DVDizzy Forum

DisneyJedi wrote: Another fond TLM-related memory I have is meeting the voice of Ariel herself, Jodi Benson. I was there in Disney World for the New Fantasyland unveiling and I spent what I think was an hour looking for her, giving up and then finding her. She let me get a picture with her and I let her know that she was such an inspiration to me and she told me I was such a blessing.

I'm sad I'll most likely never meet Jodi Benson or Pat Carroll. "Meeting" Ariel at Disney World was one of my favorite parts of the visit. It's too bad they can't make Ursula a meet-and-greet character like most of the other villains.

@DDuster: Oh, no, my bad, I mistyped. My aunt and my grandmother went to see it.

Oh Ok, makes more sense. Your mom still should've taken you though...sad.

You came up with great lines for talking to Ariel, disneyjedi!

I can't believe it's already 25 years old! No film is perfect but this one comes very close imo. It has everything you could ask for. Great characters, amazing music, beautiful animation, comedy, drama, horror, adventure. Ariel is a true work of art. Jodi Benson's voice, Glen Keane's animation, Howard Ashman's lyrics. So many talented people coming together to create one of the most memorable heroines in animation history. There is a reason she is the most popular princess. She isn't a cookie cutter heroine. She is real with feelings and emotions. She is headstrong. impulsive, spontaneous, free spirited, adventurous, funny and in Grimsby's words "kind, warm and caring." She goes for what she wants no matter what. Some could say she is a bit selfish but it makes me like her even more. It makes her a whole person imo. Whether it's Benson's voice, Keane's animation or Ashman's lyrics, you know exactly what Ariel is feeling and thinking every moment of the film.

Ursula is one of the greatest villains ever, Fantastic design, fantastic voice, fantastic song. The perfect mix of humor and horror. She is smart, charismatic, devious. and even likeable enough that you almost want to root for her. Triton is one of the most interesting characters in the cannon. He is scary but sympathetic. I'm sure we have all known someone like him. Bigoted but trying to do what he thinks is right. Sebastian is my favorite "sidekick character" in a Disney film. He is just so much fun! And so selfless. And he sings awesome songs!

And the songs! What is there to say that hasn't been said? The music is phenomenal.

This movie has meant a lot to me over the years. I am excited to see that it is more popular today than ever before. Happy birthday Ariel! Here is to another 25 years

Oh gosh, its so lovely to see so many wonderful responses to the Anniversary ! Loved reading everyones memories of it; seems like its such a special film to so many people.

I can't wait to get hold of the Legacy soundtrack to truly celebrate … I think I'll have a weekend of listening to it, and watching the film as well

Well, to summarize my experiences with this film; I enjoyed the film a lot when I saw it as a kid. While I never was obsessed with it, as I was with my favorite Disney movies, I still liked it a lot. It's no wonder why this film has been as popular to this day; It's a movie that is pure fun and filled with charm and wonder as the best Disney classics have, but it's still a film that is made for contempoary audiences. I think I liked this film for the same reason that I liked cartoons to begin with as a kid, but now I've finally started to appreciate this movie for what it is. It has a delightful soundtrack, engaging characters, good animation and overall some good pacing. Frankly, I'm beginning to find it superior to the overrated "Beauty and the Beast", but not as good as "Aladdin", "Lion King" and "Rescuers Down Under". But it's superior to films as "TP&TF", "Tangled" and "Frozen".

TLM has always been a favorite of mine. I was 4 when the film came out; I remember getting merchandise from the film for a year or two after it came out. What little girl (and I'm sure some little boys too!) didn't pretend to be a mermaid when they went swimming? I know I did after this movie came out!

I watched it again yesterday, and it delights every time just as it did the first.

Btw, I wouldn't mind if there was released a proper art/making of-book of this film, in the same leagues as those written for "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty" and "Beauty and the Beast".

I saw the Little Mermaid in Philadelphia during its original release in 1989. It was the first new Disney film I had seen in a theater (except for re-releases) since The Great Mouse Detective in 1986.

I saw this movie twice when it first came out in theaters when i was 8 years old and i dug it, i even had Mcdonald Happy meal toys.

I had a huge crush on Ariel since then and she looks good in that bikini still. The movie is great on BD as well.

Happy birthday.

Am I the only '90s child who thought the McDonald's toys for TLM were really lame? Ariel was cute, but Ursula was inflatable... And they didn't even bother with King Triton. They could've done more with the film. I'm guessing it had more to do with Disney being slightly irrelevant before TLM brought them back.

My peak with the McDonald's-Disney toys was with Hercules. The plates and the toys were all really great. I'm glad that happened for Hercules then, because the merchandise for that movie is non-existent now. I honestly wish Disney still tied in with McDonald's, for the new generation. All Subway gives are flimsy bags.

