Happily Ever After is an animated series of the late nineties that featured re-tellings of famous fairytales, usually with modern or politically correct twists. Naturally, they had a re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, this time with an East Asian flavour.

The ever-familiar post-rescue beach scene.

In this version, the little mermaid's name is Mija, and she's the youngest daughter of King Young-Jin of the underwater kingdom. Unlike most of the other incarnations of the little mermaid, she's bubbly and excitable in a manner that's more fitting for a teen heroine of today. When the episode starts she is celebrating her 15th birthday, and the only present she asks for is the chance to visit the surface. Mija's starfish sidekick, Nuri, doesn't approve, but her father gives Mija his blessings to visit the world above.

The story moves along in the typical manner with Mija falling alove with Prince Chow-Yun and making a deal with the sea witch-crab, with the real "twists" arriving relatively late, just as Prince Chow-Yun is about to accept Princess Michiko as his bride. I won't elaborate on the ending's details here, but suffice to say that there's a reason this series was titled Happily Ever After.

CAST
TIA CARRERE as Mija
TIM LOUINIBOS as Chow-Yun
GEDDE WATANABE as Nuri
CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA as King Young-Jin
MARGARET CHO as Hul Muh Ni 		JEANNE MORI as Michiko
BRIAN TOUCHI as Turtle Photographer/Tsui
KAREN LEW as Mi Kyung
HEIDI AHN as Mi-Jin
AMY HILL as Ming

The happy mer-family pose for their portrait. Mija is amazed by the sky. Prince Chow-Yun. Mija saves Chow-Yun's life. Groggy, Chow-Yun only catches a glimpse of his real saviour. Michiko, the lady who happened to be at the right place at the right time. Chow-Yun thanks Michiko. The crab sea witch. My, doesn't this look familiar. Mija wakes up on shore. Chow-Yun finds the little mermaid. Mija, at step closer to her happy ending? They quickly become best friends. Depressed Mija.