Content Editor
June 02, 2023

The Little Mermaid is a beloved Disney classic that generations of fans have enjoyed. The 1989 animated film tells the story of a mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human. She makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to trade her tail for legs, but the deal comes with a price. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards for its music and helping to revive the Disney Renaissance.

In 2023, Disney released a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian. Rob Marshall directed the film and features a new musical score by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

While the two films share many similarities, there are also some key differences. Many fans have voiced their love and disappointment with the 2023 remake, but that doesn't make it less of a great film.

In this article, we'll be looking at the key differences between the 1989 film and its 2023 remake.

Part of Both Worlds: 5 Differences Between Little Mermaid 1989 and 2023

Story 

The 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is a faithful adaptation of the original film, but there are some key differences in the story. For example, the 2023 remake expands on Ariel's backstory and gives her more agency in her own story. In the original film, Ariel is a young mermaid who dreams of becoming human. She makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to trade her tail for legs, but the deal comes with a price. She must give up her voice and her fins, and if she cannot win the love of Prince Eric within three days, she will become Ursula's prisoner.

In the 2023 remake, Ariel's backstory is expanded. We learn that she is the youngest daughter of King Triton, and that she has always felt like an outsider in her father's kingdom. She is drawn to the human world and its culture, and she dreams of one day becoming human herself. When she meets Prince Eric, she is immediately smitten, and she makes a deal with Ursula in order to be with him. However, in the 2023 remake, Ariel is not as passive as she is in the original film. She is more proactive in her pursuit of her dreams, and she is not afraid to stand up to Ursula. She also has a stronger relationship with her father, and she is more willing to defy him in order to follow her heart.

Overall, the 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is a faithful adaptation of the original film, but it also makes some changes that make it a more modern and relevant film for today's audiences.

Characterization

The 1989 animated version of The Little Mermaid features a more traditional Disney princess archetype. Ariel is young, beautiful, and kind-hearted. She is also headstrong and impulsive, which leads her to make some questionable decisions, such as striking a deal with the sea witch Ursula in exchange for legs. However, Ariel's heart is always in the right place, and she ultimately learns the importance of family and self-acceptance.

Image from IGN

The 2023 live-action version of The Little Mermaid features a more complex and nuanced characterization of Ariel. She is still young and beautiful, but she is also more independent and self-assured. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it means going against her father or the sea witch. Ariel's journey in the 2023 film is one of self-discovery and empowerment. She learns to embrace her own identity and to live her life on her own terms.

Music & Score 

The music in the 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid is iconic, with songs like "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," and "Kiss the Girl" becoming instant classics. The 2023 live-action remake of the film features many of the same songs, but with some new arrangements and lyrics. For example, the song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" has a new verse that was written by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The new songs in the remake were also written by Menken and Miranda, and they include "The World Above" and "Where the Mermaids Are."

Overall, the music in both films is beautiful and memorable. However, the 2023 remake does a good job of updating the songs for a new generation of audiences.

Casting

The 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid featured a predominantly white cast, with Jodi Benson voicing Ariel, Christopher Daniel Barnes as Prince Eric, Pat Carroll as Ursula, and Buddy Hackett as Scuttle. The 2023 live-action remake, on the other hand, features a more diverse cast, with Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.

The casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel was met with some backlash from fans who felt that Ariel should be white, as she was in the original animated film. However, Bailey defended her casting, stating that she was "honored" to play the role, and that she hoped her casting would inspire other young girls of color.

Image from Average Socialite

The 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid also features a more diverse supporting cast than the original animated film. For example, Daveed Diggs plays Sebastian, the crab who is Ariel's friend and advisor, and Javier Bardem plays King Triton, Ariel's father.

The casting of a more diverse cast in the 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is a reflection of the changing demographics of the United States. In 2020, the Census Bureau reported that the United States is now a majority-minority country, meaning that more than half of the population is not white. The casting of a more diverse cast in The Little Mermaid is a step towards reflecting the diversity of the American audience.

Visual Style

The 1989 animated version of The Little Mermaid has a distinctly cartoony visual style, with exaggerated features and bright colors. The characters are expressive and the world they inhabit is full of whimsy and magic. The 2023 live-action version, on the other hand, has a more realistic visual style. The characters are more human-like and the world they inhabit is more grounded in reality. However, the live-action version still retains some of the animated film's signature elements, such as the vibrant colors and the use of music to tell the story.

Overall, the 1989 animated version of The Little Mermaid has a more fantastical and dreamlike visual style, while the 2023 live-action version has a more grounded and realistic visual style.

Image from IMDb

Both films are excellent in their own way. The 1989 animated version is a classic Disney film that is full of magic, adventure, and romance. The 2023 live-action version is a fresh and modern take on the classic story, with stunning visuals and a more complex and nuanced characterization of Ariel. 

If you're still torn between watching the 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid, this is the sign that you've been waiting for - who knows, you might just find the magic in it that others can't.