Ranking Every Version of The Little Mermaid

[@ThirrinDiamond]

Ok "it's more like if your daughter suddenly told you she'd fallen in love with a hedgehog" puts a *lot* into perspective

[@ThirrinDiamond]

The unforgiveable part for me of the disney remake was that erik's actor did not match ariel's goofy, excited, ND energy and i will haunt the director until the end of my days for that./hj There was minimal to any himbo action. 😔 What i personally mourn is what the movie's music could've been if howard ashman were still alive. Imagining it though gives me great joy and glee.

[@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n]

@@ThirrinDiamond Yeah, well, blame HIV/AIDS for that never happening!

[@meh4294]

Sonic 06 be like :

[@thehedgehoggamer8471]

​@@meh4294oh my god I almost said that 0__0

[@ThirrinDiamond]

@@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n I know, hence the mourn/gen

[@oliviamcneil3101]

I love your analysis of Disney’s the Little Mermaid (1989), she didn’t give up her voice for a man, she gave her voice to be human, a lot of people who agree with that say that the man was the catalyst, but I’d argue the destruction of her grotto full of human things was the catalyst.

[@purpleclaws202]

I didn't feel much during the video until he got to Disney's Little Mermaid and I started crying

[@sakunaruful]

Yes, I agree. Ariel gave up her voice to be part of the human world not a man. Many people misconstrue this point.

[@caitlinsparkle7717]

Well to be fair, Ariel wished to be human long before she met Eric. Those people who says false accuasations about her wishing to be human for Eric, needs to grow up and realise the fact that Ariel loves human nature and loves learning about humans for long time before she met Eric. Ariel also feels like she doesn't belong in the sea because nobody including her father King Triton doesn't accept Ariel for who she is and what she is.

[@Guy-cb1oh]

Even if she did only want to be with Eric, there would be nothing wrong with it. Simplyfing it as "Giving up your voice for a man" is such a disengenuous bad faith criticism. She made a sacrifice for someone she cared for. Sacrifice is Something that happens in most relationships.

[@xLoadez]

It's such a half-baked, lazy take that people regurgitate to feel a sense of superiority. I truly think people say she gave up her voice for a man just to make themselves feel smart. Either that or they watched the film without taking any of it in lmao

[@e-122psi3]

I feel like the fact Triton reveals he could have turned Ariel human the whole time to make for a quick happy ending should have been the laziest cop out ever and yet it's such a sweet cathartic moment. I think it really speaks about how well woven the arcs and emotional handling of the film are. "Then I guess there's just one problem left." "And what's that, your majesty?" "How much I'm going to miss her...."

[@MusicKat217]

It's so good. The problem wasn't that Ariel had no ways to make her dream come true, she just had to convince others that her dream was worth fighting for. Not just Triton, but Sebastian, her sisters, etc, who loved Ariel enough to eventually support her and let her be happy by the end. Triton's character arc is often overlooked, but it's what makes the movie (especially the ending) so good! He's one of the most realistically written parents

[@usonohoshi6165]

​@@MusicKat217Ariel was willing to learn about the human world in any way she could. Even if she never became human. She was even willing to meet Eric AS A MERMAID, before Sebastian stopped her and sang Under the Sea.

[@Creshosk]

I don't really think that it was a cop out. Sure he had the power to but he, in his own mind for him, had no reason to. He didn't want her up with the humans. He wanted her down in the sea with him. He didn't trust the humans. It wasn't until Eric killed Ursula and saved anyone that he came to trust humans. And that didn't come until the end of the movie. Like MusicKat said, he had to go through his own character arc before he was willing to use that power of his.

[@SunsetEnvy]

I think Ponyos mermaid form was based on a ranchu goldfish, that's why other character call her a goldfish.

[@mayawillms3596]

True!! I wish this was acknowledged more, but i cant fault fudd for not knowing considering hed have to go looking for that info if he wasnt already aware of the japanese species

[@amandaletcher1320]

Japanese mermaids were just fish with human heads for awhile before little mermaid came to Japan if i remember

[@sinmenon4347]

One of the things that I love about the Disney Little Mermaid is that Eric reaches out to her the same way she reaches out for him. Specially when they were both in the sea, they both reach each other both for comfort and to protect one another. He isn't rescuing her and she isn't rescuing him: they are two souls that found one another. It is the small detail that count -- Hans Christian Andersen could never reach out for his love, it would never be returned. But a message of hope that one day you won't be rescued or save someone, you will reach and be reached is a beautiful thing.

[@woodykrska9947]

:’)

[@msdrop6735]

Which version, though? The original animated one? Or the total rubbish woke remake?

