The Little Mermaid (1989 film)

The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American film about a mermaid princess who makes a Faustian bargain with a sea witch in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.

Written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, based on the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. Songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.

• Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh! Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in your entire life?
• I've never seen a human this close before. Oh- He's very handsome, isn't he?
• [enraged] You... YOU MONSTER!!!
• Eric, you've got to get away from here!

• A girl rescued me. She was singing. She had the most beautiful voice.
• I'm tellin' you, Grim, she was real. I'm gonna find that girl... and I'm gonna marry her.
• Grim, I lost her once! I'm not gonna lose her again!
• No, I won't leave you!

• Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.
• [as Ariel sleeps] You are hopeless, child. You know that? Completely hopeless.
• I tried to stop her, sir. She wouldn't listen. I told her to stay away from humans - they are bad, they are trouble, they—
• There you see her / Sitting there across the way / She don't got a lot to say / But there's something about her / And you don't know why / But you're dyin' to try / You wanna kiss the girl.
• Well, it's like I always say, Your Majesty: Children got to be free to lead their own lives.

• You know I can't swim that fast.

• THE PRINCE IS MARRYING THE SEA WITCH IN DISGUISE!

• I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed!
• [enraged] So help me, Ariel, I am going to get through to you! And if this is the only way, so be it!

• [watching Ariel quickly swim home from her lair; first lines] Yes, hurry home, Princess. We wouldn't want to miss old Daddy's celebration, now, would we? Ha! Celebration, indeed. Oh, bah! In my day, we had fantastical feasts when I lived in the palace. And now look at me, wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving, while he and his flimsy fish folk celebrate. Well, I'll give 'em something to celebrate soon enough. Flotsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton's undoing.
• Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I can't stand it. It's too easy. The child is in love with a human. And not just any human. A prince! [Chuckles] Her daddy will love that. King Triton's headstrong, lovesick girl would make a charming addition to my little garden. [Cackles]
• Come in. Come in my child, we mustn’t lurk in our doorways it’s rude.
• Nice work, boys. That was a close one. Too close. The little tramp! Ah, she's better than I thought. At this rate, he'll be kissing her by sunset for sure! Well, it's time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles! Triton's daughter will be mine, and then I'll make him writhe. I'll see wriggle like a worm on a hook!
• Not a chance, Triton! She's mine now!
• [last and final words before her death] So much for true love!

• Get away from me, you slimy, little...!
• [violently grabs Scuttle by the throat, shaking him] Oh, why, you little…!

• Eric, if I may say, far better than any dream girl is one of flesh and blood, one warm and caring and right before your eyes.

• Come out, you little pipsqueak, and FIGHT LIKE A MAN!!!

• Why, Eric, that's the first time I've seen you smile in weeks.

• Isn't it obvious, Daddy? Ariel's in love. [King Triton: Ariel? In love?]

[Scuttle shows Princess Ariel and Flounder a tobacco pipe]

Scuttle: This, I haven't seen this in years. This is wonderful! A banded, bulbous snarfblatt.

Princess Ariel and Flounder: Oh!

Scuttle: Now, the snarfblatt dates back to prehistorical times when humans used to sit around and stare at each other all day. [comes face to face with Princess Ariel] Got very boring. So they invented this snarfblatt to make fine music. Allow me. [blows into it, only to have seaweed and water come out]

Princess Ariel: [realizing what Scuttle said] Music!

Scuttle: [coughs] It's stuck!

Princess Ariel: Oh, the concert! Oh, my gosh! My father's gonna kill me!

Flounder: The concert was today!?

Scuttle: [inspects the "snarfblatt" further] Maybe you can make a little planter out of it or somethin'.

Princess Ariel: [takes it back] I'm sorry! I've gotta go! Thank you, Scuttle!

[she and Flounder swim back home]

Scuttle: Anytime, sweetie! Anytime.

---

Ursula: [watching Princess Ariel from her lair via Flotsam and Jetsam] Yes. Hurry home, princess. We wouldn't want to miss old daddy's celebration, huh? Would we? [scoffs] Celebration, indeed. Oh, BAH! In my day, we had fantastical feasts, when I lived in the palace. [closeup of her eating a shrimp] And now, look at me. Wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving! While he and his flimsy fish folk celebrate. Well, I'll give 'em something to celebrate soon enough. [to her eels] FLOTSAM! JETSAM! I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton's undoing. [fade to black]

---

[King Triton is admonishing Princess Ariel in the throne room]

King Triton: I just don't know what we're going to do with you, young lady.

Princess Ariel: Daddy, I'm sorry, I just forgot, I...

