Strange Details In 'The Little Mermaid' That Have Disney Scrambling For Answers
The Little Mermaid is widely considered the film that made the House of Mouse relevant again, so naturally, it holds a special place in the hearts of Disney fans. But beneath the catchy songs and colorful animations, people have started to notice some suspicious elements under the sea that might not fly with modern audiences — and we're not talking about that controversial VHS Cover either.
Is It Outdated?
The Little Mermaid was released in 1989, meaning many of the ideals and attitudes of the decade made their way into the film. In the '80s, the average woman married at age 22. Guess how old Ariel is when she and Eric tie the knot?
A Bit Uncomfortable
You guessed it — 16. Rather than bump her up to a legal adult at 18, Disney decided to make Ariel the equivalent of a high school sophomore. While Eric just turned 18 himself, they're still way too young to get married.
"Under the Sea"
Sebastian's iconic rendition of "Under the Sea" is arguably one of The Little Mermaid's most memorable moments (and catchiest songs), but take a deeper dive looking at the performers of lighthearted tune about living under the sea and things start to get fishy.
Clear Caricatures
The song appears to feature some pretty overt racial stereotypes. First there's the so called "Fluke of Soul" clearly meant to be a reference to the "Duke of Soul," and then on the right we have the "Blackfish."
