Mermaid Signage Gruesome?

[Pixiedustmaker]

Couldn't help but notice, (and be really surprised) that they went with Ariel tacked on to a shipwreck, (a la wooden mermaids/women on the front of boats), as the entrance sign for the attraction. Sort of looks like she is crucified, or at least in an uncomfortable position being afixed to the front of a ship!

I would ask the young Ariel fan in my house what she thinks, but I kind of think the image might upset her. Don't feel that the signage makes sense, or is even appropriate for little girls who might wonder why Ariel is stuck, or perhaps being smashed by a ship, this is, after all, how Ariel's mom died! She was hit by a ship smashing into the coast!

*Edit, just showed the picture to three other adults without prompting, they think it is "gross", "weird", and "doesn't look right." When I mentioned that this was how Ariel's Mom dies, they got upset.

 

[CTXRover]

Looks fantastic imo. Very creative way that thematically makes sense to have an Ariel figure outside the ride. Not sure this needed a new thread when you already made this point in the thread where this pic was first posted though.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I think I kinda get your drift..the fact that Ariel is being used as a figurehead for a shipwreck does make the scenario seem a little odd...perhaps it would look better and be a wee bit less disturbing if the figurehead wasn't painted?

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Looks fantastic imo. Very creative way that thematically makes sense to have an Ariel figure outside the ride. Not sure this needed a new thread when you already made this point in the thread where this pic was first posted though.

I felt that it needed its own thread, kind of surprised they made this decision, seriously, looks so wrong. I'd bet real money that this sign is history at some point.

 

[Lee]

It's kinda cool. I like it.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

I think I kinda get your drift..the fact that Ariel is being used as a figurehead for a shipwreck does make the scenario seem a little odd...perhaps it would look better and look a wee less disturbing if the figurehead wasn't painted?

In the concept art, the figurehead was a generic, and faded mermaid, not Ariel. This figure clearly is Ariel, doesn't make sense, IMHO, at all.

 

[SirNim]

In the concept art, the figurehead was a generic, and faded mermaid, not Ariel.

I was just gonna say... That would have been much more sensible. But, of course... The thinking must have been, Why use a generic mermaid as the figurehead when we can use Ariel and remove all doubt that there is indeed an Ariel attraction ready and waiting just up ahead? The generic faded non-painted wooden mermaid would have been more tasteful and classier.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

It's kinda cool. I like it.

I think adults get it, but its sort of something I'd expect somebody besides Disney to make as it isn't true to story. Will little kids, girls 4-7 get it? I doubt it.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

I was just gonna say... That would have been much more sensible. But, of course... The thinking must have been, Why use a generic mermaid as the figurehead when we can use Ariel and remove all doubt that there is indeed an Ariel attraction ready and waiting just up ahead? The generic faded non-painted wooden mermaid would have been more tasteful and classier.

I was fine with the generic mermaid, as it sort of hints to tales of mermaid and such. But it looks like somebody bought the rights to Ariel's image and decided to open a Red Lobster, so they built a fake ship out front and tacked up Ariel because, of course, everybody knows wooden mermaids were nailed on the front of ships! A little tacky, not tasteful.

Ariel, the young mermaid sitting on a rock looking at Eric's ship is Ariel's story, this monstrosity reduces Ariel to a generic mermaid, a smiling unaware bimbo tacked on the front of a shipwreck, oblivious to the world around her because she is reduced to an inanimate object.

 

[Timothy_Q]

aren't you always a ray of sunshine and positivity

 

[Magenta Panther]

I was fine with the generic mermaid, as it sort of hints to tales of mermaid and such. But it looks like somebody bought the rights to Ariel's image and decided to open a Red Lobster, so they built a fake ship out front and tacked up Ariel because, of course, everybody knows wooden mermaids were nailed on the front of ships! A little tacky, not tasteful.

