Day 37: The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea

But how old was Ariel when she had Melody?: Our 37th Movie!

1. What movie did you watch?

The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea. The film was released in 2000, and starred Jodi Benson reprising her role as Ariel. Fun Fact: the movie is listed among the 50 worst children's movies ever made.

2. Have you seen it before/ how long has it been since you last saw it?

Maddie: Yes, I used to watch it a lot when I was younger but haven't in years now.

Alexis: I also used to watch it a lot when I was little but I haven't seen it since VHS's went out of fashion, because I only had it on tape!

3. What memories did it recall?

Maddie: It used to be on Disney Channel ALL the time, so I remember watching it there, but otherwise nothing specific.

Alexis: My sister and I used to have the best CD-ROM computer game that went with this movie! It had great games on it, like diving for shells and trying to complete a maze to get the trident, I remember them all very vividly because we used to play it all the time!

4. What did you think of it?

Maddie: I liked it! I think that the music is very fun and the animation is good (not up to their usual but that's okay). The story seems a bit ridiculous at times- literally Melody is pissed so she gives Morgana the Trident even though she knows she shouldn't- but overall a fun little movie!

Alexis: I really liked it, I think it's very good in terms of sequels. The animation doesn't look cheesy, and I think the story is well done. I love finding out what happened after Ariel and Eric's happily ever after!

5. Favorite moment:

Maddie: I really like the introduction of Tip and Dash, particularly Dash- when I was younger I did a report of Walruses and have loved them ever since- so he's a shoe in for favorite. I think their song, "Titanic Tip and Daring Dash: Adventurers/Explorers" is great. they were very Timon and Pumba (who served as inspiration) and that's fine with me!

Alexis: I also really liked Tip and Dash! They're so sweet and cute, and such good friends to Melody. I remember always laughing at their scenes when I was little. I also really enjoyed all the musical numbers, especially "For a Moment". The music is great for a sequel Disney film!

6. Any other comments:

Maddie: I'm very confused by what ocean- sorry SEA (they literally never call it the ocean)- they lived in! Atlantica seems to be a very tropical environment but they also very easily get to the Arctic where Morgana lives- color me confused.

VERSUS

Alexis: I had many questions surrounding this movie, such as why Eric doesn't need a jacket in the arctic weather? Also, if Ariel was 16 in the first movie, how long did they wait to have Melody? Was Ariel technically a teen mother? These are important questions! 

Day 23: The Little Mermaid

 Life is the Bubbles! When we watch The Little Mermaid!

Disney Dream Portrait: Julianne Moore as Ariel and Michael Phelps as Merman (2008)

1. What movie did you watch?
The Little Mermaid. The film was released in 1989 and is based on the Danish fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson. It is well known for being the first movie of the Disney Renaissance, named because it was the era when Disney experienced a "creative resurgence in producing successful animated films based on well-known stories, which restored public and critical interest in The Walt Disney Company as a whole". The movie was written and directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, with music produced by Alan Menken, the team who worked on many of the movies of the next decade. It became the first animated hit for Disney since The Rescuers and received high critical praise. The movie's success allowed for the expansion of the Disney Animation department. Fun fact: The fun, flowing effect of Ariel's hair underwater was based on footage of astronaut Sally Ride in weightless conditions. 

2. Have you seen it before/ how long has it been since you last saw it?
Maddie: This is a classic, so of course I've seen it before, but not since the summer- July or August, so it had been a while.
Alexis: It's actually been a little while for me, probably a year or two since I've seen it.

3. What memories did it recall?
Maddie: It made me think of all the times I've been to Disney's California Adventure and gone on the Little Mermaid ride when I was tired and bored because it never has a line. And Ariel's hair is the actual worst on the animatronic, they tried to change it and fix it and still couldn't.

Also, Ursula's killer chins on that animatronic:

Lastly, it makes me think about Ursula on Once Upon a Time and her horrible horrible tentacles (also how they love to screw with these stories).

Alexis: Obviously it brought back memories of watching it as a kid. Seeing it also brought back memories of the original commercial for the movie on VHS. They had the preview on all of the other Disney Renaissance movies, so I used to see it every single time I watched one of those movies (which was a lot). It's just funny to me that I know certain lines so well because of that preview. 

4. What did you think of it?
Maddie: I loved it! Unsurprisingly it brought me right back to my childhood and it was just so much fun. Howard Ashman's work on this movie made it what it was and it is so impressive. Without him Sebastian would have been English, and "Part of your World" and "Under the Sea" wouldn't exist.

Alexis: Amazing, fun, classic. This movie is great, and it set the tone for so many other amazing Disney films that came after. The story is great, and all of the characters are so heartwarming and lovable! Then of course there's the songs, which are spectacular. Overall, it's a great film that really inspired the animation industry at the time, and I love it. 

5. Favorite moment:
Maddie: Glen Keane's animation work on Ariel always amazes me. He was a big, goofy, guy and he drew her so delicately and so clearly understood her emotions. (Note: he also created and animated Rapunzel in Tangled and is still working with and without Disney.)

An Illustration of Keane and the Characters he Created

He recently made this and IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL:

Alexis: I think my favorite moment(s) are the musical numbers. The colorful animation paired with the amazing songs make them the most memorable part for me. I can't help but sing along to them all! 

6. Any other comments:
Maddie: I'm so happy we are officially in the Disney Renaissance.

Source: http://thelast-thingido.tumblr.com/post/113192033153/ouat-recap-unforgiven-4x14

Alexis: Oh Once Upon A Time and your weird adaptations! But anyways, yes I'm very excited to finally be in my favorite period of Disney movies.