I've had this rant in my head for quite a while now, but I finally decided to type it out prim and proper when triggered by a particular surfing session a while back.
It has not escaped my attention how many people dislike Disney's take on The Little Mermaid. I've known it for quite a while, and it hasn't really bothered me because, heck, you can't please everyone, and of course there would be people against Disney's version because of how it "happified" Hans Christian Andersen's original tale. I was okay with that. I love both the Disney version as well as HC Andersen's original melancholy tale, and I know some people just cannot digest both.
But then I chanced upon a site where a particular person slammed Disney's The Little Mermaid using the anime version as a comparison. Some pretty nasty words were used, and he/she/it went on about how the anime was much better, and how Disney really screwed over HC Andersen's original tale.
The reason I got upset at this particular point was because the argument used to slam down Disney's version was that it was "wrong" and untrue to HC Andersen's original story, while the anime version was "right". And apparently that are loads of people who agree with that argument, which bugs me to no end.
(I guess this rant would make a bit more sense only if you've watched both versions.)
Anime version vs Disney version
One. Disney's The Little Mermaid is not so much a movie version as an interpretation of Hans Christian Anderson's works. It was based on the fairy tale, not meant to be a take-for-take version of it. Quite a few people don't realise this (much to my own surprise), but that's always been the way Disney has done their animated works, starting with Snow White. They adapt the story, and yes, they repackage it, but as in tribute to the original work. They don't intend to mutilate, but to make it more accessible to the younger generation. What, did you really think Disney was going to have Eric fall for Vanessa permanently and Ariel commit suicide? That isn't the kind of story they tell, come on.
Two. Hans Christian Andersen's work can be found in practically any bookstore. For all the power the Disney version has, the original fairytale is a must-read classic and within reaching distance for anyone who cares enough to look. So if you're shocked, I tell you, shocked to learn from the anime that the little mermaid doesn't have a happy ending when the fairytale has existed for over two hundred years, I've got nothing else to say.
Three. The anime, while being true to the basic story, also took a number of liberties with the original tale, because it, too, is just an interpretation of original story. In case you didn't know, according to the original story, the little mermaid (who was nameless) was much younger, the Prince was definitely totally and truly in love with the black-haired princess and the mermaid came back to earth as a spirit of the air to guide young lovers. You see, they too added extras, including the bits where the Prince spends time with (and eventually falls for) Marina, Marina's friendship with Fritz, and especially the finale where the Prince finds out that it was Marina all along that saved his life.
Four. Hans Christian Andersen's story was meant to be a folk tale. On some levels yes, it is a children's story, but the moral was for the adults. The Little Mermaid is NOT a story about the love between the mermaid and her prince. It was a story about the mermaid's lack of a soul, and how by falling in love she was able to gain one. Most versions of Andersen's story are chopped up before being printed in children's books, and most notably removed are the lengthy expositions of how merpeople can live for centuries but at the price of not having an immortal soul, and how the mermaid's sacrifice was more to do with herself and her ability to love rather than her yearning to be with the prince. The prince, I would say, is just a secondary character.
Conclusion. Don't get me wrong, I love the original fairytale, along with the two animated versions. They are just Very Different, and in all honesty, I think comparing them against each other is just a big no-no. The anime version and the Disney version ought to watched with different states of mind, and both are wonderful adaptations of the original tale. I love both of them fiercely.
I respect that people have the right to say that they think a movie "sucks", but it's just ridiculous to do it on the basis that one version is automatically "right" and the other is automatically "wrong" just because of the way they restructure the tale.
Just because a movie is different that doesn't make it automatically bad.
I'm done with my two cents worth.
Feel free to send in your comments to:
Said Kristen...I agree with you Annie and I'll take it to court with me if I have to!Said Shelley...Creating a scenario in my head (i.e. story writing) is a terrific way to find out what's really bugging me. It's almost like dream interpretation except that I'm relying on my own symbolic logic to come to grips with my inner world.Said Anon 1...This is why I agree with you that Disney has not taken away from the deeper meanings of the stories it reinterprets, it just creates new deeper meanings. Instead of Anderson's mermaid seeking elemental transformation, we now have Ariel reconciling her two natures of human and marine (concious and the unconcious?) which are different but ultimately complementary. Of the two Disney Mermaid movies, I best like the closing scene of Melody on the rock between her parents (her animus and anima?) because it's such a positive visual statement about personal wholeness and the integration of those things which are a part of us but which can sometimes make us feel uncomfortable, even though we can't do w/o them.
