Created by directors and screenwriters Ron Clements and John Musker, Ursula is based on the sea witch character who appears in the 1837 fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen. However, her minor role was greatly expanded into a much more prominent villain for the film.

What is the origin of the name Ursula?

Ursula is a feminine name of Latin origin, imploring caution against quick assumptions. Translated from the Latin ursa, Ursela means "little she-bear"—adding a notable vulnerability to an otherwise ferocious being.

Who was Ursula in mythology?

Ursula is the deity of the sea, worshiped by merpeople and humans. She usually granted mermaids the ability to walk on land for twelve hours from high tide until the next one a year later.

Who was the original Ursula based on?

Ultimately, the inspiration for the cauldron-stirring tentacled witch — voiced by Pat Carroll — came from an unlikely place: Drag. Specifically, Divine, the drag alter ego of Harris Glenn Milstead.

Why is Ursula an octopus and not a mermaid?

It's possible Ursula is not a mermaid in appearance because she and Triton did not have the same mother or father. If they're half siblings, Ursula's tentacles make more sense.

Disney Villain Ursula's True Origin Story Isn't What You Think

What is Ursula's backstory?

In this novel, Ursula is King Triton's younger sister who was betrayed by him as a child for choosing a tentacled form instead of a mermaid's tail, and grew up as a human in the town of Ipswich with an adoptive human father.

Who killed Ursula in the original Little Mermaid?

At the end of the 1989 animated film, Eric saves the day and kills Ursula. But in the new movie, Ariel is no longer the damsel in distress.

Is Ursula Ariel's aunt?

Ursula from the Little Mermaid, is King Triton's sister and Ariel's aunt.

What happened to Ariel's mother?

Ariel's Mother Had a Brutal Disney Death

Athena took too long to try and escape (going back for a music box she'd gotten for her husband as a gift), and she ends up crushed between the pirate ship and the rocks of the cove. Ariel's mother is far from the only material figure in Disney Animation to die.

What is the true story of Ursula?

In the past, Ursula was a resident of King Triton's palace, before being banished and exiled by order of the king. Scorned, she has since vowed to exact vengeance by harnessing the power of the king's trident and installing herself as ruler of all the ocean.

Who is Ursula in the Bible?

According to legend, Ursula was the daughter of a C5th Christian king in Britain. She was a beautiful, intelligent, outgoing and friendly girl. Ursula was deeply spiritual and at an early age had dedicated herself to God, deciding to remain a virgin because of her love for Christ.

Did Ursula have a child?

In Once Upon A Time, Ursula doesn't have a daughter but that character does have a daughter called Uma in the Disney Descendants films.

Which country did Ursula come from?

Ursula von der Leyen was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, to German parents. Her father, Ernst Albrecht, was one of the first European civil servants.

Who is Ursula in Roman mythology?

Ursula (Latin for 'little female bear') was a Romano-British virgin and martyr possibly of royal origin. She is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

Is Ursula a rare name?

The name was best used in the Anglosphere in the 16th century but has since been rather uncommon in English-speaking countries, although its use has been influenced since the twentieth century by the Swiss-born actress Ursula Andress (born 1936).

Why is Ursula not a mermaid?

There, before Ursula is fully evil, she actually chooses to have octopus tentacles instead of the usual fishtails that mermaids have, and Triton betrays her because of her choice, banishing her from the kingdom.

Who is Ursula's father?

In addition to being the god of the sea, Once's Poseidon is also the father of Merrin Dungey's Ursula, a concept omitted from Disney's The Little Mermaid in 1989, though later included in the Broadway musical.

Is Ursula Poseidon's daughter?

Ursula was the younger sister of Triton, their parents were Poseidon ( in Greek mythology, Poseidon is Triton's father ) and Amphitrite ( possibly ). Ursula was born with great power and was a sea goddess of the highest rank.

Why is Scuttle a girl?

Scuttle is not only changed from male to female but is also now a diving bird instead of a seagull. "This was done specifically so that Ariel would only meet Scuttle underwater, because, at the start of our story, Ariel has never dared go above the surface," director Rob Marshall said in production notes.

Was the original Little Mermaid a dark story?

The original story behind The Little Mermaid

In Hans Christian Andersen's original story, things don't end so rosily. In fact, the story is tragic throughout, with Ariel's transformation to human causing her constant agonising pain, before her heart is broken when her prince marries someone else.

What is the true story of The Little Mermaid?

In the original tale, the Little Mermaid fell under the spell of a human whom she saves from drowning, but unlike Disney's adaptation, she was not driven to wish for legs out of curiosity for life on earth, or her love for the princes.

Why do Ariel's sisters look different?

One theory is that each of Ariel's sisters represents different oceans that are home to various cultures and ethnicities. It's pretty problematic to have mermaids who all look the same representing such an expansive underwater world.

Was Ariel's mom crushed?

Most of the mermaids and mermen escape safely, but Attina, the oldest princess, gets her tail stuck between two rocks. Athena is able to free her, but she is crushed to death by the ship while trying to save the music box, and the ship sinks after hitting the rocks. Athena's death leaves Triton completely devastated.

Why did Disney make Ariel black?

Representation of an African American woman as a love interest and a beautiful being should become natural. This version of The Little Mermaid is great for young people because it allows them to better appreciate diversity and gain a better sense of the world.