photo credit: © All rights reserved Disney Enterprises, Inc. 2010 United States
Glen Keane The Little Mermaid, 1989 Ariel and Flounder Concept art: gouache and black line (xerographic copy) on paper Walt Disney Animation Research Library Collection
I love Disney classics. My all time favourite is The Little Mermaid. What’s not to like? Amazing red hair, the cutest little purple shell bikini and Disney’s very own version of Justin Bieber and Zac Efron. Kids nowadays are deprived of the idea of prince charming and happily ever after, and it’s probably our own fault. We’re scarred for life, it seems. Jaded is probably the right word.
Now with modern day cartoons it’s rare for cartoonist to even consider including a decent looking human being, let alone prince charming into its story plot.
I indulged my inner child and spent a Saturday afternoon watching Princess Ariel desperately try to get Prince Eric to kiss her. If someone tried that now we’d call her desperate. And slightly dumb. The latter for her bad negotiation skills. See? Jaded.
Despite how I feel though, I would still like my kids to experience that piece of happily ever after. Besides, it worked for Kate Middleton right?
YSMJOHAN 