She has spunk, she has agency, but most of all, she’s allowed to have fun.
At a time when Disney films weren’t surefire hits, this classic tale had a lot to prove just to stay afloat. But, rest assured, Ariel has become part of our world in more ways than one. She has spunk, she has agency, but most of all, she’s allowed to have fun. With some added help from an earnest romance and a downright iconic soundtrack, “The Little Mermaid” rode the waves all the way to the start of the Disney Renaissance. That’s right, Ariel’s under the sea adventures were so beloved that they helped resurrect the company’s struggling animation branch. If that’s not proof of the film’s quality, we don’t know what is.