I have never seen the anime. version, but I DO know that it is more similar to Anderson's original tale than the Disney version.Said Anon 2...But I have seen the Disney version (my ultime absolute favorite Disney movie ever, possibly my favorite movie ever!!) and I have a book of Anderson's fairy tales with the original Little Mermaid tale.
My point of view is this - you were right. I absolutely agree. These two should not be compared because Disney was BASING its story on the tale, not the whole thing. All movies Based on something are NOT exactly the same and should not be!!
Anderson's tale depressed me, when I first heard it it made me cry, o I went and watched the Disney version and felt better. The Disney version is, in my perspective, the better version. It is sweet, romantic, loving, warm, and happy.
It is NOT SUPPOSED to be Anderson's tale completly, but BASED on it!! It is a matter of opinion, but no one should react like that. If anyone ever makes fun of the Disney version, I will stand up and chew them out.
I agree with your statement that the story is based on the original story. What they did was change a satire into a fairy tale. It is that distinction that makes it work. If they had tried to keep the same point to the story, but with the changes (particularly the ending and the lack of pain when she walked), it wouldn't have worked. I like this version because it is a totally different kind of story. I adore the Anderson tale, it's just in a completely different class of story. They can't even really be compared fairly because the central purpose and message are totally different.Said Anon 3...I'm not such a great fan of Disney movies, because sometimes movie musicals (which is basically what Disney movies are) annoy me. They remind me too much of Bollywood movies for some reason... However, since I am an eighties baby, Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast are my favorite Disney movies.Said Helen Holmes...On the other hand, I've watched a lot of anime. All I can say is that anime and Disney, while they both utilize the same medium, are completely different from each other in terms of style and storytelling/themes,so people shouldn't just go around dissing one or the other.
My favorite Japanese director, Hayao Miyazaki, is called the "Walt Disney of Japan" because of his lovable childrens' movies such as Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Although these are childrens' movies, they sometimes carry very adult themes such as environmental protection and finding one's true self. if you watch them you will be able to see that these are definitely not Disney movies because the pacing is somewhat slower/leisurely than a Disney film, and there are no musical numbers to be found anywhere.
I like both the Andersen tale and the Disney version, but I also realize that a lot of people out there would probably beg to differ. There's just no pleasing everybody.
I read your rambling page and i agree with you on all the facts that you have pointed out. *If* disney did go along with the HC Anderson storyline, then I'm sure that more people would be disgusted with Disney if Eric falled for Vanessa permanently and Ariel committed suicide. Don't get me wrong but people can be soo selfish sometimes. I mean they don't realise how much work the Disney crew put in to make these movies with happy endings. That's what I think anyway.Said Marina Seven...I've never disliked the Disney take on "the little mermaid." But I've always known that people interpret stories differently. "The little mermaid" isn't the only folk tale or fairy tale that has been translated dissimilarly. Just look at Disney's take of "Beauty and the Beast"! The story is quite different. All in all, I champion your position on the anime vs. disney debate.Said Tiffany...I agree with you full heartedly on the subject that people do not stand up for the disney version at all. Personally, I liked the disney version as well, and that was AFTER i had seen the anime version of The Little Mermaid. While searching for this site on the Internet, I also learned something about the actual story for Hans Christian Anderson's story. It turns out that the anime version is an entirely different story from the one that Anderson created. The original was not supposed to be a love story. The Little Mermaid had actually gone up to her father or grandmother and asked about the humans. The father or grandmother then replied that when humans die they ascent to the heavens in a higher and more celestial state of being. The mermaid pondered this and thought about the mermaids, who, when they die, only ascent to the earth as sea foam while humans become heavenly spirits who rise up to the sky and heavens. And this is why she became human. I don't know. it's just something I read on another site. I cannot tell you if this is the truth or not. I just found it very interesting :) *much happiness!*Said Colleen...I completely agree with what you said! I don't even understand why people would bash something that's supposed to enjoyable and fun. I think those Disney haters have a serious problem picking on my wonderful Red head gal. Obviously those bitter ppl grew up without magic and "happiness" lol just kidding.Said Anon 4...I totally agree with your arguement, I've expanded my mind, but I can't shake this, like, I can't really describe it, disturbing feeling in me. It's like, I wish I would have never found out about the other the Little Mermaid, it makes me feel like Ariel is simply a copy. I'm gonna try and forget that, and pretend it really happened a long time ago :-D and they lived happily ever after. LUV IT. Disney rocks.Said Rachel...I have been a HUGE fan of the Disney version of The Little Mermaid since it first came out on video. I got it for Christmas from a babysitter in 1989, and have since just about worn the video out. Practically have it memorized too. :)Said Anon 4...Even though I have never seen the anime version, as I generally don't like anime, I totally agree with you. The two are incomparable. Disney's TLM is definately an interpretation, and for me it was the springboard to falling in love with the original story. Had I not seen Disney's version, I never would have become so fascinated with the original TLM.
