Highest possible recommendation.

Rating: 10/10 (27 September 2000)

This film was the first of the "new generation" (i.e. post-Michael-Eisner) of Disney animated classics, and remains the best of the new breed. Jodi Benson's voice as Ariel the Mermaid is unmatched in vocal quality -- she's literally the best singer I've ever heard. The animation is Disney-quality (i.e. wonderful), and there are lots and lots of little "underwater touches" in the movie, such as when Triton says, "I consider myself a reasonable merman" instead of "reasonable man." You don't notice them overtly, but they slip their way into your subconscious, so that you really believe you are watching what goes on "under the sea". Add to that a fabulous Allen Menken score and witty Howard Ashman lyrics, sung by Jodi's voice, and you've got what I consider to be the greatest musical film (of any type, including those with live actors) ever made. Highest possible recommendation.