"The Little Mermaid" is a classic animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is based on the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The film was released in 1989 and is often considered one of the key films that marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, a period during the late 1980s and 1990s when the studio experienced a significant resurgence in animated filmmaking.
The story follows Ariel, a young and curious mermaid princess who is fascinated by the human world. Despite her father King Triton's strict rules against contact with humans, Ariel collects human artifacts and often visits the ocean's surface. One day, she saves and falls in love with a human prince named Eric after his ship encounters a storm.
Driven by her desire to be part of the human world, Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to exchange her voice for legs. Ursula uses Ariel's voice to manipulate events and hinder her chances of winning Eric's love. With the help of her friends, including Flounder the fish and Sebastian the crab, Ariel embarks on a journey to reclaim her voice and win the heart of Prince Eric.
"The Little Mermaid" was a critical and commercial success, receiving praise for its animation, music, and storytelling. The film's soundtrack, featuring songs like "Under the Sea" and "Part of Your World," became iconic and won several Academy Awards, including Best Original Song for "Under the Sea." The success of "The Little Mermaid" played a crucial role in revitalizing Disney's animation studio and paved the way for future classics in the Disney Renaissance era.