[@folasade5453]

@@msdrop6735 God, you people are a particular kind of pathetic. It’s just a remake. Please, reevaluate your priorities.

[@Cardinal_claw]

​@@msdrop6735Guessing the og since true love is barely allowed to exist as a concept in the knockoff lol

[@Goalieguy-rq9cu]

Ariel's Beginning being ranked higher than Ponyo is something I wouldn't believe if it came from any other KZbinr, but I'm sold

[@blaa6]

It being higher than both The Little Mermaid 2 and Ponyo is... brave. I strongly disagree but that takes balls.

[@abbeyBominable123]

​@@blaa6Ariel's Beginning is a visually stunning movie, much more beautiful than TLM 2. But Idk about it being better than ponyo 😂

[@oliviaknowstrivia]

I love the way you phrased that babes

[@Mysterious-Night]

@@blaa6tlm 2 sucks

[@e-122psi3]

It's nice he discussed it positively but I admit I question it being in here since it's technically not the same story, at least no more so than other The Little Mermaid spin offs by Disney or pretty much any other work with loose basis on the fairy tale. It's Disney's version of the character in an original storyline. Same for Little Mermaid 2, but you can at least get away with that one because its unoriginality meaning its technically following similar plot beats as the original story. I will say I like the idea of him looking into Disney's lower scale works though, especially since he seems willing to rate them by their own merit. I think some like the Winnie the Pooh feature films and Bambi 2 are other spin offs worth looking into and how their story telling compares to the original.

[@spiceupyourafterlife]

THANK YOU for your lecture about the critique on Ariel. I love Ariel as a character and I'm so tired of hearing the same bad faith criticism over and over again. Yes, Ariel does make the decision to sacrifice her voice to become human. That doesn't make it a *good* decision, nor does the movie ever frame it as such. If anything, it's part of the story's conflict and makes Ariel a more interesting character because of how flawed she is. No one ever told a good story by having the characters ALWAYS make the right decisions.

[@Nexils]

Can you imagine Grandma going like "That's not how I remember the story. In the one I grew up with, the sea witch cut out the Mermaid's tongue with a knife and when she got on land to drink the potion, an invisible knife would cut her tail in half so she passes out and every step she takes afterwards would feel like she would step on knives!!! And in the end she dies!!!!!!!! Those were the good ol' days, children." And the kids would just be traumatized... :p

[@RLucas3000]

Granny: “Now let’s see what happened to Cinderella’s stepsisters…”

[@thesapphireone]

Or even funnier “Now, to cheer you up, let me tell you the story of the time me and my friends joined a band in a burlesque show, that one day, they accused us of murder, randomly beat us up, threw us in the river, and then I bit off his thumb, and then we all suddenly became friends again!” (Sees the terrified kids on the phone.) “Why are you calling your parents, don’t you want to hear my version to the story of East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon?”

[@g.r.4459]

Let's be real, the moral of the story in the end was basically, "Don't throw tantrums or disagree with you parents kids or else a poor little mermaid will have to wait even longer to get into heaven, behave and you'll take off a few months/years, misbehave and you'll add in a few years/decades to her sentance" due to the whole daughter of the air aspect and "human immortal souls" versus turning to seafoam

[@alexp.d3689]

​​​​@@RLucas3000 they got forgiven by Cinderella and lived with her at the palace married to two great lords of the court ... I know " bleeding feet , getting blinded by doves etc ... 🙄 " ,the Grimm's versions is FAR from the original, Aschenputtel was published in 1812 while Charles Perrault's Cendrillon ( the bases for Disney's 1950 adaptation ) was published in 1697 and though very different from Disney's in terms of characters and themes it's still a very G rated story ... And by far the most well known ( ok technically that's Disney's, Perrault's version as I said was very different,her father dying was popularized by Walt Disney as well as other details , like her being an optimistic dreamer ... In Perrault's she starts as a pessimist and grows into an optimist ,she had no friends in Perrault's and the story focuses on her interactions with the Stepsisters .The father is a neglectful coward who is the Stepmother's puppet neither of them play a part in the story which focuses on the relationship between Cinderella and her two Stepsisters ) I know there are older versions from Perrault's but hus version is the most recognizable ( again, technically 😂😂😂 )

[@Thomas_H._Smith]

Well, now we know why this channel has been MIA for so long. He had to watch every Little Mermaid.

[@LillyVonetwoonethree]

or he was trapped in a big foam phone costume

[@thispersonwriting1889]

@@LillyVonetwoonethreeOr he had to do some sweet parkour.

[@gabrielaabreudearaujo2580]

But is undeniable that Ariel is the best one. And Disney is very good to make princesses.

