The Live-Action Little Mermaid Subtly References The Original Ending Too Dark for Disney (2024)

The live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid has a happy ending but also throws a subtle hint toward the original story's dark conclusion. Starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, the 2023 film was adapted from the 1989 animated classic and had been in the works for years. The film was praised for its great casting and musical performances, although it repeated some of the mistakes seen in all of Disney's live-action remakes.

The Little Mermaid (2023)'s soundtrack included iconic songs such as 'Under the Sea' and 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' that were seen in the original animated classic. However, it also included new songs, such as 'For The First Time' and 'Wild Uncharted Waters', that proved to be successful additions to the movie. One new song composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda includes lyrics and a theme that reflects on the original tragic ending of the fairy tale.

Little Mermaid's Part Of Your World (Reprise II) Mirrors The Original Story's Dark Ending

After Eric's engagement to Ursula (disguised as Vanessa) is announced, Ariel loses all hope of fulfilling her dreams on land. As she stares out at the palace, a new second reprise of Part Of Your World plays in the background. This new reprise reflects Ariel's inner thoughts on how, after everything she has sacrificed to be with Eric on land, she is now right back where she started. Having given up her life as a mermaid, she has no idea what to do, where to go, or what's going to happen to her now.

Part Of Your World (Reprise II) is a reflection of the original fairy tale's tragic ending. In the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, the little mermaid discovers that her prince has fallen in love with another, and is devastated. In accordance with her deal with the sea witch, if the prince falls in love with someone else, the mermaid will turn to sea foam at sunrise. At the end of the story, the little mermaid forgoes her chance of becoming a mermaid again, jumps into the sea, and dissolves into foam. The second reprise of the iconic song deeply reflects on the little mermaid's sense of despair and heartbreak in the original fairy tale, as she watches her true love with somebody else.

Why Disney Didn't Use Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid Ending

Disney has a reputation for giving their characters happy endings in nearly all of their productions. Such was the case in both versions of The Little Mermaid, where Ariel permanently becomes a human, marries Prince Eric, and lives happily ever after. Staying true to the original The Little Mermaid ending in Hans Christian Andersen's story wouldn't have sat well with young audiences and would have gone completely against Disney's family-friendly image.

Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid is one of the darkest fairy tales in existence. Details such as Ariel walking on knives and the gruesome descriptions of her deal with the sea witch had to be omitted and changed to fit Disney's adaptation; the original tragic ending of the mermaid turning to sea foam was also seen as too dark and frightening for young viewers. However, while the happy ending of The Little Mermaid proved more popular with audiences, Disney was still able to throw a subtle hint at the original through its music.