Disney!

Background Information:

The Disney version of "The little Mermaid" was first created in 1989, Sinse then has been re-released every ten years with extra special features. It is currently back on the new release shelf with a two disc special edition.

Full Name:Walter Elias Disney

Birth place: Chicago, Illinoise, USA.

Birth date: December 5th 1901

Died: December 15th 1966

Nationality: American.

Places lived: Chicago, Illnoise, USA, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Occupations held: Film Producer, Director, screen writer, voice actor, philanthropist, Founder of Disney Land and the Walt Disney company.

Education: Attended McKinley high school in Chicago where he dropped out at 16 to enlist for the army. However, he was too young so he pretended he was seventeen to become an Ambulance driver until his drawing career started.

ACADEMY AWARDS:

  • 1969 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
  • 1959 Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects for: Grand Canyon
  • 1956 Best Documentary, Short Subjects for: Men Against the Arctic
  • 1955 Best Documentary, Features for: The Vanishing Prairie (1954)
  • 1954 Best Documentary, Features for: The Living Desert (1953)
  • Best Documentary, Short Subjects for: The Alaskan Eskimo (1953)
  • Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953)
  • Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Bear Country (1953)
  • 1953 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Water Birds (1952)
  • 1952 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Nature's Half Acre (1951)
  • 1951 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Beaver Valley (1950)
  • 1949 Best Short Subject, Two-reel for: Seal Island (1948)
  • 1943 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Der Fuehrer's Face (1942)
  • 1942 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Lend a Paw (1941)
  • Honorary Award for: Fantasia (1940)

For "Fantasia"

  • Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
  • 1940 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ugly Duckling(1939)
  • 1939 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
  • Honorary Award for: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

For "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves"

  • 1938 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Old Mill (1937)
  • 1937 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Country Cousin (1936)
  • 1936 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Orphan Kittens (1935)
  • 1935 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)
  • 1934 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Three Little Pigs (1933)
  • 1932 Best Short Subject, Cartoons for: Flowers and Trees (1932)
  • Honorary Award For the creation of Mickey Mouse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney

Strengths and Weaknesses.

  • The Disney version has changed what once was a metaphore for "woman's condition in patriachy" (reference) to a happy fairy tale ending. The once complex, in depth ending and text, is changed purely for the entertainment value of a six year old.
  • The minor characters added, such a the Sea Gull and Crab, add comic relief which can be seen as a strength of the film.
  • Disney simply changes the characters in Andersen's version, into the 20th century steriotypical "princesses" and "princes". The image the steriotypicality creates can have a negative effect on children. It can force them to have the opinion that being beautiful like Ariel, means greatness, and being different, like the SeaWitch, means un-happiness and harshness.
  • It is believed that Disney films have been created in order to make money through the "tie in" products that are sold. For example, there are plush toys of characters, tissue boxes, computer games and many more variations of things you can buy to relate to the film which all children must have!

 

 

 

Synopsis:

  • The opening scene of the movie is of the humans speaking about the stories they've heard about the lives of the "mer-people" under the ocean.
  • It then goes on to introduce the characters such as ariel and her family.
  • Ariel explores the surface of the ocean and finds the Prince's boat and she falls in love with the prince at the first sight of him.
  • The day turns into a storm and the Prince's ship sinks, so Ariel rescues the drowning prince and places him upon the shore while singing him a song.
  • Ariel goes back into the ocean and wishes to see the prince again so she visits the sea witch hoping for an answer to her wish.
  • The sea witch signs a contract with Ariel stating that she will give Ariel a potion to grow legs and be able to live on land in return for her voice box. However, In order to stay a human the Prince must kiss Ariel before sunset the following day. If she doesn't, Ariel must go work for the sea witch and be under her control as the sea witch wants to rule the kingdom. Ariel agrees to this and the trade is done.
  • The prince finds areal on the shore and takes her back to his home.
  • Here the Prince believes he loves Ariel but is still in search for the lady who sang to him that day when he was rescued. Little does he know that it was actually Ariel.
  • At this point, the sea witch knows that Ariel is getting closer to winning the princes heart and she disguises herself as abeautiful young lady with Ariels voice in order to trick the prince into believing she is actually the one he loves.
  • The Sea Gull realises the bride is actually the Sea Witch through her reflection in the mirror - as the mirror can not hide who she really is.
  • After informing Ariel of this they chase the boat in order to win Prince Eric back and inform him of his mistake with the bride.
  • The Sea Gull breaks the neclace the sea witch is wearing around her neck which causes Ariels voice to return to her as it was the Sea Witches storage place of Ariels voice.
  • Prince Eric realises that Ariel is his one true love but unfortunetely does not kiss her before sun set and the Sea Witch drags Ariel down to the bottom of the ocean to work for her.
  • King Triton Ariels father, gives up his Kingdom and power to the Sea Witch in order to save his daughter.
  • Ariel and all the other characters work hard to defeat the Sea Witch who has now grown into a horrible monster.
  • Prince Eric steers the ship into the Sea Witch which defeats her and all of the Sea Witches slaves return to life, and the King returns to power again.
  • King Triton can see how much Ariel misses the prince and can finally understand his daughter's love for Prince Eric.
  • He uses his power and gives the mermaid legs so that she can be with her one true love.

Analysis:

  • In order to show Ariel's desire for adventure and independant thoughts from the begginging, the film adds in a scene where Ariel does not show up for a performance for her father because she is inspecting an old shipwreck. This creates the initial desire to watch the movie in both girls and boys as the adventure engages all the viewers.
  • The film has incorporated a musical element which wasn't included in any of the texts. The music is engaging and bright and interests all the viewers. It would most likely appeal more to children as it breaks up the story so the story line isn't too harsh and confusing.
  • The film was perhaps created for entertainment value only. This can be explored through to bright engaging colors and their contrasing element. Often throughout the film there are contrasts of colors such as blue versus red.
  • Disney has kept the traditional Hierarchy and patriachal society apparent in the film adaptation. The father who is the King has the most power, and his daughters who are the Princesses own the most beauty.
  • Although Disney have won many awards (as shown on the left) there is a great deal of critism stating that Diseny has no original ideas and often takes a good story, and changes it into a happy fairy tale.

Modifications:

  • Traditional fair tale ending with the Prince and Princess living happily ever after.
  • The Disney version can perhaps be seen as a change in the story being from a creation myth to a typical fairy tale. (Tseelon E, 2006:1).
  • The characters in this story are named. For example, Prince Eric, and Ariel.
  • There are extra characters added. The ultruistic silly Sea Gull is added perhaps for comic relief and entertainment value, and the crab Sebastian added to help include a musical element to the story.
  • The prince no longer had black eyes, but big bright blue eyes in order to fit the "perfect male" steriotype.
  • The story is clearly hushed as it is not as brutal and severe as Andersen's original text. This is evident when the SeaWitch takes Ariel's voice. It isn't done in a harsh, brutal way as Andersen's text describes it, it simply just transfers Ariel's voice box to the witch. There is no pain or brutality evident.