Watching it as an adult, it's hard not to be deeply moved by the story of father and daughter working to mend a relationship that's drifting apart.
Following Walt Disney's death in December 1966, the studio floundered a bit for over two decades. Several animated films were released, but none were particularly great, nor did any catch fire at the box office. The Little Mermaid was a runaway success— breathed new life into the studio, and kick-started a decade-long era of animated hits now known as the Disney Renaissance. The score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman is spellbinding; the melodies are enormous and indelible, and the lyrics are so intricate and clever, often hilarious. Watching it as an adult, it's hard not to be deeply moved by the story of father and daughter working to mend a relationship that's drifting apart. There's a lot of depth in the ocean.