The original story was definately a commentary on life and death. It was clearly not a love story, whereas Disney's is. I like to think of Disney's version of TLM as an alternate ending, what MIGHT have happened under different circumstances. I personally think each version is complete unto itself, and one version in no way takes away enjoyment from the other. At least for me anyway.
But anyway, I think you hit the nail on the head!
Stories with sad endings are fun sometimes, and defintly make you think.Said Vlamidir E. ShabuninHowever...
If they hit just TOO close to home, you'll start thinking death-and-doom thoughts.
Anderson's TLM wasn't one of the cases where the "sadness" hits too close to home for me, but I know a person or two who it COULD.
Disney and Anime both did terrific jobs on writting their own versions, and no-one has a right to go around dissing them like that!
Hi!Said Anon 5I have just read your thoughts on subject and am going to agree with most of them. Yes, both of versions differ enough from the original story mostly because it's too short and have too much of author's "comments" - if it's done as a movie version, most of them have to said by some additional heroes anyhow. As the original story is hardly an "action" (HC Andersen was a philosopher) any movie version must add something to make it "move" - that was done in both versions.But still I think, that Disney's version has made something wrong with the main idea. In anime Merina (as you wrote - in Russian version she had no name, as she was called as "Little Mermaid" - one word, that sounds pretty) dies for love, as she cannot kill the one she loves, that really means the killing of her love. This scene (actually the main dramatic scene) was done exactly as in original HC Andersen's story. When Merina has missed her chance to get a human immortal soul, she still refused to act as cruel, as mermaids traditionally supposed to, and preferred to die instead. Thus she proved to be more human, then many of real humans are - I guess this was the main HC Andersen's idea, that was somehow kept in anime version. Disney's version has changed this moral aspect into something quite different, that's too far from HC Andersen. So I like anime version more, although it made cry once many years ago. By the way, that anime made me get interested and read almost all!, HC Andersen wrote - I still think, that Disney's version couldn't impress me so much those days. Movie by Disney is a nice story with the happy ending, but maybe sometimes we need something definitely sad to make our own soul to awake? As for me, I do still remember my shock (child's shock) after watching anime - looking back, I can't say it was bad for me…
I am a big fan of Anime and Disney, but I think everybody should get it into their heads that they should not be compared. I mean, think about it. The Westren and Eastern cultures are soo different, do you really expect the films to be alike? (My favorite television program is probably the only cross between the two EVER, but that's another story!) Anime is known for characters with BIG eyes searching the meaning of life, no music (unless you buy the CDs), love and action stories, deep plots that make you think about life, etc. Disney is known for characters with not THAT big eyes (lol) searching for either love or honour, award-winning music, love and action stories, etc. The two are kind of similar, but as I said before, the cultures are on the other side of world; they should NOT be compared, Annie's right! The REASON I compared them just now was to show people how similar they are!!! And, Annie, you are so right when you said there is no "right" or "wrong" way to tell a story!Said Anon 6um, i have more like less than 1 cent. but, here goes.Said p0etic_diva
i am NOT flaming anything/anyone, but i just said that i like the anime version of the little mermaid. thats all.^-^'
um, bye.I have seen both versions, but I would rather watch the Disney version vs. the anime one which i saw many years before Disney's Little Mermaid.Said MarinaPeople should remember that these movies were also released in different countries with very different cultures. As an Asian American I've grown up seeing both sides.