[@zainmudassir2964]

​@@LillyVonetwoonethree same happened to me. Relatable

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

...wow. No exaggeration, that summary of Disney's The Little Mermaid made me tear up. That was beautiful. I feel like I have a new appreciation for this movie now. Well done. I'd give you a standing ovation if you could hear it.

[@tanithofbyway]

Same. I started sobbing, what beautiful and true writing! Thank you so much for putting into words what I have been struggling to tell people for years. I did not expect to get feelings, but here we are 😂

[@CounterCultureWISE]

My words exactly! (sniff)

[@shorthairlukeisugly]

Same, ack, my heart...

[@natt_tenshi2707]

“And now she finally has one. Someone finally took her hand and made all her dreams come true.” I didn’t expect it to, but that really hit me hard. So I can now say that a movie ranking video got me emotional enough to cry.

[@fran4636]

So well written! I'm pretty sure if Walt Disney had lived to see The Little Mermaid, he would have loved that it was part of his legacy.

[@therojowo]

When you said "and now she has one" at the end, I teared up. Great video; and that explanation at the end was amazing. Makes sense Ariel is my favorite Disney princess.

[@gabrielaabreudearaujo2580]

Ariel is also my favorite Disney Princess, and mainly 'cause she's the only Disney Princess to not originally being a human.

[@Brianna-eo8nu]

That speech you gave about the Disney version was beautiful. The idea that the Disney film’s happy ending was, for its time, a subversive and unexpected yet heart bursting one that freed The Mermaid from her tragic cautionary tale narrative…. Damn. It’s easy to take for granted, considering how much more well known and ingrained in pop culture the Disney film is these days. But Jesus, it’s powerful to think about when you put those older versions into context.

[@starwanderyonder]

That speech at the end that you gave about our little hearts bursting with joy honestly brought me to tears.

[@tangally]

Same! Just burst into tears in a McDonald’s drive through…

[@BingFox]

Same, I'm a mess right now .

[@CrabsOfSteel-2024]

K I’m glad I’m not the only one. I just ugly cried for a solid ten minutes. I was embarrassed for myself even though no one else saw it.

[@Shimaimashita]

I really love the old Soviet movie Rusalochka, 1976 (#2). It's bittersweet, the actress is so touchingly innocent. There is no evil or malicious entity, the scenes are spectacular, the storyline is emotional and deep. The mermaid's dance through the pain left an impression that after many years, I still remmeber it. The short cartoon is also astounding, strongly recommend! I deeply enjoyed the list, thank you very much!

[@patterbay]

If you told me an hour ago that I'd be moved to tears at a defense of Ariel in the Little Mermaid (in a video essay???), I wouldn't have believed it. But here we are. Excellent job

[@Ozzygirl17]

Regardless of anything, never sacrifice your mental health for video uploads.

[@Kuunpoika]

Disney's Little Mermaid 1989 is just magical from the start to finish! I was in AWE when I saw the opening for the first time, that little fish got away from the fishermen and that relief blow when it started to swim towards the ocean floor.. Still to this day, my heart stops with that scene because few times in my life I wanted to escape too and start from the fresh without any problems.. And the music makes this movie even more magical!

[@jo-lynnsomers8103]

The amount of writing talent u have in just ur little pinkie is something that many people work their whole life the achieve. You can bring me to tears in every video.

[@Kristyle187]

The part around 54 minutes in, when you ask the audience to close their eyes and then go on to describe the experience of an adult witnessing Disney’s The Little Mermaid for the first time around the time it was released… it’s probably the most beautiful monologues I’ve ever heard on KZbin. Your words brought me to tears quickly and kept them flowing throughout the rest of the video. I was two years old when the film was released. By the time I turned three, toddler-me had “Part of Your World” completely memorized-both lyrics and melody-and my parents were not only enchanted, but thought it must mean that I would become some kind of prodigy-child (lolol… not quite). And yet, I have never quite understood why this particular story captivated me so decisively from such a young age, nor why it is continually held up as one of the finest examples of “Disney magic” that studio has ever created. Major kudos to you for so eloquently presenting the many reasons this film holds up so insanely well, and why it continues to capture the hearts of children and adults alike. And thank you so much for defending it against the critics who rant about Ariel being a poor role model for children-such attitudes reveal such a deep misunderstanding of the character that I can’t help but wonder if they ever even bothered to rewatch the film as adults.

[@casvirgile]

I refuse to take this Ponyo slander. Also, unpopular opinion, I hated the live action, not because it wasn’t gorgeous, not because the actors didn’t do a good job, they were phenomenal, but because they made a bunch of lore dumps that they never explained. It irked me to know end to have so much interesting stuff brought up and made to feel important, only for it to be kicked under the rug.

