (Jodi Benson); Under the Sea (Samuel E. Wright and Chorus); Part of Your World (Reprise) (Jodi Benson); Poor Unfortunate Souls (Pat Carroll); Les Poissons (Rene Auberjonois); Kiss the Girl (Samuel E. Wright and Chorus); Fireworks (Orchestra); Jig (Orchestra); The Storm (Orchestra); Destruction of the Grotto (Orchestra); Flotsam and Jetsam (Orchestra); Tour of the Kingdom (Orchestra); Bedtime (Orchestra); Wedding Announcement (Orchestra); Eric to the Rescue (Orchestra); Happy Ending (Disney Chorus)