I used to read a lot of stories by Asian authors and I have noticed a significant difference in the tones of those stories vs. the stories of American authors. The Asian stories usually have a more darker tone to them (with people dying or things of the sort) than the American stories which usually end on a more positive note.
Most Asians grow up with different morals and values. In many Asian cultures where children grow up in poverty (and some in war) and parents are barely making it, it is not as important to be happy as it is to support the family. WIth children already exposed to the real world, dreams and hopes wait and take secondary presence after responsibility. Most Asians don't know who the tooth fairy or easter bunny is. I had to learn from the kids at school. My parents didn't grow up with that. They were more concerned with helping around the farm and tending to their parents if they were sick than childhood fantasies.
In America where most people are not living life in low poverty, happiness is one of the more important matters. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Obviously this is further reflected in our medicines and gimmicks that promise "feel good quick" results.
Looking at the two films in this perspective, you can see the American values shine in the Disney version. Ariel is a head-strong girl and is rewarded in the end. Her independence is a classic American value. (As Sebastian says: "Children have got to be free, to lead their own lives...") The anime mermaid Merina, on the other hand, ends up dying as a result of falling in love and trying to be different from tradition. Echoing the Asian tradition of being part of the group and the importance of community vs. the individual.
On a side note, their names are implicit of their fates... Ariel (aerial)- toward the sky and Merina (marine) - pertains to water..
Well, that's my two cents.. Happy Vday everyone!
Hey,Said Sarah
First and foremost, I would like to say I like Disney. However, I can't help but like the anime version better. I don't intend to slam down Disney for their interpretation, and it is true that mothers would be upset if they had gone along with the true story line. Anime always calls to me though, and I think Disney didn't have to change the story so much. If anyone is interested, they should read The Faces of the Little Mermaid (I think it was called.) It is online and describes how each culture actually affects the Little Mermaid story. America/Disney portrays it from an American point of view, with a father worrying and lecturing his teenage daughter. The Japanese, on the other hand, take the more serious approach of their culture. I'm not trying to judge any society by saying this; it's just another theory. If anyone knows where to get a copy of the 1979 The Little Mermaid, please e-mail me at Equine581453765@aol.com.
Thank you.I just don't get why some people are against Disney just because they rearrange the stories of their movies. You're absolutely right: I, too, would have HATED Disney's Little Mermaid, had Ariel died in the end. The movie is just perfect the way it is. I was seven years old, when I first saw it, a few years later I read Andersen's tale, and although I WAS quite shocked at first I came to love both versions - now seeing Ariel in a different light, too. Anyway, let's not forget, those typical fairy tales we all know hail from a time when kids were taught moral lessons in quite a cruel way - compared to what we regard as appropriate for children nowadays. My grandparents didn't feel it was wrong to tell their kids the story of Little Red Riding Hood without (!) the happy ending, because they wanted their kids to know that they shouldn't go in the woods alone. What I want to say is, The Little Mermaid is in my opinion no tale for kids, but Disney's version is great to make children aware that this fantastic story about the mermaid in love actually exists. I certainly wouldn't have not it, if I had not come across the movie as a child. And that's true for the other Disney movies, too. Beauty and the Beast - a French tale - I've never known it before. Just my thoughts ;-)Said brettdawg2005I've seen both versions, and I've read the original story. I love both, but I love the Disney version a little better then the anime. I mean, I've been a huge DIsney fan ever since i can remember... and Anime... well, Anime is wearing me down. It's over-used. But the anime version of the Little Mermaid is one of the only anime's I like to watch. And I hate how idiots say thatDisney changed her name, when Ariel/Merina, never had a real name. I can think of many names I've heared given to her... And I'll name some.Said Anon 7Ariel, Merina, Atlantia, Oceania, Oceana, Serina, and finally, Angelica.
