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Date Posted: Tue, Nov 11 2003, 5:12:15
Author: Me
Subject: Found something.

It has not escaped my attention how many people dislike Disney's take on The Little Mermaid. I've known it for
quite a while, and it hasn't really bothered me because, heck, you can't please everyone, and of course there
would be people against Disney's version because of how it "happified" Hans Christian Andersen's original tale. I
was okay with that. I love both the Disney version as well as HC Andersen's original melancholy tale, and I know
some people just cannot digest both.

But then I chanced upon a site where a particular person slammed Disney's The Little Mermaid using the anime
version as a comparison. Some pretty nasty words were used, and he/she/it went on about how the anime was
much better, and how Disney really screwed over HC Andersen's original tale.

I was pretty much fuming by the time I finished reading the comments.

The reason I was upset was because the argument used to slam down Disney's version was that it was "wrong"
and untrue to HC Andersen's original story, while the anime version was "right". And apparently that are loads of
people who agree with that argument, and insofar I have not seen anyone stand up in the defense of Disney's
version, SO HERE I AM. HEAR ME OUT.

(I guess this rant would make a bit more sense if you've watched both versions. By the way, I have a page
dedicated to the anime here.)




Anime version vs Disney version




One. Disney's The Little Mermaid is not so much a movie version as an interpretation of Hans Christian
Anderson's works. It was based on the fairy tale, not meant to be a take-for-take version of it. People don't
realise this, but that's always been the way Disney has done their animated works, starting with Snow White.
They adapt the story, and yes, they repackage it, but as in tribute to the original work. They don't intend to
mutilate, but to make it more accessible to the younger generation. What, did you really think Disney was going to
have Eric fall for Vanessa permanently and Ariel commit suicide? Imagine if that happened....

Disney upsets parents worldwide with latest release

"I can't believe that they would allow such an ending in a children's movie. It's horrible! My kids were
crying all the way home!"

"I know it was true to Hans Christian Andersen's real story, but there are just some things that children
shouldn't have to see. In some ways I'd say it actually degrades Andersen's original tale, because at least
*he* never expected his stories to have an audience of children majority while Disney *did*."

"My daughter has stopped believing in happy endings."

"I hate Disney."


Two. The anime, while being true to the basic story, also took a number of liberties with the original tale, because
it, too, is just an interpretation of HC Andersen's story. In case you didn't know, according to the original story,
the little mermaid (who was nameless) was 13 years old, the Prince was definitely totally and truly in love with the
black-haired princess and the mermaid came back to earth as a spirit of the air to guide young lovers. You see,
they too added extras, including the bits where the Prince spends time with (and eventually falls for) Merina,
Merina's friendship with Fritz, and especially the finale where the Prince finds out that it was Merina all along that
saved his life.


Three. HC Andersen's story was meant to be a folk tale. On some levels yes, it is a children's story, but the
moral was for the adults. The Little Mermaid is NOT a story about the love between the mermaid and her
prince. It was a story about the mermaid's lack of a soul, and how by falling in love she was able to gain one.
Most versions of Andersen's story are chopped up before being printed in children's books, and most notably
removed are the lengthy expositions of how merpeople can live for centuries but at the price of not having an
immortal soul, and how the mermaid's sacrifice was more to do with herself and her ability to love rather than her
yearning to be with the prince. The prince, I would say, is just a secondary character.


Conclusion. Don't get me wrong, I love HC Andersen's story, along with the two animated versions. They are
just Very Different, and in all honesty, I think comparing them against each other is just a big no-no. The anime
version and the Disney version ought to watched with different states of mind, and both are wonderful adaptations
of the original tale. I love both of them fiercely.

I respect that people have the right to say that they think a movie "sucks", but it's just ridiculous to do it on the
basis that one version is automatically "right" and the other is automatically "wrong" just because of the way they
restructure the tale. If that were the case, what would happen to Wizard of Oz? Or Oliver? Or Sound of Music?
Are those "wrong", too?

Just because a movie is different that doesn't make it bad.

I'm done with my two cents worth. *smirk*


>>
Got something to add / respond? Send it in. Please state clearly if you don't want me to put
up your comments here, because I will put them up otherwise. You've been warned.
>>
I enjoy good arguments so feel free to disagree with me, but flames resembling "u r so stupidz
bcos u llike Disny" just make me cringe and feel sorry for the sender.



OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMENTS

Said Kristen...

I agree with you Annie and I'll take it to court with me if I have to!

Said Shelley...

Creating a scenario in my head (i.e. story writing) is a terrific way to find out what's really bugging
me. It's almost like dream interpretation except that I'm relying on my own symbolic logic to come
to grips with my inner world.

This is why I agree with you that Disney has not taken away from the deeper meanings of the stories
it reinterprets, it just creates new deeper meanings. Instead of Anderson's mermaid seeking
elemental transformation, we now have Ariel reconciling her two natures of human and marine
(concious and the unconcious?) which are different but ultimately complementary. Of the two
Disney Mermaid movies, I best like the closing scene of Melody on the rock between her parents
(her animus and anima?) because it's such a positive visual statement about personal wholeness and
the integration of those things which are a part of us but which can sometimes make us feel
uncomfortable, even though we can't do w/o them.

Said Anon 1...

I have never seen the anime. version, but I DO know that it is more similar to Anderson's original
tale than the Disney version.