Ariel, the young mermaid sitting on a rock looking at Eric's ship is Ariel's story, this monstrosity reduces Ariel to a generic mermaid, a smiling unaware bimbo tacked on the front of a shipwreck, oblivious to the world around her because she is reduced to an inanimate object.

Red Lobster, lol!

 

[scoobygirl39541]

Story/theming wise, I can see where people would have a problem and feel like it "ruins the magic"... but from an adult point of view, I think its a nice touch and looks great!!

 

[Magenta Panther]

aren't you always a ray of sunshine and positivity

Well, at least we're not in the OTHER thread dissing waterfalls!

 

[Kuhio]

Don't feel that the signage makes sense, or is even appropriate for little girls who might wonder why Ariel is stuck, or perhaps being smashed by a ship, this is, after all, how Ariel's mom died! She was hit by a ship smashing into the coast!

I'm assuming that happens in one of the direct-to-video sequels, since I've never heard of it. I'll bet that the great majority of WDW visitors -- even ardent Disney fans -- only know Ariel's story insofar as it's depicted in the 1989 theatrical release. Anything in the subsequent DVD "cheapquels" is pretty minimal in the collective Disney fan consciousness.

In other words, that event is not canonical.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Story/theming wise, I can see where people would have a problem and feel like it "ruins the magic"... but from an adult point of view, I think its a nice touch and looks great!!

Given that they spent some $$ to build this thing, why didn't they do something that made sense? Like Ariel sitting on a rock looking at Eric's Castle, instead they retrofitted the ship with Ariel as in the concept art it was a generic Mermaid. Doesn't make sense as Ariel was never nailed onto a ship, or even a shipwrecked ship, in the film, even though they spent money on the ship to make it look nice.

I must not be an adult as it does wreck the magic for me.

 

[SirNim]

decided to open a Red Lobster, so they built a fake ship out front and tacked up Ariel

...

reduces Ariel to a generic mermaid, a smiling unaware bimbo tacked on the front of a shipwreck, oblivious to the world around her because she is reduced to an inanimate object.

Yes.

Yes.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

I'm assuming that happens in one of the direct-to-video sequels, since I've never heard of it. I'll bet that the great majority of WDW visitors -- even ardent Disney fans -- only know Ariel's story insofar as it's depicted in the 1989 theatrical release. Anything in the subsequent DVD "cheapquels" is pretty minimal in the collective Disney fan consciousness.

In other words, that event is not canonical.

If you have a five year old Ariel fanatic living under your roof . . . you're all to well aware of the continuing adventures of the Little Mermaid and her daughter Melody.

So, are you saying that five year old girls, who love Ariel and know of her continuing adventures by heart, don't matter when it comes to the design and construction of a ride which supposedly is targeted to them?

 

[Avenger117]

I didn't see it as disturbing at all. Shes smiling! I looked at it more as her swimming around the ship like she does in the movie. She is an inquisitive character that likes to explore ships and things from the human world.

Is it just me or are people becoming really cynical?

 

[Magenta Panther]

I didn't see it as disturbing at all. Shes smiling! I looked at it more as her swimming around the ship like she does in the movie. She is an inquisitive character that likes to explore ships and things from the human world.

Is it just me or are people becoming really cynical?

Personally, I would really prefer that Ariel wasn't the figurehead of the ship. It makes no narrative sense, and it robs the scene of a certain authenticity. JMO.

 

[Timothy_Q]

Given that they spent some $$ to build this thing, why didn't they do something that made sense? Like Ariel sitting on a rock looking at Eric's Castle, instead they retrofitted the ship with Ariel as in the concept art it was a generic Mermaid. Doesn't make sense as Ariel was never nailed onto a ship, or even a shipwrecked ship, in the film, even though they spent money on the ship to make it look nice.

Because that's not Ariel herself, is that so hard to understand? Ariel is in her grotto right next door.
Just like that isn't Gaston in the center of the village.

These are statues.

I don't know the backstory, but probably, Eric built a ship honoring Ariel. Just like Gaston made a fountain/statue honoring himself.

Seriously, stop with the broken record thing.