There is no real name for her, so no, disney didn't change anything except for the ending, but disney ios supposed to be a family thing... and many parents, and children, would be very upset with Disney if they did the true ending.
70-year rule. 70 years after Mr/Mrs Author is dead their work is public domain. I mean, those who get pissed with Disney for what they did to the Mermaid (Did Hans give her a name?) I'd like them to take a look at what Anne Rice did to Sleeping Beauty... (Yow) (Actually, I?d like to see how Miss Rice would interpret The Little Mermaid.) Hmmm... I love water, so as long as the story still contains a mer-person, and the potion scene I'll watch it. It's like comparing Chopin?s version of Sadness-though-song with Hyden's version. They're not going to be the same.Said eyecandy611I totally agree with your arguement, I've expanded my mind, but I can't shake this, like, I can't really describe it, disturbing feeling in me. It's like, I wish I would have never found out about the other the Little Mermaid, it makes me feel like Ariel is simply a copy. I'm gonna try and forget that, and pretend it really happened a long time ago :-D and they lived happily ever after. LUV IT. Disney rocks.Said HanokuriyamaThe anime version is much better in my opinion. It is more true to the original story and gives out a message to everyone,and has a moral. Also disney's version sorta ripped it off some of the scenes in the anime version were used in the disney version which came out years later. Like when Marina finds a object in the ship thats some sorta smoking thing, and thinks its a musical device which is broken. In the disney version Ariel also finds a smocking thing and gets told and believes its a broken musical instrument. Also when Marina is brushing her hair in the mirror and her sisters faces are reflected in the mirror and get alittle suspicious. A similar thing happens in the disney version when Ariel gets back home and wakes up to brush her hair. Another thing is Marinas friend and companion Ritz. Ariel also has a friend and companion Flounder. Doesn't that seem a little suspicious to you? I believe that the fact that the little mermaid dies and becomes a air spirit. Watches!Said Charlotte
over children for 300 years in order to get a immortal soul instead of just dying and becoming nothing because of her good deeds is beautiful. I did not like the ending to the disney version because this didnt happen and it didnt show a moral. I really liked the little mermaid's beautiful death beacause she gave everything for her beloved prince even her life and I think thats very heroic and beautiful.HI, i totally agree with you dude! I have read/seen all three versions and yes, people interpurt everything differently. i want to see this site now... It's as if by calling something 'wrong' means we have to imagin whats going on in the book. We all like changing thigs we don't like, like a... cake. If we don't like the marzipan, we peel it off, if you get my logic!Said Girl!Dear people,Said Anon 8
I am also amused at the people who dislike Disney’s The Little Mermaid. I love Ariel, but I did admit that Disney could have said their story was inspired by Hans C. Andersen.
About the graphics, yes I know Ariel has a big cheek, and looks a bit “silly”, but what the heck! She (Ariel) is so cute, I love her eyes. She’s so pretty. I think the red hair looks great. I don’t like Annimie, and I would happily have a rebellion against those people who hate all Disney. I would crush ‘em. I’d be armed with toy guns full liquid, and… You get it. When I was 3 I didn’t like Ariel because of her looks. I remember seeing the exact 5 second part when King Triton destroys Ariel’s Treasure Trove. Another reason for hatred. But things did change when I was nine I was told to watch The Little Mermaid, and I did, and…. I liked it. In the summer I was going into Fourth Grade, almost (or almost) every day after Summer School I watched The Little Mermaid!
