In the live-action version, all of that changes. We learn that Eric, now played by John Hauer-King, is not a prince by birth— he was adopted by the king and queen. It's suggested that Eric's biological parents died in a shipwreck.

Who is Eric's mom in The Little Mermaid?

At the beginning of the film, we're introduced to a rainbow collection of mermaids, from Asian to African – in what made-up a kind of all lives matter pool of mermaids. And then Queen Selina, Eric's adopted mother, played by Noma Dumezweni, is also a Black woman (who does not have a Black king as a husband).

Where is Eric's kingdom in The Little Mermaid?

The magnificent cliffs of the Sardinian coastline are home to the fictional palace of Prince Eric, up high above the sea. “It was important to find a location that could provide the epic setting that the story needs,” Rob Marshall told a press conference. “Sardinia ticked all the boxes.

What happened to Ariel's mother?

While it is known that her mother perished, there is no story attached to the event. However, much later, in 2008, an animated The Little Mermaid prequel revealed that Ariel's mother was crushed by a pirate ship during an altercation between humans and merpeople.

Is The Little Mermaid a dark story?

Mermaids Have No Souls In The Fairy Tale

One of the ways that The Little Mermaid's original story is dark compared to the Disney adaptation is that Hans Christian Andersen's story pays particular attention to the souls and the potential afterlife of the individuals in the story.

How Eric's REAL Parents Reveal A Secret Link Between Triton & Selina In Live Action Little Mermaid..

Is Ariel The Black Little Mermaid?

The new version stars Halle Bailey, most known for her role in the Grammy-nominated Chloe x Halle R&B duo, as Ariel in the actress's first starring feature film role. This casting of a Black woman as the iconic mermaid has made waves.

What is the backstory behind Little Mermaid?

Lesson Summary

Andersen's fairytale was based on another mermaid tale Undine about a mermaid who falls in love with a prince. Andersen was unhappy with Undine's ending and decided to write a much darker version of a mermaid tale that included the transformation of mermaids into seafoam upon their death.

Who are Prince Eric's parents?

It's suggested that Eric's biological parents died in a shipwreck. We finally meet Prince Eric's mother. In the animated film, we never meet Eric's parents. But the live-action movie introduces audiences to Eric's mother, Queen Selina.

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.

Are Ursula and Triton siblings?

Ursula was played by Melissa McCarthy in the 2023 live action remake of The Little Mermaid, directed by Rob Marshall. In this version, like with the Broadway musical, Ursula is the estranged younger sister of King Triton (played by Javier Bardem), thus making her the paternal aunt to Ariel and her sisters in this film.

Where is Prince Eric's father?

It is explained through dialogue that Eric's father has passed away, and it is Grimsby's duty to help Eric find a bride, so he can return to the throne properly, despite Eric's affinity for exploring the seas.

What is Prince Eric's Castle based on?

INSPIRATION: Chateau de Chillon in Lake Geneva, Switzerland

This historic monument dates back to the twelfth century and is thought to be the inspiration for Prince Eric's Castle, given its lakeside location.

What time period is The Little Mermaid set in?

The story of "The Little Mermaid" takes in the mid-1800s, predominantly, in three different locations: the underwater kingdom, the Prince's palace, and the sea witch's dwelling. The little mermaid travels between these three places throughout the story.

What happened to Eric's dad in The Little Mermaid?

It is explained through dialogue that Eric's father has died, and it is Grimsby's duty to help Eric find a bride so he can return to the throne properly, despite Eric's affinity for exploring the seas.

Why is Ursula not a mermaid?

Rather, Ursula's appearance is radically different from her family, and she sports tentacles that look like a permanent black dress. 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.

What are Ariel's sisters being renamed?

In the updated version, Ariel's sisters—renamed Karina (Kajsa Mohammar), Tamika (Sienna King), Mala (Karolina Conchet), Caspia (Nathalie Sorrell), Perla (Lorena Andrea), and Indira (Simone Ashley)—have slightly bigger roles.

What is Ariel's original ethnicity?

In the 1989 movie, Ariel was born in the fictional underwater kingdom of Atlantica, which technically makes her Atlantican, not Danish. As Ariel is half fish, she cannot be categorized by our ethnicities and races.

What is Prince Eric's backstory?

It's revealed early on in the film that Prince Eric was not born a prince. Instead, it turns out, he was rescued from a shipwreck (the one that killed his birth parents) and adopted by the island's Queen (played by Noma Dumezweni).

Why is Ursula an octopus?

“There's so much you can do with tentacles. They give a creepy feeling,” supervising animator Ruben Aquino told Premiere magazine in 1989, adding the team ultimately decided to make her look like an octopus.

Is Sebastian a crab or a lobster?

While some of Sebastian's features resemble a lobster, Sebastian is definitely a crab, as is stated in The Little Mermaid itself a few times. This includes the scene where the obsessed Chef Louis refers to Sebastian as a crab, and since he's a professional, he really should know.

What is the mental illness in The Little Mermaid?

In the movie The Little Mermaid (Clements & Musker, 1989), Ariel displays symptoms of disposophobia, which is defined as the fear of getting rid of things.

What color was the original Little Mermaid?

Since the animated feature film had a white mermaid as Ariel, some people are angry that Disney has gone with a black actress in the live-action. Some people also believe that Hans Christian Andersen described the Little mermaid as a white mermaid in his book.

What is the main message of The Little Mermaid?

Furthermore, The Little Mermaid emphasizes love and sacrifice, as Ariel is willing to give up part of her world for Eric. This theme highlights the importance of putting the needs of others before our own, which is a common theme in psychology.