by More than 30 years later, we’re getting ready to dive into the sea once more. The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is now in theaters, and as is normal with Disney’s reinventions of animated classics, a lot has changed.
From new songs to completely original characters, there are many differences in the Rob Marshall-directed musical – including some that might not be obvious if you haven’t seen Ariel’s 1989 aquatic adventure in a while.
So join us as we count down the different thrills, spills, and gills over The Little Mermaid’s 135-minute runtime (nearly a whole hour longer than the original, if you’re counting). Here are the top nine changes between the live-action remake and the animated original.
Spoilers for The Little Mermaid follow.
three original songs
While all the classics, thankfully, remain intact, there are three new songs written by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The first is Eric’s emotionally wrought number ‘Wild Uncharted Waters’, which he sings after being rescued from shipwreck by Ariel.
The second new song is ‘For the First Time’. Arguably the best original track from The Little Mermaid, this is an interior monologue sung by Halle Bailey’s Ariel after she loses her voice and makes her way across land and kingdom.
The third, ‘Scuttlebutt’, is a cute Scuttle rap by Awkwafina – who informs Sebastian that Eric is about to propose to a mysterious new woman.
The French chef’s fast-paced performance ‘Daughters of Triton’ and the French chef’s song ‘Les Poissons’ were cut from the remake.
a new character
Yep, there’s a completely new character in the land above that changes a good chunk of the story’s dynamic.
Queen Selina, portrayed by Noma Dumezweni, is the ruler of the main kingdom seen in The Little Mermaid and the adoptive mother of Prince Eric. She is seen advising Eric and warning him about the ‘gods of the sea’, as well as trying to stem the tide of failed trade in her region.
Eric’s backstory
Despite being the love of Ariel’s life, we don’t know much about Eric in the original 1989 animated film. Here, the missing gaps are given more context.
He retains his love of sailing and exploration, but crucially, we now know he was adopted by Queen Selina and her husband 21 years before the events of The Little Mermaid. In a twist of fate, it was a shipwreck that brought the baby to her shores.
more time on land
The Little Mermaid’s second act is considerably fleshed out, with more time devoted to Ariel and Eric’s fledgling romance, as well as the mermaid getting to grips with her time on earth (and gravity, among other things).
This includes a trip to the market – and a short dance sequence – which features a cameo by original The Little Mermaid actor Jodi Benson.
Of the entire film, these scenes are the most changed from the original, with additional dialogue, new interactions (including with Queen Selina) and three new songs.
The family connection of Ursula and Triton
Ursula is much more than a scheming sea witch in the 2023 live-action remake. Here, she’s actually King Triton’s sister, which makes their rivalry that much more personal.
Interestingly, this is a story beat first found in an early draft of the 1989 script for The Little Mermaid. Fun fact: in the sequel to the animated film – released in 2000 – Ursula has a sister named Morgana.
the siren song
Sirens’ mermaid songs are mentioned several times in the 2023 live-action remake, reflecting the real-life myth of mermaids and sirens luring sailors into danger with their soothing melodies.
The Siren Song – Ariel’s voice and ability that saves Eric after a shipwreck – is not explicitly referenced in the original animated film. Here, it plays a pivotal role in not just Eric’s fate, but also why he falls in love with Ariel.
Ursula’s Garden of Souls
Ursula’s hobbies are a bit darker in animation. On the one hand, she has her garden of souls: a collection of merpeople who turned into polyps after being unable to pay the price for Ursula’s difficult bargain. They are still referenced in ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ but are not seen or heard from.
Ariel Forgets She Needs True Love’s First Kiss
Speaking of Ursula’s wizarding machinations, she also ups the ante a bit with Ariel’s journey above the surface. Thanks to her spell, the mermaid forgets that she needs true love’s first kiss from Eric to become human permanently.
In fact, it’s one of the best changes in the live-action remake – it makes Ariel and Eric’s relationship feel more organic and earned, while also making the three-day clock even more intense as Ariel struggles to remember why she is. in land.
fate of triton
While Ursula and Triton’s quick interaction in the final act yields the same result – Ursula now has the trident and Triton loses its power – the Sea King’s fate is slightly different in the remake. Here, he is deprived of his life and killed by Ursula. It’s only Ariel’s actions after Ursula’s defeat that bring him back to life – and the two share a touching embrace.
The Daughters of Triton and the Coral Moon
Triton’s daughters have a slightly different role to play in the live-action remake. They are all present in a new scene for the film, sitting in a council of sorts for the arrival of Coral Moon.
Unfortunately, they fail to play the song ‘Daughters of Triton’ at any concert – the moment Ariel was supposed to make her musical debut in the 1989 original. As in the original, Ariel is nowhere to be seen. The name ‘Coral Moon’ is also something used exclusively in the remake.
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