[@MoonDust22951]

I love that my favorite version of the story got second place. It's so whimsical and heartbreaking, made me cry the first time I watched it.

[@FreyasArts]

Fun fact: the part about going to heaven after 300 years of good deeds, was added on by Anderson's publisher. So if we see the story as a metaphor for Anderson's love life, he didn't seem to see a happy ending for himself

[@SteveCarras]

Apparently no baby boomers or older, what about Rankin/Bass's The Daydreamer,with Disney's own Hayley Mills?

[@miticaBEP07]

This is serotonin

[@KyrieChii]

FR! That last little bit actually made me tear up a bit.

[@jrr6947]

Dude I could just tear up wih your perfect analogies and explanations. Your videos are so enchanting, mystical and uses all the right clips to set the tune.

[@bbe9374]

Oh i never thought of Ponyo as a version of Little Mermaid. But it would still be the first in my heart.

[@glideiz111]

the 1975 version was the first time I've heard of the Little Mermaid, when I was 3-4 y.o and because of the statue at the end, I truly believed she actually existed

[@ctluvr-lq9ws]

did not expect this video to make me this emotional i even almost cried near the end!!!!

[@BewilderedCitrus]

I'll say! That ending scenario just side-swept my legs to make me fall, all just to punch me in the gut with feels, I was weeping real tears

[@kevinsafar]

36:20 The thing about the cat from the 1975 adaptation, apparently the cat is the pet of an evil sorcerer who knows by a prophecy that, if the Prince and Marina end up together they'll bring eternal love to the kingdom and tries to stop it by sending his cat. This sorcerer or this plot isn't in the movie (probably a scraped idea) which makes the addition of the cat make no sense whatsoever 😭 Edit: Omg that ending! This is the reason why The little mermaid is my favorite tale! 🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🏾‍♀️

[@MyopicMickey]

I guess it's a different feeling when you're old enough to see Ariel not as a princess but instead as a young girl. I haven't watched the movie in ages, but the overwhelming protectiveness I just felt remembering how young she was nearly made me cry. Like. She's a girl who spends half her movie unable to speak and has to learn how everything around her works. And certainly she finds great joy in it and being chaperoned by Eric keeps her safe on land, but still. You're 100% correct.

[@Guy-cb1oh]

Even if Ariel was only interested in Erik and uninterested in the rest of the human world it still wouldn't be "Problematic". There's nothing wrong with a girl falling in love with a man and making sacrifices for the relationship to work(most relationships require some sacrifice). The creators of the 1989 film flat out said in the audio commentary that the romance between Ariel and Erik is the heart of the film. The whole "She sold her voice for a man" was always bad faith disengenious criticism. Simplifying TLM as "a girl selling her voice for a man" is as ridiculous as simplifying the Dark Knight as "rich man cosplays as bat to beat up a mentally ill clown."

[@pasaniusventris4113]

BABE WAKE UP THERE WILL BE FUDD POSTED!!!!!!!!!!!

[@GilbyMinaj]

Ariel will forever be my favorite Disney character. She’s a Disney icon. When the little mermaid came out in 1989, Disney was orettt much bankrupt and Ariel jump started the Disney brand again. If anything, we still have Disney because of Ariel. 🙏🏽 💕

[@gabrielaabreudearaujo2580]

My favorite character too. And took 30 years after Sleeping Beauty in 1959, and 23 years after Walt Disney's death in 1966, for the studio restart the princess formula in their movies.

[@a.z.p.]

Whoever said this video is beautiful was, in a sense, mostly right

[@igfrcd]

I literally cried at the end of the video, it was so beautiful the way you described why the changed version is not a wattered down version and it melted my heart. The little mermaid has been my favorite story and film since I was 4 years old and read the book and I can only thank you for making such a passionate video.

[@lynnthomas8457]

Sir, this is the second time you've brought me to tears with the Disney movie review (the speach about Disney being the little guy that triumped did it the first time). Well done, and excellent review set.

[@avionpiscean33]

"some people complain about her being immature" To all who say this about Ariel, she's 16, of course she's immature.

[@KC-lm7gm]

You brought me to tears! What a conclusion. I love your comparison videos and I really appreciate the time it takes to do them properly. Excellent work.

