In the recently released book, Disney Princess: Beyond The Tiara, it was confirmed that supermodel Christie Brinkley was a huge source of inspiration for the design of The Little Mermaid's Ariel. Meanwhile, a young Alyssa Milano was also an unknowing model for how the famous mermaid would look on screen.

Who was Ariel's face based on?

Emily Zemler's new book Disney Princess: Beyond The Tiara explains that “[a]nimator and Disney Legend Glen Keane, who was largely responsible for Ariel's look” primarily drew inspiration for these and other elements of Ariel's design from four women: his wife Linda, model Christie Brinkley, actress Alyssa Milano, and ...

Who was the original Ariel based on?

The character is based on the title character of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" but was developed into a different personality for the 1989 animated film adaptation.

Who was the inspiration for The Little Mermaid?

While the original tale was likely influenced by folklore about mermaids and sirens, scholars have speculated that "The Little Mermaid" was also inspired by the author's own life, as some events in the story parallel his experiences with navigating family pressures, discovering his true identity, and pursuing love.

Who was Belle modeled after?

Animated by James Baxter and Mark Henn, the former of whom based the character's graceful gait on those of impressionist Edgar Degas' ballerinas, Belle's European facial features were inspired by those of British actresses Vivien Leigh and Audrey Hepburn.

ARIEL Live-Action References in Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ (1989) COMPARISON

Who is Princess Aurora based on?

Aurora is based on the princess in Charles Perrault's fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty", as well as the titular heroine of the Brothers Grimm's version of the story, "Little Briar Rose". Some elements, such as her name, are derived from the ballet The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Who is Snow White modeled after?

A young dancer named Marge Champion (nicknamed Margie Bell) served as the live-action model for Snow White. (Margie Bell, daughter of animator Ernest Belcher, also later modeled for the Blue Fairy character in Disney's 1940 film Pinocchio.)

What is Prince Eric's nationality?

Well, one would think it could be a sort of “magical Denmark” given the Danish origin of the story (thoroughly reimagined by Disney). Also, Eric has a Scandinavian name.

Was John Stamos in Little Mermaid?

The Little Mermaid Live! (TV Movie 2019) - John Stamos as Chef Louis - IMDb.

What ethnicity was Ariel?

Disney's Ariel is not the same as Anderson's little mermaid. The movie is loosely based on the fairy tale, so Disney has the freedom to give Ariel any skin color they want. In the 1989 movie, Ariel was born in the fictional underwater kingdom of Atlantica, which technically makes her Atlantican, not Danish.

Who are Prince Eric's real parents?

The Little Mermaid Remake Reveals Eric Was Adopted By The King & Queen. In the animated version of The Little Mermaid, Prince Eric's parents aren't present, but the 2023 live-action remake features the addition of his mother, Queen Selina.

What happened to Ariel's mom?

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.

Which princess is based on a real person?

Pocahontas is the only Disney princess who is based on a real person, rather than a mythical figure. Born on the land that is now known as Virginia, the real Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, the powerful leader of an alliance of local tribes.

Was Ariel's mother a mermaid?

Queen Athena is shown to be a stunningly beautiful and attractive mermaid with long, red hair tied in a partial ponytail, green eyes, and an aqua tail. Of all her daughters, her youngest, Ariel, resembles her the most.

Who was Princess Jasmine modeled after?

Created by screenwriters and directors Ron Clements and John Musker with co-screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, Jasmine is based on Badroulbadour, a princess who appears in the One Thousand and One Nights folktale "Aladdin and the Magical Lamp." Jasmine as she appears in Aladdin (1992).

Is Ursula Triton's sister?

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.

Is Eric's mom a mermaid?

She is a human queen and the adoptive mother of Prince Eric. She has dark skin and curly hair, and she wears elegant gowns and jewelry.

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.

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.

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.

Why is Ursula not a mermaid?

Betrayed and developing great hate against the human and her father, Ursula decided she no longer wanted to be a mermaid and used her father's trident to transform her fishtail into tentacles, becoming the Sea Witch.

Was Snow White originally blonde?

Zemler's Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara displayed concept art with Snow White with a different hair color. Other early concept art showed Snow White as either blonde or ginger, as these depictions weren't uncommon.

Is Giselle based on Snow White?

Created by screenwriter Bill Kelly and director Kevin Lima, Giselle is both a parody of and homage to classic Disney princess characters, specifically borrowing inspiration from Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, and Ariel. Adams was selected out of approximately 300 actresses who auditioned for the role.