I mentioned this in the Menken thread; does anyone know if Jodi has been involved in the 25th Anniversary celebrations anywhere ? Ron and Jon have, along with Alan, but havent heard of Jodi's involvement with anything ? I hope this doesnt mean she no longer works for the Disney company …… (thinking about the doll that sounded suspiciously NOT like her at a recent toy event).

Babaloo wrote:

DylanCharles90 wrote:Check out my special anniversary piece for the movie :

http://dylanbonner.deviantart.com/art/T ... -494977233

I haven't posted here in a while, but I don't have an account with DeviantArt. This is beautiful !!! I love your style of art! We're you ever thinking of selling prints of it?

YES! sorry for the delayed response lol
I'm selling this as prints, mugs, shirts, hoodies, pillows, clocks, etc haha link below!
http://society6.com/dylanbonner

DylanCharles90 wrote:

Babaloo wrote:

I love that! I just ordered the tank top!

Gosh, everything on there is so gorgeous ! You are mega mega talented !

DylanCharles90 wrote:

Babaloo wrote: I love that! I just ordered the tank top!

I hope you like your tank top! im personally obsessed with the tote bag hahaa

and thanks Atlantica!!

Disney's Divinity wrote:Am I the only '90s child who thought the McDonald's toys for TLM were really lame? Ariel was cute, but Ursula was inflatable... And they didn't even bother with King Triton. They could've done more with the film. I'm guessing it had more to do with Disney being slightly irrelevant before TLM brought them back.

My peak with the McDonald's-Disney toys was with Hercules. The plates and the toys were all really great. I'm glad that happened for Hercules then, because the merchandise for that movie is non-existent now. I honestly wish Disney still tied in with McDonald's, for the new generation. All Subway gives are flimsy bags.

Well, that's the pleasure of being a kid of the Renaissance; You got to be able to experience the great merchandise which each release. As you said, the merchandise for movies as "Hunchback" and "Hercules" are non-existent now.

But the American McDonald toys were sometimes different than the rest of the world. I see that the Hercules and Mermaid toys from the US McDonalds were completely different from the rest of the European/Norwegian McDonalds. But I loved the McDonalds toys from the 90's anyway.

Gosh, Mermaid....

Well... I've spent a lot of time lately with the red headed siren, writing an essay on the film for a class. I'm very thankful for the film, because Ariel is a great role model for LGBT youth and I'm glad I had the film in my life growing up so that by the time I realized who I was, I wasn't absorbed in self guilt (for long).

I just love this movie so much.

I hope my story isn't too much of a downer. Feel free to skip.

I'd always been a Disney fan and I always loved to draw. I was 13 years old the very first time I ever saw Ariel and became vaguely aware of the movie, thanks to a small drawing on the front of Newsweek. I was especially excited at the thought of a new Disney heroine and begged my mom to buy the magazine for me, but of course she declined since I was "too young" for a magazine with such wordy, boring articles. My parents did take me to see the film around Thanksgiving, and my dad was quick to say that it "wasn't as good as the ones Walt made." I was getting weekly allergy shots at the time, and I remember one of the magazines at my doctor's office, maybe Family Circle, had a page of the characters to cut out as Christmas ornaments, and I ripped it out and took it home so I could try drawing Ariel. The morning after Thanksgiving, I pulled out the ornament page I had stashed away and was working on my very first drawing of her. In the middle of coloring it, I saw my uncle walking into our driveway with a strange man. I told my mom we had company, and when she glanced out the window she started crying.

My parents hadn't told me that my middle brother hadn't come home that night, and that they'd been listening to the radio all morning. They were worried over the news of a fatal traffic accident involving two unidentified young men. My mom recognized that stranger as the local coroner, and immediately knew why he and my uncle were there. Both my brother and my cousin were less than a mile from home when the truck rolled, killing them both instantly.

I'll always see TLM as the last very last moment of my childhood innocence, before our family was forever torn apart. Once it came to VHS, watching it was an escape to the past, to happier times. And oddly enough, my dad really warmed up to it, and both of my parents enjoyed watching it with me often. For the 1997 rerelease, I went to the theater by myself; by then my mother had passed away. After my dad passed away in 2004, I pretty much couldn't watch it anymore, regardless of the fact I'd long since memorized it, because I'd just cry throughout the entire thing. As recently as two years ago, I couldn't even listen to "Part of Your World" without breaking down.

I reacquainted myself with it for the Blu-ray release, waiting on the corrected disc to arrive in the mail. I don't know how long it had been since I had fully watched it, but even though I was once again watching it all by myself, I felt like I was among friends. I could remember the parts my parents liked, and I could remember being the little 13-year-old staring at the big screen, wide-eyed with wonder and hope. I'll always love Ariel, and I'll always love her story with the bittersweet ending.

I'm so sorry, Elladorine. I suppose the things that become an intimate part of us can be painful as time passes.

UmbrellaFish, I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney's TLM has unintentionally helped many LGBT youth growing up.

Elladorine, so sorry for your loss. I had goosebumps reading your story and especially your description of the morning after Thanksgiving. I wish you nothing but happiness.