[@babyswagsalot]

The Little Mermaid (1989) was the very first movie anyone ever got me. It was rereleased in 1998 after being put into the disney vault and sometime after the rerelease my grandma picked it out for me. I was born in 1996 so I had to have been 2-4 years old when she actually got it for me. Anyway, it holds a special place in my heart for several reasons and I feel a bit emotional after hearing your speech about it. This video was in the recommended for me section and I'm very glad I clicked on it. I'm looking forward to more of your videos💖

[@MusicKat217]

Dude??? Omg??? I swear to you, I JUST watched your video on Snow White because it was recommended to me. Like, 3 hours ago.. I thought 'that was really cool and refreshing to watch, sad that this person hasn't uploaded in a while' and now here we are. Not only did you just so happen to upload today, but The Little Mermaid (1989) is my favorite movie ever. So this is really exciting to see!! I didn't know there were so many other versions! But anyways, I'm definitely enjoying this video so far! Nice to see you back, even though I was introduced to your channel just a few hours ago. Hope to see more stuff like this from you! :3 Edit to add, THANK YOU for defending Ariel's Beginning. It has some issues and can feel a bit pointless but I honestly loved it. It was very fun and sweet. Glad to know that I'm not alone in having unironic enjoyment 😭

[@Clockehwork]

I never thought much of the Little Mermaid, or Ariel; until I watched through the whole Disney canon during the pandemic, doing my own rating. It's a wonderful movie, and I'm glad you latched onto the same scene as I did. Part of Your World is a breathtakingly beautiful piece of animation all on its own, but in the context of the rest of the film, it's truly something else. Your explanation had me in tears. The same way you did justice to the character of Snow White, I'll never be able to divorce Ariel from your analysis of her now. I hope the same holds true for the other great Disney princesses, over the next 3 decades.

[@kimmcswain4544]

I just watched...I'm in tears as a grown woman - You PERFECTLY summarized why the 1989 Little Mermaid is EVERYTHING - It is timeless and Part of Your World is heartbreaking with longing and she absolutely deserved her happy ending - thank you

[@HanamoriKuna]

Oh that closing statement about Disney’s Little Mermaid was so poignant I got teary. I can’t really put into words why but it was really nostalgic. Powerful dialogue, perfect statement 😢 really made Disney’s ending more powerful in the context of the original and all the other Little Mermaid adaptations. Wonderful video. Honestly kind of surprising that Denmark didn’t make any kind of adaptation of one of their most famous authors stories.

[@MikaTertius]

I'm really glad they didn't cut out her "I want" song. It was a "want" song before it was even a coined phrase. You're right. If we didn't have that moment, we wouldn't have rooted for her so hard...and it really was an outright joy to see her achieving her heart's desire, a desire so tangible that even her father couldn't deny it. As a child, I didn't even realize it (I mean, there was also a language barrier at the time, English not being my first language)...but I just verified this...the moment that always made me weep was her farewell to her father. I never stopped to really listen, but it's in the song again. It changes to "NOW, we can walk...NOW, we can run..." it's telling the audience that she really does ultimately continue the human life she wanted so badly. Dagnabbit. I'm never going to be able to see that ending the same way again. I'm going to be crying twice. 🤣

[@Rivkatheartgay]

you know I watched this video expecting something half-assed from a channel I'd accidentally subscribed to while half asleep, and id like to formally apologise for that because holy shit. I have never seen the little mermaid in that light before. this was, honestly, a stellar video. props to you my guy, this genuinely made me want to cry it was that beautifully put together

[@Antifearn]

I remember getting in an extremely heated argument with my friends in high school over Morgana’s death scene in TLM2 because I mentioned how unrealistic it was due to the fact that ICE DOESN’T SINK. They kept claiming that it could if it had a grown human/octopus hybrid inside, which led into a discussion about freezing human corpses into ice blocks and dropping them into the ocean. I guess in the end, the laws of density don’t apply to Disney dtv sequels.

[@12Tecpatl]

The way you mixed together the song for the next film at the end of each review was exquisite. A wonderful video with a heartwarming final message, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us

[@hickorydaisy4117]

26:13 Okay so fun fact: Ursula and Triton being siblings was a scrapped idea from the original Disney film! In other words, they didn’t entirely just pull it out of nowhere- but it was originally scrapped because they thought it didn’t do anything. So…

[@CrabsOfSteel-2024]

It was added into the Disney musical version of Little Mermaid as well. Doesn’t really make since because Ursula isn’t a mermaid, she’s like a squidmaid. So she’s not even in the same species.

[@hickorydaisy4117]

@@CrabsOfSteel-2024 She’s an octopus, not a squid!

[@lunaris7342]

But they scrapped it so why at it back? I think it was good that they scrapped it

[@VladSicoe]

Seriously, the way you described Disney's The Little Mermaid towards the end of the video made me tear up a bit. It was beautiful.

