Disney's Hans Christian Anderson tale given stunning animation...

Rating: 8/10 (30 December 2006)

The haunting legend of Ariel, a spunky mermaid who, against King Triton's will, falls in love with a human, has been brought to the screen by the Disney artists in full-blown animation that captures the spirit and charm of Hans Christian Anderson's fairy-tale with the additional grace of a memorable musical score.
From the opening sequences under the sea (incidentally, "Under the Sea" is the big production number that won a Best Song Oscar), THE LITTLE MERMAID is a joy from beginning to end. Youngsters will love it for the appealing story of the Mermaid and the human prince, and young and old will succumb to the charm of the animation and the humor.
The songs are a sprightly bunch, written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and the background score deserved its Oscar too. In addition to the aforementioned "Under the Sea", "Kiss the Girl" is given inspired treatment and "Part of Your World" has a charm of its own.
Inspired moments of comedy, romance and drama, THE LITTLE MERMAID restored respectability to the Disney studio for its artistic worth and lay the groundwork for the future success of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and TARZAN.