The Little Mermaid Trilogy
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: The Little Mermaid, The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea Special Edition, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's BeginningDirector: .
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Extra tracks, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 235 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-12-16
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
Movie Reviews of The Little Mermaid Trilogy
Movie Review: A Classic Trilogy Under The Sea
Summary: 5 Stars
'The Little Mermaid' is by far one of Disneys most beloved animated features of all time so it is no suprise the studio chose to release two sequels to follow its success. What is amazing is how much of the life of Disney's Ariel is unveiled within this trilogy. Where traditionally Disney tends to set its sequels in an around the original, the whole mermaid trilogy spans over 28 years of Ariel's life, from her childhood days to her teenage years and finally to her life as an adult. It makes for an entertaining and really enjoyable watch as you witness each aspect of her life as it comes and how she develops as a character.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning is the beginning of this grand narrative (despite the fact it was made last). Here we meet Ariel's loving mother Queen Athena and witness her shocking death at the hands of pirates. As a result Trition not only declares mer folk cannot swim to the surface, but also all music must be expelled from Atlantica. We jump ten years ahead to Ariel a year before the original motion picture took place. She discovers music for the first time, meets her life long friend Flounder and finally makes a connection with her estranged father.
The Little Mermaid (the original) continues the tale. With music now restored to Atlantica, Ariel and her sisters prepare to give a royal concert, however Ariel has fallen in love with human things and forgets the occasion, encuring the rathe of her father. She arrives home for a scolding but it is also revealed she swam to the surface with Flounder. Trition does not want his daughter to die the way his dear Queen did years before at the hands of humans and demands Ariel never return to the surface again. But the problem is that Ariel wants nothing more then to walk on land. She then makes a pact with the sea witch Ursula in order to become human for three days in the hopes of being with her one true love, a human Prince named Eric. As you can imagine she does succeed in living happily ever after...
Hence we reach: The Little Mermaid: Return To The Sea, a highly fitting ending to the trilogy. Here Ariel gives birth to a daughter named Melody. But Ursula's evil sister Morganna wishes to use Melody in order to capture King Trition's tridant and take over the sea (something her sister had failed to do). Ariel sees no choice but to seperate Melody from the sea and hide her mermaid heritage from her. She finally understands why her father wished to protect her in the original film and, when Melody runs away, seeks to tell her daughter the truth and finally restore the alliance of land and sea that was broken so many years before.
Overall the series is highly strong as a trilogy. There are themes that echo throughout all three films unifying them as if they were originally intended to be viewed as one. Seeing Ariel grow as a character is most interesting as is the progression of many of the characters in the saga. The music is stunning in all three films and the recurrance of the 'Part Of Your World' theme as a tie between all three films really brings everything together. It is especially powerful in 'Return To The Sea' in the ultimate climax of the series in which choices must be made by not only Ariel but also her daughter. The other thing that is most gratifying is the theme explored in the films about parents and children. Ariel's bond to her mother through song, her strained relationship with her father and finally her relationship with her own child really gives the series a link that emotionally holds the series together and really makes for a satisfying climax in Return To The Sea.
Overall I recommend these films be viewed as one. I love the original Little Mermaid and I feel as a series, watched in order, this is the strongest trilogy Disney has ever produced.
Summary of The Little Mermaid Trilogy
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 12/16/2008