[@Acat265]

If you like the visuals for Bubble, check out the music videos of Eve. He's the one that wrote the theme song ("Uta") for the movie. The song "We're Still Underground" is the closest in appearance to Bubble but they're all worth a watch

[@bravestoffairies6710]

Congrats to one of the best jpop artists for an opportunity like that! I didn’t know they did the main theme to Bubble.

[@jaybonn5973]

You chose a great track to represent THE 1989 mermaid. Not cliche, and oddly fits the vibe better than I'd imagine.

[@yuukokagami]

It’s always such a treat when I see one of your videos pop up in my sub feed, and I was overjoyed to see you continuing the rankings of various popular fairy tale adaptations. :) I haven’t seen any of these films other than the Ghibli and *animated* Disney adaptations, but I still enjoyed your reviews simply because of the expressive and concise way you explained each film. It’s been years since I’d watched The Little Mermaid 2 and Ariel’s Beginning, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear such positive things when many turn to dunking on them as failures instead. Also thank you for reminding those who either forgot or simply ignored the blatant messages of Disney’s The Little Mermaid; it’s always bugged me how they skew the story to fit their narrative, rather than just leaving it be. Disney’s The Little Mermaid may not be my favourite animated Disney movie, but it’s definitely a nostalgic favourite that brings me back to my childhood. Job well done on another great video; keep up the excellent work!

[@sissysovereign1294]

While I'll always adore Disney's 1989 version of it, the anime iterations of the fairytale such as the 1975 adaptation and "Bubble" broke me and my sister's hearts. Not only did we appreciate how they were closer story wise to the original novel, but both had wonderful designs and visuals for both films. It really put the disney version in 3rd/ 4th place to me

[@sharonparker9623]

Yay! More Fudd!! As always, I learned a lot from this video. Can't wait to hear your full review of The Little Mermaid.

[@oomflem]

I adore the Czech version, but I'd never heard of the top Russian one, I'm looking forward to watching it!

[@petrusnelson4248]

I'm with Fudd, it's my favourite live action version! It's really sad towards the end as we know how the original TLM would be, but it's poignant and spiritual. I highly recommend it. 🥰

[@georjiep4338]

Yeah the Czech Cinderella with the same actress is my all time favourite

[@ilailaquer8182]

@@georjiep4338 It's not the same actress but they're sisters and look really similar.

[@InfamousStudios.]

I really love you're media analysis vids! You aren't afraid to state your opinions on things and try to see the positive aspects in every film, even if the film itself isn't good. That's very admirable, especially in a sea of reviewers that are so closed minded. I hope you're feeling better and continue to make more excellent videos!

[@jaybonn5973]

I have a soft spot for golden films for its absolute sham of production value. It's beautiful

[@isaiahwilliams2642]

I can't wait for your next full movie analysis. You once again blindsided me with your incredible media literacy and gave me a whole new way of looking at things. Thank you!

[@MrDanielenac]

The ending voice over of yours made me tear up-

[@TeryJones]

54:03 through 57:51 - Holy shit this entire monologue just gave me chills man, absolute chills.

[@maytalacedo20]

this is an interesting take on this classic story I will say it's just interesting to see how they adapt the story in different ways.

[@scottbakanumba1heathen313]

The 1975 animé version is my favorite because it tells the original story. The sea witch as a giant manta ray was a nice touch.

[@dragonbreath649]

26:14 Ursula and triton being siblings isn’t technically a change That was the ORIGINAL plan for the ORIGINAL movie and was a change the og did so this is calling back to that

[@lunaris7342]

It is a Change because they cut it out of the Movie. There are many things for every Disney Movie they decided against to include it. If you only know about this through looking up the Behind the Scenes and not from watching the Movie it is of course a Change. Ariel was for example original supposed to have blonde Hair does that mean she is blond know even after changing that

[@dragonbreath649]

@ nothing wrong with call backs to it and it’s a different canon so not like it affects the og

[@SsjkidsSaveCosmo08]

Almost brought me to tiers in the end man Ponyo kinda got snubbed but great video

[@Actionfan19]

42:29 THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only one in this universe that cared about Ariels' sisters needing characterization.

[@e-122psi3]

It's weird since the Disney verse even had its own spin off TV series, and Ariel's sisters STILL barely get spotlight in it.

[@holodeckdetmold4824]

Quite surprised that the Soviet adaptation made it that high on the list. The way how stories were adapted in soviet cinema was often quite distinct, but when done right we get a literary epic on the place where there is normally just a fairytale.

[@sammyjo609]

As a kid, I LOVED Ariel's beginning. I liked it more than the original.