See, I think people should watch this movie more than once. I was such an Ariel fan that all I thought about was Ariel, Ariel, Ariel, and Ariel. I was sooo happy, and when I was miserable I thought about ARIEL! But now that I’m older, thinks have certainly calmed down quite a bit. I’ve been working on a The Little Mermaid Three story already, and I’m a teenager! Can’t you believe it!Although the Little Mermaid is not one of my favorite Disney movies, I still like the the thought and feeling of the mood that they put into it.I will admit I have never seen the anime version but have heard that it is MUCH closer to the original story.I happen to have a picture book collection of fairy tales and one of them is The Little Mermaid,a.k.a Hans Christian Anderson.The first time I read it I said I never wanted to read it again because it was too sad and I was too young to appreciate it.A couple years later after I had watched the Disney version, I decided to read the story again.I still hated the unfairness of it all at the end but I still thought it was a pretty good story.And anyway even if she did die,I figure that she kinda got herself into it.The prince also wasn't the best choice considering he couldn't make up his mind about who to marry.He could've had the courage to stand up to his parents and say,"I don't want to marry ________ and that's that!"I still love the original story because it makes me appreciate what I have in life.I totally agree with you about Disney making it *less true to the story* because of the stuff that was in it.Honestly, the saddest thing Disney puts in their movies about people dying was when Bambi's mom died offscreen.It's probably for the best because kids want to walk out of a movie feeling happy inside.It seems unfair when adult critics(tv or web) diss kid movies because "the animation wasn't perfect" or "it was too sappy/happy/cute" because hello people!those movies aren't made for you!They're made for kids and that's exactly how they're gonna do them.Even though the movies are different they both have the same type of meaning: Go for your dreams.Stand up for what you believe in.And both of the mermaids had the same characteristics.They were both innocent,sacrificing,romantic ,adventurous,daydreamers,the list can go on and on.Whatever the version you watch I think that everybody can somehow relate to her.said IdaI saw Disneys The little mermaid in the cinema when I was about 5 years old, and since then it`s been my fave Disney movie. When I was older I borrowed the H.C. Andersen tale and yeah I was crying my heart out when Ariel didn`t get her prince afterall. I haven`t heard much about the anime version though, but I have seen diff. series on tv with a little mermaid. I don`t care if the Disney version isn`t true after the Andersen tale, I love and respect both just as they are. The Andersen tale is so good written, yes Ariel died but she got her immortal soul just as she wanted. And A Disney movie without a happy ending ??? I don`t think so. We need to see that true love can win, it gives us hope.said CarolWith love Ida
I agree with what you have to say. I really like Disney and have grown up with it. In this one unit in 6th grade, we went and looked at Andersen's tales, along with some others. I was a teeny bit disappointed about the endings, but I respect what he wrote. In the end, I like what he wrote and I like what Disney did. *Note: We didn't look at the tales Disney based their movies on, but I get the idea of sad stories. II'm not saying either one is bad or wrong, I'm just saying that they are different and special in their own ways.said KevinAs far as the anime version goes, I have not heard of that, but after reading what you wrote about it, I really want to watch it! It sounds so good!
All in all, I agree that you shouldn't judge them with each other. They are special in their own ways.
P.S. Anon 8 - I agree with you about what adults say about kid movies. Some movies I thought were good (and I'm 14!) the critics thought were bad. I was thinking "What the heck! That was a good movie!" i.e. Madagascar.
Animation in Japan is targeted for ALL audiences alike. A lot of things that the Western society would find wrong and bad, the Japanese view as ''normal''. Just because the Japanese seem to accept anybody in their society regardless what you are, where you come from and etc.... Well, in most cases at least. I love Disney's animated verison of Little Mermaid. The fact its not like the original folk tale isn't something that doesn't bother me at all. Why? Because the Little Mermaid has a meaningful message that is equally powerful to the original story, if not more. Most anime nerds and geeks (Refering to the morons that obsessively love anime and hate Disney) arguments on how the anime is better than Disney's verison is that ever boring ''sticks to the original story''. I know this sounds very rude and hostile, but somebody must be a real moron if they like that or know nothing about Han's story. Yes, the anime does stick to the actual thing, but the way it sticks to it is just like glue. If the anime is the ''true'' verison of the Mermaid story, than why is that there are some ''kiddy'' themes that Anti-Disney freaks and anime fanboys love to bash Disney for.said CaisiaIf I were extremely biased and a big, big, big, big Disney geek/fanboy/nerd/whatever, I could aruge that Disney's take gives the characters more personality, development and etc.... especially when the movie is more like a fairy tale than a folk take. Something that a lot of rabid anime geeks that had Disney and Anti-Disney haters seem to ignore, which is awfully funny. The Little Mermaid may not be a ''true'' adaptation to Han's story, but suggest its ''totally'' unfaithful to it, and that the anime does is so hilarous, yet, in a pathetic way. I give props for the anime sticking to the original tale, but I also give props for Disney's film, as it proves that cartoon movies can be made without flashy graphics or CGI in most recent movies. I simply wish people could look at how good these cartoons are on THEIR OWN merits.