King Triton: As a result of your careless behavior...

Sebastian: Careless and reckless behavior!

King Triton: The entire celebration was, er...

Sebastian: Well, it was ruined! That's all, completely destroyed! This concert was to be de pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now tanks to you, I am de laughingstock of de entire kingdom!

Flounder: [swimming up to King Triton] But it wasn't her fault! Ah, well first, ahh, this shark chased us. Yeah yeah! And we tried to… But we couldn't. And then, "grr!" And…and we, whoa! Ah, and then we were safe. But then this seagull came, and it was "this is this, and that is that, and…"

King Triton: "Seagull"?

[Flounder gasps and hides in Princess Ariel's hair as she gives him a dirty look. Triton gives her a dirty look, too.]

King Triton: What? You went up to the surface again, didn't you? Didn't you?!

Princess Ariel: Nothing happened.

King Triton: [exasperatedly] Ariel, how many times must we go through this? You could've been seen by one of those barbarians, by... by one of those... HUMANS!

Princess Ariel: Daddy, they're not barbarians!

King Triton: They are DANGEROUS! Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by some fish-eater's hook?!

Princess Ariel: I'm 16 years old! I'm not a child anymore!

King Triton: Don't you take that tone of voice with me, young lady! As long as you live under my ocean, you'll obey MY rules!

Princess Ariel: But if you would just listen—

King Triton: NOT ANOTHER WORD! And I will never, NEVER hear of you going to the surface again! IS THAT CLEAR?!

[disappointed, Princess Ariel swims away]

Sebastian: Hmph. Teenagers. Dey tink dey they know everyting, you give them an inch, they swim all over you.

King Triton: Do you think I-I was too hard on her?

Sebastian: Definitely not. Why, if Ariel was my daughter, I'd show her who was boss. None of dis flitting to the surface and other such nonsense. No, sir - I'd keep her under tight control.

King Triton: [smiles] You're absolutely right, Sebastian.

Sebastian: Of course.

King Triton: Ariel needs constant supervision.

Sebastian: Constant.

King Triton: Someone to watch over her - to keep her out of trouble.

Sebastian: All da time.

King Triton: [pokes Sebastian] And you are just the crab to do it.

[Cut to Sebastian walking down corridor.]

Sebastian: How do I get myself into these situations? I'm supposed to be writing symphonies, not tagging along after some headstrong teenager. [Sees Princess Ariel and Flounder sneaking off and follows.] Hmm? What is dat girl up to? [He barely makes it into grotto and sees Princess Ariel's collection.] Huh?

Flounder: Ariel, are you okay?

Princess Ariel: If only I could make him understand. I just don't see things the way he does. I don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things - could be bad.

🎵Look at this stuff

Isn't it neat?

Wouldn't ya think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't ya think I'm the girl.

The girl who has everything?

Look at this trove

Treasures untold

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Lookin' around here you'd think

Sure, she's got everything

I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty

I've got whosits and whatsits galore

[opening a box containing wine openers]

You want thingamabobs? I got twenty

But who cares?

No big deal

I want more

I wanna be where the people are

I wanna see

Wanna see 'em dancin'

Walkin' around on those

(Whaddya call 'em?) [playfully grabs Flounder’s fin] Oh, feet.

Flippin' your fins you don't get too far

Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'

Strollin' along down a…

(What's that word again?) Street.

Up where they walk

Up where they run

Up where they stay all day in the sun

Wanderin' free

Wish I could be

Part of that world

What would I give

If I were to live

Out of these waters?

What would I pay

To spend a day

Warm on the sand?

Betcha on land

They understand

Bet they don't reprimand their daughters

Bright young women

Sick o' swimmin'

Ready to stand

And ready to know what the people know

Ask 'em my questions

And get some answers

What's a fire and why does it

(What's the word?) Burn?

When's it my turn?

Wouldn't I love

Love to explore that shore above?

[Reaching out of the hole at the top of the grotto and sadly sinking back down]

Out of the sea

Wish I could be

Part of that…world🎵

[Sebastian has been struggling around and now comes crashing down making a lot of noise.]

Princess Ariel: Sebastian!?

Sebastian: Ariel, what, are you mad? How could you - what is all this?

Princess Ariel: It, err, it's just my - collection.

Sebastian: Oh. I see. Your collection. Hmm. IF YOUR FATHER KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE, HE'D—

Flounder: You're not gonna tell him, are you?

Princess Ariel: Oh, please, Sebastian, he would never understand.

