In May 2023, while reviewing the live-action adaptation, /Film writer Vanessa Armstrong admitted to not being a fan of the original film, lambasting the romance, saying in full: Horn, John (November 23, 1989). " 'Little Mermaid' wins animation showdown". The Associated Press. Muncie Evening Press. p.28. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022 . Retrieved November 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com. The film was originally released on November 17, 1989, followed by a re-release on November 14, 1997. [34] After the success of the 3D re-release of The Lion King, Disney announced a 3D re-release of The Little Mermaid scheduled for September 13, 2013, [35] but this was cancelled on January 14, 2013, due to the under-performances of other Disney 3D re-releases until further notice. [36] The 3D version was released on Blu-ray instead, [37] [38] but it did play a limited engagement at the El Capitan Theatre from September to October 2013. [39] On September 20, 2013, The Little Mermaid began playing in select theaters where audiences could bring iPads and use an app called Second Screen Live. [40] AMC Theatres screened the movie from September 6–12, 2019. [41] The film was also screened out of competition at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival. [42] Home media Jodi Benson as Ariel, the 16-year-old adventurous and headstrong mermaid princess of Atlantica who is fascinated with the human world and falls in love with Prince Eric. [15] Also in 2018, actor Keira Knightley said she would not permit her 3-year-old to watch Disney films, including Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, saying, "This is the one that I'm quite annoyed about, because I really like the film, but Little Mermaid, I mean, the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello." [106]

Hofmeister, Sallie (July 12, 1994). "In the Realm of Marketing, 'The Lion King' Rules". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018 . Retrieved September 26, 2018. Dr. Michael Landis, a history teacher at State University of New York, Ulster, writing for Smithsonian Magazine in 2019, says the film "sent important messages about identity to its young audiences," including topics of gay rights (the central character, Ariel, "feels constrained by her patriarchal society" and is " in the closet"), gender fluidity, and body image issues. [101] Ariel turns to "the only strong female in the entire film and thus Ariel's only female role model," the villain Ursula (who was based on famous drag queen Divine, herself closely associated with gay filmmaker John Waters). Landis invokes Laura Sells and her argument that, "Ariel learns [from Ursula that] gender [is not]...a natural category, but...a performed construct." He adds:A Christmas Carol • A Goofy Movie • The Jungle Book 2 • The Nightmare Before Christmas • Piglet's Big Movie • The Pirate Fairy • Pooh's Heffalump Movie • Planes • Planes: Fire & Rescue • Return to Never Land • Secret of the Wings • The Tigger Movie • Tinker Bell • Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue • Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast • Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure • The Wild

Little Mermaid' Live-Action Remake Finds Its Prince Eric in Jonah Hauer-King". The Hollywood Reporter. November 12, 2019. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019 . Retrieved November 13, 2019. But below you will see a comparison image of the 8 releases listed above, of Ariel, Flounder and Scuttle. Now I'd like to know, what screencapture do you think looks best color-wise? And which one do you think looks the worst? And which screencapture do you think is the most faithful? I don't know if any of you have the Read-Along Book of the movie or maybe the Art of The Little Mermaid book? Or maybe you can look up a production cel for this image? Rogue One: A Star Wars Story • Solo: A Star Wars Story • Star Wars: The Force Awakens • Star Wars: The Last Jedi • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Annual Youth In Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014 . Retrieved March 31, 2011.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times was enthusiastic about the film, writing, " The Little Mermaid is a jolly and inventive animated fantasy—a movie that's so creative and so much fun it deserves comparison with the best Disney work of the past." Ebert also commented positively on the character of Ariel, stating she "is a fully realized female character who thinks and acts independently, even rebelliously, instead of hanging around passively while the fates decide her destiny." [67] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "While the story won't win any prizes from the women's liberation movement, the animation is so full and colorful and the songs so beguiling that this is a case of where someone made one like they used to. The drawing of the evil octopus witch who is jealous of the mermaid's singing voice is particularly outstanding." [68] Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised the film as a "marvel of skillful animation, witty songwriting and smart planning. It is designed to delight filmgoers of every conceivable stripe... Adults will be charmed by the film's bright, outstandingly pretty look and by its robust score. Small children will be enchanted by the film's sunniness and by its perfect simplicity." [69]

Weekly Breakdown Sales for the Little Mermaid DVD". The-numbers.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018 . Retrieved July 15, 2009. The staff of TV Guide wrote a positive review, praising the film's return to the traditional Disney musical as well as the film's animation. Yet they also wrote that the film is detracted from by the juvenile humor and the human characters' eyes. While still giving a positive review, they stated that the film "can't compare to the real Disney classics (which appealed equally to both kids and adults)." [72] Todd Gilchrist of IGN wrote a positive review of the film, stating that the film is "an almost perfect achievement". Gilchrist also praised how the film revived interest in animation as it was released at a time when interest in animation was at a lull. [73] Empire gave a positive review of the film, stating that "[ The Little Mermaid is] a charmer of a movie, boasting all the ingredients that make a Disney experience something to treasure yet free of all the politically correct, formulaic elements that have bogged down the more recent productions." [74] Season Three: " Scuttle" • " King Crab" • " Island of Fear" • " Land of the Dinosaurs" • " Heroes" • " The Beast Within" • " Ariel's Treasures" • " A Little Evil" The film's success led to a media franchise. A direct-to-video sequel was released in 2000, focusing on Ariel's daughter, Melody. A prequel followed in 2008. The first film was adapted into a stage musical with a book by Doug Wright [8] and additional songs by Alan Menken and new lyricist Glenn Slater opened in Denver in July 2007 and began performances on Broadway January 10, 2008 [9] [10] starring Sierra Boggess. [11] [12] [13]

AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions Nominees" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 17, 2017 . Retrieved August 19, 2016. Variety magazine praised the film for its cast of characters, Ursula in particular, as well as its animation, stating that the animation "proves lush and fluid, augmented by the use of shadow and light as elements like fire, sun and water illuminate the characters." They also praised the musical collaboration between Howard Ashman and Alan Menken "whose songs frequently begin slowly but build in cleverness and intensity." [70] During the film's 1997 re-release, Hal Hinson of The Washington Post wrote a mixed review, referring to it as a "likably unspectacular adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic." [71] AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011 . Retrieved August 19, 2016. Smith, Russell W. (September 8, 1995). "Sex Seen (by Some) in Films by Disney". Austin American-Statesman. pp.d1. Richard Corliss (June 23, 2011). "The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films – The Little Mermaid". TIME. Archived from the original on October 22, 2011 . Retrieved August 19, 2011.