The original fairy tale was written by a Danish author by the name of Hans Christian Anderson, and Carls Jacobson was not only fascinated by the ballerina but also with the Little Mermaid Story. When he gifted the statue as a tribute to the city of Copenhagen, soon enough it became an icon representing this city.

Why is The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen so popular?

Why is the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen so famous? It's famous because it's one of our symbols for Denmark's most known and celebrated fairy tale author, Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote the original fairy tale which the Disney movie is (loosely) based on and we take much pride in his accomplishments.

Why does Denmark have a statue of The Little Mermaid?

Carl Jacobsen fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. The brewer was so captivated by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid.

Is The Little Mermaid based on Danish culture?

Although Disney opted to make it a love story, this very much not the plot of the original story as written by Hans Christian Andersen. In fact, in 1837, the author of the Danish tale published Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid), a story that is very different from the one retold by the animation studio.

What is the story of the Danish mermaid?

The story follows the journey of a young mermaid who falls in love with a human prince and makes a deal with a sea witch to become human so that she can be with him. Ultimately, the mermaid must sacrifice to save the prince's life and return to the sea as a spirit.

🇩🇰 THE LITTLE MERMAID STATUE IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: The Famous Landmark Explained

Is Denmark known for mermaids?

If you're a fan of mermaids, you've come to the right place. Denmark, the home of The Little Mermaid (and its author, Hans Christian Andersen), is teeming with mer people above and below the water. Follow our guide to discover the most magical mermaids in Denmark.

Is the Little Mermaid a Swedish story?

The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation in association with Silver Screen Partners IV and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is loosely based on the 1837 Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.

What is the story of The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen?

The sculpture was commissioned in 1909 by the Carlsberg brewer Carl Jacobsen, impressed by the ballet "The little Mermaid" based on a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The sculptor Edward Eriksen sculptured the mermaid in bronze, using his wife Eline as a model for the body.

Is Ariel Greek or Danish?

Ariel's story really begins in Ancient Greece. According to lore, she is a nereid, one of the dozens of daughters of the sea-god Triton. This isn't the first time that the internet has been set alight over the suggestion that famous figures of antiquity could be anything but white.

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 Denmark best known for?

The list of what Denmark is famous for ranges from impeccable modernist design to baroque palaces, a popular, long-reigning royal family to an equally popular quasi-anarchist Copenhagen community, and so much more. Above all, this small nation is proud of its welcoming spirit, which makes it a joy to visit.

What is the Little Mermaid called in Danish?

"The Little Mermaid" (Danish: Den lille havfrue), sometimes translated in English as "The Little Sea Maid", is a fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

What is Copenhagen famous for?

Is Copenhagen expensive to visit?

The short answer is that most things in Copenhagen are more expensive than in other European destinations, such as accommodation, dining, transportation, and activities. Food and alcohol, in particular, tend to cost a lot more.

How far is The Little Mermaid from Copenhagen?

The distance between Copenhagen and The Little Mermaid (statue) is 3 km. How do I travel from Copenhagen to The Little Mermaid (statue) without a car? The best way to get from Copenhagen to The Little Mermaid (statue) without a car is to train which takes 16 min and costs $1 - $3.

What country is Little Mermaid based on?

In Denmark, there is a little mermaid statue that is meant to represent the heritage of the story. Since Hans Christian Andersen was Danish, it is widely theorized that the fairy tale was set around Denmark.

Why did Disney cast a Black Ariel?

On the significance of casting a Black actress as Ariel

Sherri Hope Culver: To have a Disney character who is not just a princess but a live-action, real flesh and blood person that children can be inspired by is important. This is because people of color are less likely to see themselves reflected in the media.

What race is Ariel original?

In the original 1989 Disney animated classic, Ariel's character is White, with straight red hair.

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 is the symbol of Copenhagen?

Watching over Copenhagen since 1913, this sculpture has become its emblem. Perched on a rock near Churchill Park for more than a century, the Little Mermaid has become the symbol of Copenhagen, and by extension, that of Denmark.

Is Ariel supposed to be white?

One thing to note, Hans Christian Andersen left out race, skin color, and character names. For the animated movie, Disney made the little mermaid white, made her hair red, and gave her a name, Ariel.

What is Prince Eric's nationality?

It is never stated in the movie what exactly is the country of origin for Prince Eric. The creators of the movie stated that they got ideas for his castle from Italian, France, and Algerian architecture, so there is a combination of Mediterranean cultures. I always assumed that he was the Prince of Denmark.

Who killed Ursula in the original Little Mermaid?

Ariel kills the Sea Witch at the end of the movie.

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. She takes matters into her own hands and kills Ursula herself.

Who sculpted The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen?

The Little Mermaid Sculpture on the Langelinie at Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen, depicting a mermaid, based on the character in one of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. The sculpture is displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade and was erected in 1913.