Sebastian: Ariel. You're under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me, I'll take you home and get you something warm to drink. [A ship passes by overhead]

Princess Ariel: Now, what do you suppose…?

Sebastian: Ariel? Ariel!

---

Scuttle: Hey there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh?

Princess Ariel: Scuttle, be quiet! They'll hear you.

Scuttle: Oooh, I gotcha, I gotcha. We're being intrepidatious. WE'RE OUT TO DISCOVER!

Princess Ariel: [grabs his beak and looking around and sees about Prince Eric] I've never seen a human this close before. Oh- He's very handsome, isn't he?

Scuttle: [looking at Max] I dunno; he looks kinda hairy an' slobb'ry t'me.

Princess Ariel: [laughs] Not that one! The one playing the snarfblatt!

---

[At the palace, King Triton is sitting on his throne, as he looking at flower]

King Triton: [laughs] Let's see, now... Oh, who could the lucky merman be? [notices Sebastian] [clears throat] Um... Come in, Sebastian.

Sebastian: [as he walks to King Triton] I mustn't overreact. I must remain calm. [Five octaves higher than normal] Yes. [loco] Yes, Your Majesty.

King Triton: Sebastian, I'm concerned about Ariel. Have you noticed she's been acting peculiar lately?

Sebastian: [pretending to act confused] Oh! Uh, peculiar?

King Triton: You know, mooning about, daydreaming, singing to herself. You haven't noticed, hmm?

Sebastian: Oh- well, I-

King Triton: Sebastian?

Sebastian: [looks up] Hmm?

King Triton: I know you've been keeping something from me.

Sebastian: [nervously] Keeping... something?

King Triton: About Ariel?

Sebastian: Ariel?

King Triton: [point his trident at his chin] In love?

Sebastian: [protested] I TRIED TO STOP HER, SIR! SHE WOULDN'T LISTEN! I TOLD HER TO STAY AWAY FROM HUMANS! THEY ARE BAD, THEY ARE TROUBLE-!

King Triton: [as he shocked at what Sebastian said] Humans? [and also losing control of his rage with his magic trident at full power and yelling at Sebastian] WHAT ABOUT HUMANS?!

Sebastian: Humans? Ho ho ho ho… Who said anything about humans?

[King Triton angrily grabs Sebastian]

---

King Triton: [angrily confronts Princess Ariel in her grotto] I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed.

Princess Ariel: But Dad, I...!

King Triton: Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?!

Princess Ariel: Daddy, I had to.

King Triton: Contact between the human world and the merworld is strictly forbidden! Ariel, you know that! Everyone knows that!

Princess Ariel: He would've died!

King Triton: One less human to worry about.

Princess Ariel: [angrily] You don't even know him!

King Triton: Know him? I don't have to know him! They're all the same: Spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling.

Princess Ariel: DADDY, I LOVE HIM!

[Princess Ariel gasps in shock, as she has accidentally slipped the truth. Sebastian cringes in horror.]

King Triton: [as he shocked at what Ariel said] No. [and also losing control of his outraged with his daughter] Have you lost your senses completely?! He's a HUMAN, you're a MERMAID!

Princess Ariel: I don't care!

King Triton: So help me, Ariel, I will get through to you. And if this is the only way, so be it.

[With his trident at full power, Triton furiously points it towards one of Princess Ariel's treasures and angrily blasts it. The blast is so intense that it scares Princess Ariel, including Sebastian]

Princess Ariel: DADDY! NO, NO, PLEASE! [But King Triton, in his rage, refuses to stop. He continues furiously pointing his trident at one artifact and then another, mindlessly destroying everything in his path] DADDY, STOP! DADDY, STOP IT! [She swims to her angry father and tries stopping him, but it’s no use. The only treasure left in the grotto is the statue of Prince Eric. Seeing that he is now focused on that, Princess Ariel turns to her angry father] DADDY, NO! [But King Triton angrily ignores the pleas of his frightened daughter and angrily blasts the statue. Pieces of the statue fly around the grotto as the explosion subsides. The trident calms down as she looks in horror at where the statue was. Her grotto, full of many treasures just minutes ago, is now a barren cave with much wreckage. Overcome with sadness, She collapses onto the ground and starts sobbing. King Triton sternly looks at his daughter, but knowing that his time in the grotto was over, he didn't say a word and turned to leave. But as he did, he couldn't help but feel that he went too far in scolding Princess Ariel. He glimpses at Princess Ariel with remorse before leaving. Sebastian and Flounder are the only ones left in the grotto and are terrified at what just happened. Feeling terrible for Princess Ariel, Sebastian approaches the crying girl and tries to comfort her.]