[@DicedToads]

Oh my gosh I love this video. It’s not just a collection of reviews you added your own theme that’s encouraging and lovely. Genuinely best review vid I’ve ever seen. (Plus I really enjoyed how you moved between movies by making the shots interact with each other, it made the reviews feel very fluid even if you didn’t transition with words)

[@annabunovsky5628]

I’ve been waiting so long for this video & it was well worth the wait. The Little Mermaid (1989) was the first movie I ever saw. It ended up being a blueprint for so much of my identity. It instilled a love of animation, a love of musicals, and a love of fairytales & folklore. What you said towards the end, how in the Disney version, how the mermaid no longer has to be a tragic cautionary figure, how she has time now, it made me think not just of Andersen, very likely a queer, autistic man who never got to feel like he belonged in society, but also of Ashman, a gay man who was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1988, a time when the diagnosis was basically a death sentence (thanks in no small part to the powers that be turning their backs on the queer community), and a year before the movie released. I used to have an hard time explaining why so many criticisms of The Little Mermaid felt disingenuous to me, now as an adult with a better understanding of both her own autism and her queerness, I understand that Ariel’s ending wasn’t softened, it was a subversion. Howard Ashman didn’t get much time, and Andersen never really got to experience life as he wanted, why shouldn’t the mermaid at least get to have those things on their behalf?

[@maura5373]

The variety of takes on the tale is astonishing. It must take a lot of time to find and watch them all, compare them, form opinions on salient characteristics, and select clips to illustrate them.

[@TaylordJ8]

This was so incredibly well-written -- fantastic job! Moved me to tears at the end

[@llinntamm]

This is the first video I'm seeing from you. I would just like to applaud. Like after a great movie, shown at some festival. The commentary, the witty remarks and how well it's cut together. Just wiw. Please do more.

[@laceyw476]

I absolutely adore your channel. I am a die hard Disney fan and Disney history nerd. I know all the movies, especially the classics, by heart. I've seen all the "making of" documentaries, and know all the behind the scenes stories. However, the way you discuss and analyze these films, makes me appreciate them in a way I never have before. I know the cultural and historical significance of Snow White, but I have never watched it from the perspective of a working class audience member in the late 30s with the context of what was happening in the world. I know the artistic achievements of Pinocchio, but I never actually thought about the fact that none of the villains are ever held accountable for their actions. Like you said, they're still out there. I think you explained my life long fear of Pinocchio in a way I have never been able to articulate lol. I know that The Little Mermaid saved Disney animation and kicked off the Disney Renaissance, but I have never heard someone so beautifully describe "Part of your World." Hearing you talk about it gave me chills and made me tear up, and I don't think I'll ever be able to watch that scene again without crying. Keep up the good work!

[@elchanchopato9601]

There's also another animated mockbuster of Disney's The Little Mermaid, and that's the version of Burbank Animation Studios. It has an otter as the mermaid's copyright-free companion and a shoehorned enviromental message. However, as one might suppose, it's up there with Golden Films' version in terms of quality.

[@finland4ever55]

You forgot the Happily Ever After Fairytales for Every Child version, with a Korean mermaid and Chinese prince, as well as the Shirley Temple Show version set in Italy (Ancient Rome). Both underrated versions I love

[@abbycollins4820]

Ranking the different variations of The Ice Queen sounds interesting.

[@abbycollins4820]

Considering a comment you made in the video I assume Frozen won’t be taking the #1 spot.

[@Thomas-ju4hf]

A video of the different variations of Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella would also be interesting

[@cthoniccassandra7526]

Welcome back from that hiatus! Ever since your Snow White analysis, you've become one of the best channels to anticipate uploads from. You clearly put a lot of effort into things, even with all your personal goings-on. The Little Mermaid is one of those tales that I've seen a few adaptations of, same with a few other fairytales, so this video was super cool. Even if they're subpar, I like knowing how many exist. Your explanations and reviews were great, but I weirdly enjoy the transitions you did from movie to movie and found clips that eased into the next. I dunno, I get pleased by decent editing so that was extra nice. Take your time with following uploads too! They're always worth the wait. 👍

[@brettpugh7898]

Oh my God, you got me at the last song, I saw that version before I saw Disney and that song still gives me the feels 💜💜💜💜💜

[@BahuschBahusch]

Glad to see you back. I'm still curious about how the Disney movie ranking will go but that will take time and that's ok. Your takes are a breath of fresh air and it's always nice to hear your perspective on things. Even if they're not always 1:1 with one's own view you have a way to open up one's perspective to one that's not always the common narrative. I already respected Disney's Snow White for pioneering so many things in the animation industry but your video elevated my appreciation for the movie on its own to the point of it now being my 2nd favorite Disney movie and my 3rd favorite overall. I've sent your video on it to several people already. I'm curious what you have to say about my #1 favorite Disney movie. It might take a while because it's a Renaissance movie and I don't think you've talked about it yet but I can wait.

