"The Little Mermaid" Myth

[Animaniac93-98]

What should be required reading for Disney fans, an article on what really sparked the growth of Disney animation in the late 80s/early 90s:

http://talkbacker.com/movies/the-outsider-the-little-mermaid-and-the-second-golden-age/id=6745

 

[RandomPrincess]

What should be required reading for Disney fans, an article on what really sparked the growth of Disney animation in the late 80s/early 90s:

http://talkbacker.com/movies/the-outsider-the-little-mermaid-and-the-second-golden-age/id=6745

Interesting read!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Funny how, once again, it was all started by a mouse.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I bet Iger would get rid of the animation division if he could. Every film is a risk, after all - and he's into "sure things", as evidenced by his purchase of Marvel and Lucasfilm. He's the same guy who tried to sell the parks, remember? Eisner and Iger - two cement-brained CEOs without a speck of creativity between them. Fie on them both.

 

[flynnibus]

Well... It can also be said the success of TLM is what set the formula and opened the gates.

It may not have been the seed - but it was success that pushed the gas.

It's place is worthwhile

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Well... It can also be said the success of TLM is what set the formula and opened the gates.

It may not have been the seed - but it was success that pushed the gas.

It's place is worthwhile

It has its place, but the corporate narrative that fans eagerly agree with is that Little Mermaid was pulled out of thin air and magically made everything better for Disney animation. That ignores the financial, technical and culutral influences of the movies preceeding it, including An American Tail, Roger Rabbit (a far bigger success that made it OK for adults to like "cartoons" again) and even Oliver and Company (which bested Tail's record just a year before and gave animators more experimentation with blending computer graphics and hand drawings). The real story, all explained in the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty, is far more interesting and important at showing how Disney once viewed its competiton and corporate pride. It's common place now, but in 1986 the idea of Disney being beat at their own game (and by an ex-employee no less) was a major upset, as Eisner would say in his book Work in Progress.

One error in the article though, Roger Rabbit was not the #1 movie of 1988. It was #2 after Rain Man.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Also interesting to note that Little Mermaid was the first time a new Disney animated feature would be released to video a few months after its theatrical run. Even though Disney started releasing its animated movies to own in 1985, it took 5 years to adopt this policy.

 

[Figments Friend]

Nice to see the truth 'out there'.

It always irritated me that history seemed to 'forget' about Don Bluth's excellent 'An American Tail' feature.
It was a sensation back when it was originally released, and many people assumed it was a 'Disney feature'.
I clearly remember the time period...it was exciting to see animation 'coming back' after a dry period in the late 70s and early 80s.
The only other bright spot as far as forwarding the art form was Bluth's other excellent animated effort 'The Secret of NIMH' which was released two years prior to 'Tail'.

Yes, in truth...it was 'Tail' that whipped the public up and got them excited about animation again.
The films that followed it continued to stir the pot of excitement until 'The Little Mermaid' made said pot boil over into the mainstream big time.
The musical score helped push it into the spotlight more then previous efforts, in my opinion.

Great article to read...thanks for sharing.

 

[IndianaJones]

Loved An American Tale. Just as much a part of my childhood as any of the classic Disney films. That and The Land Before Time.

Both of them hold up in my mind. I can't wait to share them with my kids.