Sebastian: Ariel, I...

Princess Ariel: [softly] Just go away.

[Sebastian, remorseful for leading King Triton into the grotto, which resulted in the destruction of Princess Ariel's treasures, leaves somberly with Flounder. Princess Ariel was now on her own, sobbing over losing her treasures, all that she collected for years, and the Prince Eric statue, the newest and most fascinating treasure of them all. She was now left with nothing.]

---

Ursula: Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days. Now listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear old princey to fall in love with you. That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss. The kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human... permanently. But if he doesn't, you'll turn back into a mermaid and… you belong to me!

Sebastian: No, Ariel!

[Flotsam and Jetsam wrap themselves around Sebastian and Flounder, silencing them]

Ursula: Have we got a deal?

Princess Ariel: If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again.

Ursula: That's right! But you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Oh! And there is one more thing. We haven’t discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know.

Princess Ariel: But I don't have any…

Ursula: [shuts her mouth with her tentacle] I'm not asking much. Just a token really, a trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is… [close-up on her mouth] …your voice.

Princess Ariel: My voice?

Ursula: You've got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing. ZIP.

Princess Ariel: But without my voice, how can I…?

Ursula: You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And never underestimate the importance of body language! HA!

---

Ursula: [watching her eels knock Ariel and Prince Eric off the boat in the lagoon, about to kiss] Nice work, boys. That was a close one. Too close. The little tramp! Oh, she's better than I thought. Well, at this rate, he'll be kissing her by sunset for sure! Well, it's time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles! [mixes up a potion that will transform her into Vanessa] Triton's daughter will be mine! And then I'll make him writhe. I'll see him wriggle like a worm on a hook! [laughing as the camera zooms in on her nautilus shell around her neck which fades out into the moon]

---

[after discovering "Vanessa" is actually Ursula in disguise, he flies back to Princess Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder]

Scuttle: Ariel, I was flying. I was- Of course I was flying. And I saw the watch- the witch was watchin' the mirror, and she was singin' with a stolen set of pipes! [picks up Sebastian and slams him down on every word] DO YOU HEAR WHAT I'M TELLIN' YOU?! THE PRINCE IS MARRYING THE SEA WITCH IN DISGUISE!

Sebastian: Are you sure about this?

Scuttle: Have I ever been wrong? I MEAN, WHEN IT'S IMPORTANT?!

Flounder: What are we gonna do!?

[Princess Ariel hears Ursula's voice in her head as the sun drops]

Ursula: Before the sun sets on the third day...

[Princess Ariel jumps in water but can't swim well. Sebastian sends down some barrels]

Sebastian: Ariel, grab on to that. Flounder, get her to that boat as fast as your fins can carry you!

Flounder: I'll try.

Sebastian: I've gotta get to the sea king. He must know about this.

Scuttle: What - What about me? What about ME?!

Sebastian: You- find a way to STALL THAT WEDDING!

Scuttle: Stall the wedding. Wh- what am I- what- that's it! [He flies off to rally the animals and fish] Move it, let's go, we got an emergency here!

---

Ursula: [as Princess Ariel turns back into a mermaid] You're too late! [cackles wickedly] YOU'RE TOO LATE! [transforms back into her own self and grabs Princess Ariel; to Prince Eric, smugly] So long, lover boy. [jumps off the boat and dives into the ocean]

Prince Eric: Ariel!

Ursula: Poor little princess. It's not you I'm after. I've a much bigger fish to…

King Triton: Ursula, STOP!

Ursula: Why, King Triton! Ha ha ha - How are you?

King Triton: Let her go!

Ursula: Not a chance, Triton! She's mine now! We made a deal. [takes out the contract]

Princess Ariel: Daddy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, I didn’t know!

[King Triton attempts to destroy the contract with his trident to no avail]

Ursula: You see? The contract’s legal, binding and completely unbreakable, even for you. Of course, I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain. The daughter of the great sea king is a very precious commodity. But, I might be willing to make an exchange for someone even better.

Grimsby: Eric! What are you doing?!

Prince Eric: Grim, I lost her once. I'm not gonna lose her again.

Ursula: Now, do we have a deal? [King Triton reluctantly agrees to take Ariel’s place by signing the contract with his trident] Ha. It’s done then!

[Princess Ariel regains her form as King Triton is reduced to a polyp like the rest of the merfolk in Ursula’s lair]

---

King Triton: She really does love him, doesn't she, Sebastian?

Sebastian: Well, it's like I always say, Your Majesty: Children got to be free to lead their own lives.

King Triton: You always say that?

