The Dark Side of Disney: The Little Mermaid's Troubling Messages

Disney's live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" brings back the beloved tale with all its enchanting elements, but a closer look reveals hidden problematic themes that persist within the story that might impacts young audiences.

Disney fairy tales have long captivated audiences with their enchanting worlds, lovable characters, and happily-ever-after endings. These timeless stories are often associated with innocence and wonder, but lurking beneath their surface lies a hidden darkness. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, the original version of many fairy tales are far more disturbing than you may realize.

Disney’s fairy tale movies are often thought of as innocent stories for children, but they’re more sinister than you know

Over the decades, Disney have polished up many of these fair tales and turned them into commercially friendly stories. Despite this, many of the covert negative themes, the ones that sneaks into the subconscious, still remains.

With the release of the live action version of The little Mermaid, Disney continues its tradition of remaking its most beloved animations. Yet, The Little Mermaid still remains problematic because of the message it sends

As most of know,"The Little Mermaid" tells the story of Ariel, a young mermaid who longs to be part of the human world.

The original Ariel: In the Hans Christian Andersen version of The Little Mermaid, Ariel never married the prince and turns into sea foam in the end.

Fairy tales as they were have always served as cautionary tales in medieval times, teaching valuable life lessons through the guise of fantasy. These cautionary elements were essential in shaping the moral compass of young readers. Han’s version of The Little Mermaid is poignant and evocative and is more of a warning about losing everything for an unhealthy, unattainable dream.

What are the covert themes in Disney’s The Little Mermaid?

The live action version of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey pretty much follows the same plot as the animated version––even with the famous singing on the rock scene. While the films may have showcased a delightful underwater adventure, the underpinning theme strikes at the heart of self-acceptance

Disney's adaptation of The Little Mermaid perpetuates questionable ideals of self-acceptance and identity struggles that lie beneath the surface.

When you deconstruct Disney’s The Little Mermaid’s theme, it is sadly about a girl who gives up everything for a man she barely knows.

Unhealthy dreams lead people down a destructive path where they are chasing after something they will never achieve, while sacrificing their own happiness and well-being along the way.

Does Disney’s the Little Mermaid hate herself?

Though the Disney version has many positive messages, there are a few lessons that are particularly problematic.

The Little Mermaid teaches kids that relentless obsession to the point of losing your identity is OK, if it means that you can fit in or, “be a part of that world.”

Additionally, it impresses upon young girls that they have to sacrifice themselves in order to get what they want, and that rejection isn’t something they should expect in life.

The Little Mermaid perpetuates the idea that fitting in is more important than being true to yourself.

We all know that change is an essential part of life, without it, we would never grow or learn new things about ourselves.

This need to fit in, however, leads people to make choices they wouldn’t normally make and suppress parts of their personality in order to conform.

Disney has been cleaning up classic fairy tales for years.

Despite Disney’s efforts to polish many classic fairy tales, their edited versions aren’t any better. They are perhaps even worse because of their subliminal messages. As Disney continues its tradition of remaking its most beloved animations, the release of a live-action version of "The Little Mermaid" is set to further exploit girls insecurities and self-image.