BTW, I apologize to those who are anime fans? I, again, am only refering to anti-Disney supporters and anime geeks that seem to think ''anime > disney'' and use that as an arugment.
I agree with you on so many different levels in this. The reason that I didn't like the Disney version as much as the anime version was because this was my first introduction to it. It's what created a love for folklore from Scandinavia and variations of this legend.said JoeyWhat most people don't take into account when comparing these titles with the Hans Christian Andersen folk-telling - was that Andersen's tale was its own interpretation of the legend that was passed down from generation to generation as a children's tale.
As it is scene in the beginning of the anime the scenes of the mermaid sitting on the stone in the shallow waters..... The mermaid legend was alive LONG before Mr. Andersen decided to write it down.
Legends, as people who study the words handed down from generation to generation, vary with each telling. It is similar to playing the children's game of "telephone" where the first person is told a simple sentence and then whispers to the person next to him and then they repeat the act - Stories never are able to be told the same way since no one is reading from the same script.
I think most people often make the mistake of assuming that Hans Christian Andersen created the idea of the mermaid.....
He may have seen the mermaid statue (that was there as a symbol of their seafaring legends of maidens that had the tale of a fish - I am certain that one such story may have been told... since people are known to be curious and lovers of legends. Mr. Andersen may have written his interpretation of the Mermaid legend in order to make the legend more child friendly too.
Keep in mind that mermaid legends in those times were NOT mermaid- friendly. Mostly tales of mer-maidens taking shipwrecked sailors down to the bottom of the sea with them. Mr. Andersen may have wanted to make a prettier telling of mermaids for his own children, or children of the village.
So, there is an "R" telling of the tale - which has mermaids as man- eaters who resemble the Sirens of the Illiad and the Odyssey.
Every culture has its own telling of a tale much the same.... but it does not make any one tale better and more reliable than the others.
Sorry, your rant left me ranting to speak :) Thanks for the opportunity!
I was pro anime version before. unhappy with every other version out there - even the original fairytale that it was based on. But since I've been immersing myself in Japanese culture, I am happy to say that I understand now that each interpretation (manga -> anime -> drama) is an entity all by itself. It's based on an idea but like with spoken culture, each mind works differently when creating. And you made an excellent point about if disneys version had the little mermaid dying at the end.... Things work in different times and on different forums.
One thing though about Disney that I do not like - you can almost rest assured that someone WILL die in a Disney film. most likely the parent... I cannot watch Lion King for this reason (though Disney was being sued over this movie - because it is an "interpretation" of a Japanese anime with a VERY similar plot - even the names.... Simba vs the original Japanese name of "Kimba" who was a white lion)
Oh well, no matter what, people will never be happy... you can please some people some of the time but you can't please everyone all of the time. right?
Thank you again for the forum to speak :)
I have seen both the anime and Disney film versions of The Little Mermaid, as well as Faerie Tale Theater's version and I have read the original folk tale. I disagree that Disney's version is wrong and the anime is right. Disney's always messed with stories and changed them up. As for the anime, I don't recall a dolphin named Fritz or evil meddling cat named Jemmy in the original fairytale, so the argument that the anime version is completely "right" is moot.said Anon 9I never heard of the anime version until I saw your webpage about it. I became so fasinated with it for the primary reason that Marina actually died. I bought the anime because I loved it so much, and I also love the disney. Both versions our close to my heart, and I feel that people should not bash the disney version. They had to make it a happy ending, because disney is a family studio. They make family movies. They can't let the mermaid die! But in Japan however, Japan is VERY VERY different from the U.S, so parents are most likely more lienant as to what their kids watch. I admire the anime kept the original tale, just as H.C Anderson inteended it to be, but it was also a happy ending. The Little Mermaid gets an immortal soul. And now she can live forever, and someday see the prince agian in Heaven