The one that started it all

Rating: 9/10 (5 September 1999)

I had the opportunity to see this again. This is said to be the last of Disney's animation to be completely hand drawn. Watching it now, I could just imagine how the movie would look like had it been made and released today. Anyway, this movie helped spark Disney's annual full-quality animated feature in the 90's.
Anyway, Ariel, the little mermaid, sports the largest eyes I've seen in Disney human heroines. It seems to me this is the first time Disney used such large eyes on such a character (usually it's anyone but the heroine). The animators make full use of that as a window to her soul. Though this is nothing new (in Japanese animation), it really brought out her character here. The songs are very memorable without the benefit of hot artists singing their own versions. I just wish the tv series made more use of Ariel's many sisters. They didn't serve much purpose here.
The verdict: 4.5 of 5 stars.