[Sebastian smiles sheepishly]

King Triton: Then I guess there's just one problem left.

Sebastian: And what's dat, Your Majesty?

King Triton: How much I'm going to miss her.

[Sebastian stares at him in surprise as King Triton uses his magic to turn Princess Ariel into a human]

Ah, we are the daughters of Triton

Great father who loves us and named us well

Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Attina, Adella, Alana

And then there is the youngest in her musical debut

Our seventh little sister, we're presenting her to you

To sing a song Sebastian wrote

Her voice is like a bell

She's our sister, Ari--

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the girl,

The girl who has everything?

Look at this trove, treasures untold,

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Lookin' around here you'd think,

'Sure, she's got everything.'

Ariel: What would I give to live where you are?

What would I pay, to stay here beside you?

What would I do to see you smiling at me?

Where would we walk?

Where would we run?

If we could stay all day in the sun

Just you and me

And I could be

Part of your world

I don't know when

I don't know how

But I know something's starting right now

Watch and you'll see

Someday I'll be

Part of your world

Sebastian: Ariel, listen to me. The human world, it's a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there!

[sings] The seaweed is always greener

In somebody else's lake,

You dream about going up there,

But that is a big mistake.

Just look at the world around you,

Right here on the ocean floor.

Such wonderful things around you.

What more is you lookin' for?

Under the Sea, under the sea.

Darlin', it's better, down where it's wetter.

Take it from me.

Up on the shore, they work all day.

Out in the sun they slave away,

While we devoting full time to floating

Under the sea.

Ursula: The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.

Ariel: Can you do that?

Ursula: My dear sweet child, that's what I do. It's what I live for, to help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to.

[sings] I admit that in the past I've been a nasty.

They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch.

But you'll find that nowadays,

I've mended all my ways,

Repented, seen the light and made a switch.

True? Yes!

And I fortunately know a little magic,

It's a talent that I always have possessed.

And here lately, please don't laugh,

I use it on behalf

Of the miserable, lonely, and depressed--

Pathetic!

Poor unfortunate souls,

In pain, in need.

This one longing to be thinner,

That one wants to get the girl,

And do I help them? Yes, indeed!

Louis:

Les poissons, les poissons

How I love les poissons

Love to chop up and to serve little fish

First I cut off their heads

Then I pull out their bones

Ah, mais oui, ca c'est

Toujours delish.

Sebastian: Percussion, strings, winds, words...

There you see her

Sitting there across the way

She don't got a lot to say

But there's something about her

And you don't know why

But you're dying to try

You wanna kiss the girl

Vanessa:

What a lovely little bride I'll make, my dear, I'll look divine.

Things are working out according to my ultimate design.

Soon I'll have that little mermaid and the ocean will be mine!!

• Jodi Benson — Ariel/Vanessa
• Christopher Daniel Barnes — Prince Eric
• Kenneth Mars — King Triton
• Pat Carroll — Ursula
• Samuel E. Wright — Sebastian
• Patricia Parris — Cleo
• Buddy Hackett — Scuttle
• Jason Marin — Flounder
• Ben Wright — Grimsby
• René Auberjonois — Chef Louis
• Edie McClurg — Carlotta
• Kimmy Robertson — Andrina
• Paddi Edwards — Flotsam and Jetsam

• Somewhere under the sea and beyond your imagination is an adventure in fantasy.
• Love has no boundaries.

• When we first proposed it, we knew that it was going to be really, really challenging. I mean, for a lot of reasons. But one of the big reasons is two-thirds of the movie takes place underwater. All that requires a lot of animation in this animated films. We have character animation. The artist who animate the characters. They’re kind of like actors. We always felt they are actors with a pencil. Glen Keane and Mark Henn who did Ariel. That’s what they do. Then, we have effects animators. Effects animators do the non-character stuff that moves which is like water waves or bubbles. Or fire or smoke or light effects, if there’s anything that moves that isn’t the character. This probably had more character animation than any Disney movie project since “Fantasia.” This really had a lot of effects, even with the character stuff — like whenever Ariel is underwater, her hair has to move all the time. Hair moving underwater is tricky. We had a lot of meetings about hair. One of the extras in the video is some of the live action footage that we shot for reference to see the hair floating.

• Ron Clements [1]

• You see at the heart of it, “The Little Mermaid” is the father-daughter story. It’s an overprotective father. There’s a daughter who is kind of adventurous and rebellious and wanting to see a new world. How do they resolve that? That story is still in place today.

• John Musker [2]

• The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

• The Little Mermaid quotes at the Internet Movie Database