The Art of The Little Mermaid

• Story
• History
• Theme & Concept
• Music
• Characters
• Environment
• Acclaim
• Credits

The pages of this lively and inspiring miniature book are filled with the extraordinary artwork from the film responsible for bringing about the rebirth of Disney animation - The Little Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid tells the tale of Ariel, a head-strong, teenage mermaid who longs to live on land. She falls in love with Prince Eric and in exchange for her beautiful voice, the diabolical sea villain Ursula makes Ariel human - albeit a mute.

In these pages you will se the way Disney animators tackled the impossible - to create visibly strong emotions in a mute animated character. The result was some of the most expressive - and lively - animation ever done. Ariel's comrades at sea, the shy, lovable Flounder and the Reggae-singing Sebastian, stir things up with musical numbers and crazy antics. Perhaps most gripping of all is the production of one of Disney's most frightening battles. Ursula is finally defeated and Ariel regains her voice, leading to a happily-ever-after conclusion.

The Art of The Little Mermaid chronicles every aspect of the making of the film - the storyboards describing the drama of the final battle ; the eye-catching, Caribbean-influenced background art ; original character sketches, along with gradual refinements and animation of the leading characters. The film's directors, producers, art director, composer, lyricist, scriptwriters, background artists, and animators describe the journey, the hurdles, and the successes in joining forces and producing one work of art.

For fans of the enticing underwater adventure, The Art of The Little Mermaid is the perfect addition to any animation collector's library.

JEFF KURTTI is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. He is the author of Since the World Began - Walt Disney World : The First 25 Years ; The Great Movie Musical Trivia Book ; and Bad Musicals and How They Got That Way. He lives in Los Angeles.