[@jujucatjuca]

Ooohohohoo I'd been waiting for this!! What a fantastic video!!

[@geonunes10]

It's so refreshing seeing someone on the internet defending the OG Disney's the little mermaid.

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

Few and far between

[@dollminatrix1375]

Your work takes so long to make…. And honestly it’s wonderful. Simply wonderful.

[@lauraduarte712]

Hi it’s good to see a new video from you! I admire your dedication to release it.

[@natalieg9853]

Your videos are, as always, so fantastic and worth every minute of the wait

[@jaywhangmakes]

I am only here because I want to hear your perspective on both Czech and Soviet versions.

[@Senglishify]

Dude! Your videos… I literally get goosebumps listening to you talk about Disney 😢 As I lifelong Disney fan, I thought I knew everything about these movies but your insight and perspective on these stories and characters is nothing short of genius. I honestly felt tears welling up in my eyes listening to talk about Ariel 💚❤️💜

[@thatonelucariofan503]

OMG. I saw this and thought I was hallucinating. Your videos were always a bright spot in the film/ anime community. Your Disney Pinocchio videos remained my go to example to showcase why I still love that film and don’t consider Del Toro’s to be the “first good one” as others claimed. And I hold such fond memories of the times you hearted my comments such as on the Snow White video! I am so thankful you still make videos. I will always be here loving them, I wish nothing but the best for you. Just thank you, you truly are a positive bright spot on KZbin ❤

[@therewillbefudd]

Aww, thanks so much!!!

[@robertadler4354]

Great analysis! As an idea for the next videos: "Cinderella", "Snow White", "Alice in Wonderland", "Wizard of Oz", "Peter Pan", "Hansel and Gretel" etc.! ❤

[@QuaePanemEtCircenses]

tearful smile emoji at your conclusions about finally giving the original mermaid her soul!!! well said. also that bit about vague songs vs songs that cant be divorced from the source material, interesting take!

[@elsakristina2689]

There actually is a Danish adaptation of “The Little Mermaid”, it’s part of an animated miniseries from the early 2000s called “The Fairytaler”, but the only version I can find is the English dub.

[@STSGirl05]

Well, thank you for the extended crying session over #1 😅❤ Really interesting video, and also thank you for a thoughtful take on the Disney film, too. It's so refreshing. The video is super entertaining and I've been introduced to some new versions to seek out. How wonderful.

[@TheCow-j1l]

NO WAY, have been waiting for this for the longest time

[@mr.narrator6781]

Great video man I don't know why you don't upload more often, but this was a treat. Thank you!!!

[@thepinklittlemermaid2793]

You probably won't read this since it's been months, but I want to tell you how amazing your work is. You analyze with so much passion, affection and admiration that I can't help but love your work. It's amazing, you're amazing, and I want you to do so much more. My friends and I call you the Princess Advocate. Because after that video of Snow White, and this one of Ariel, we can see the genuine way in which you see their works, different from many others out there. I hope one day to see you talking about Cinderella, which has had so many different adaptations over the years. Thank you, just for being you and doing something so amazing.

[@greninjastorm6734]

Pat Carroll was an absolute legend. Even if Little Mermaid 2 sucked, she still made it work through her performance alone. Like you said, she did a great job distinguishing Ursula and Morgana as different characters, and making them both entertaining in their own ways

[@justaspeckof]

I did not expect to be moved to tears but i was and i want moreeee. I wanna know your entire disney countdown! I wanna see, wanna see the top 5 especially! Please know that your work has changed my life and i will be waitinggg

[@ColinLooksBack]

Loved it! It's always nice to see someone defend the typical talking points you see lobbied against the Disney movie (usually by people who either lack media literacy or haven't seen it since they were 6). Looking forward to whatever fairytale series you cover next!

[@fran4636]

Such a good video! It's gems like this that make it all worth the wait!! Beautiful work!!

[@mammadingo9165]

Mate ... Mate the ending 😢 ✨✌🏼 like you were talking to all those lost teenage girl's it was like a little chat with a therapist or DV advice thankyou ✨✌🏼💖

[@danikajayde8577]

The 1975 version, which i was raised on and still have the VHS of, was how i was introduced to The Little Mermaid until Disney's version came out. The cat's deal, if i remember right is a plot between the queen and cat to keep the prince from falling in love with/marrying Marina because she isn't of royal blood (that they know).