But I have seen the Disney version (my ultime absolute favorite Disney movie ever, possibly my
favorite movie ever!!) and I have a book of Anderson's fairy tales with the original Little Mermaid
tale.

My point of view is this - you were right. I absolutely agree. These two should not be compared
because Disney was BASING its story on the tale, not the whole thing. All movies Based on
something are NOT exactly the same and should not be!!

Anderson's tale depressed me, when I first heard it it made me cry, o I went and watched the
Disney version and felt better. The Disney version is, in my perspective, the better version. It is
sweet, romantic, loving, warm, and happy.

It is NOT SUPPOSED to be Anderson's tale completly, but BASED on it!! It is a matter of
opinion, but no one should react like that. If anyone ever makes fun of the Disney version, I will
stand up and chew them out.

Said Anon 2...

I agree with your statement that the story is based on the original story. What they did was change a
satire into a fairy tale. It is that distinction that makes it work. If they had tried to keep the same
point to the story, but with the changes (particularly the ending and the lack of pain when she
walked), it wouldn't have worked. I like this version because it is a totally different kind of story. I
adore the Anderson tale, it's just in a completely different class of story. They can't even really be
compared fairly because the central purpose and message are totally different.

Said Anon 3...

I'm not such a great fan of Disney movies, because sometimes movie musicals (which is basically
what Disney movies are) annoy me. They remind me too much of Bollywood movies for some
reason... However, since I am an eighties baby, Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast are my
favorite Disney movies.

On the other hand, I've watched a lot of anime. All I can say is that anime and Disney, while they
both utilize the same medium, are completely different from each other in terms of style and
storytelling/themes,so people shouldn't just go around dissing one or the other.

My favorite Japanese director, Hayao Miyazaki, is called the "Walt Disney of Japan" because of his
lovable childrens' movies such as Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Although these are childrens'
movies, they sometimes carry very adult themes such as environmental protection and finding one's
true self. if you watch them you will be able to see that these are definitely not Disney movies
because the pacing is somewhat slower/leisurely than a Disney film, and there are no musical
numbers to be found anywhere.

I like both the Andersen tale and the Disney version, but I also realize that a lot of people out there
would probably beg to differ. There's just no pleasing everybody.

Said Helen Holmes...

I read your rambling page and i agree with you on all the facts that you have pointed out. *If* disney
did go along with the HC Anderson storyline, then I'm sure that more people would be disgusted
with Disney if Eric falled for Vanessa permanently and Ariel committed suicide. Don't get me wrong
but people can be soo selfish sometimes. I mean they don't realise how much work the Disney crew
put in to make these movies with happy endings. That's what I think anyway.

Said Marina Seven...

I've never disliked the Disney take on "the little mermaid." But I've always known that people
interpret stories differently. "The little mermaid" isn't the only folk tale or fairy tale that has been
translated dissimilarly. Just look at Disney's take of "Beauty and the Beast"! The story is quite
different. All in all, I champion your position on the anime vs. disney debate.

Said Tiffany...

I agree with you full heartedly on the subject that people do not stand up for the disney version at all.
Personally, I liked the disney version as well, and that was AFTER i had seen the anime version of
The Little Mermaid. While searching for this site on the Internet, I also learned something about the
actual story for Hans Christian Anderson's story. It turns out that the anime version is an entirely
different story from the one that Anderson created. The original was not supposed to be a love
story. The Little Mermaid had actually gone up to her father or grandmother and asked about the
humans. The father or grandmother then replied that when humans die they ascent to the heavens in
a higher and more celestial state of being. The mermaid pondered this and thought about the
mermaids, who, when they die, only ascent to the earth as sea foam while humans become heavenly
spirits who rise up to the sky and heavens. And this is why she became human. I don't know. it's just
something I read on another site. I cannot tell you if this is the truth or not. I just found it very
interesting :) *much happiness!*

Said Colleen...

I completely agree with what you said! I don't even understand why people would bash something
that's supposed to enjoyable and fun. I think those Disney haters have a serious problem picking on
my wonderful Red head gal. Obviously those bitter ppl grew up without magic and "happiness" lol
just kidding.

Said Anon 4...

I totally agree with your arguement, I've expanded my mind, but I can't shake this, like, I can't really
describe it, disturbing feeling in me. It's like, I wish I would have never found out about the other the
Little Mermaid, it makes me feel like Ariel is simply a copy. I'm gonna try and forget that, and
pretend it really happened a long time ago :-D and they lived happily ever after. LUV IT. Disney
rocks.

Said Rachel...

I have been a HUGE fan of the Disney version of The Little Mermaid since it first came out on
video. I got it for Christmas from a babysitter in 1989, and have since just about worn the video out.
Practically have it memorized too. :)

Even though I have never seen the anime version, as I generally don't like anime, I totally agree with
you. The two are incomparable. Disney's TLM is definately an interpretation, and for me it was the
springboard to falling in love with the original story. Had I not seen Disney's version, I never would
have become so fascinated with the original TLM.

The original story was definately a commentary on life and death. It was clearly not a love story,
whereas Disney's is. I like to think of Disney's version of TLM as an alternate ending, what MIGHT
have happened under different circumstances. I personally think each version is complete unto itself,
and one version in no way takes away enjoyment from the other. At least for me anyway.

But anyway, I think you hit the nail on the head!

Said Anon 4...

Stories with sad endings are fun sometimes, and defintely make you think.

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