17 of the biggest differences between 'The Little Mermaid' remake and the animated movie

Kirsten AcunaMay 26, 2023, 05:54 IST

There are a few changes to Ursula's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" performance in "The Little Mermaid" remake.Courtesy of Disney, Kirsten Acuna/Insider

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Disney's "The Little Mermaid" remake.
Insider gathered the biggest differences between "The Little Mermaid."

The remake opens on a quote from Hans Christian Andersen.

Halle Bailey as Ariel in "The Little Mermaid."Disney

Ariel is aged up to 18 in the remake.

On the left: Ariel in the 1989 animated film "The Little Mermaid." On the right: Halle Bailey as Ariel in the 2023 live-action film "The Little Mermaid."Disney

The new film doesn't contain a big concert number led by Sebastian.

The concert in the animated version of "The Little Mermaid."Walt Disney Animation

King Triton doesn't live in an opulent, gold castle.

King Triton's underwater palace in 1989's "The Little Mermaid."Walt Disney Animation

Ariel's mother was killed by humans.

A scene from "The Little Mermaid III: Ariel's Beginning" shows Ariel's mother.Walt Disney Animation

Ursula is King Triton's sister and Ariel's aunt.

Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.Courtesy of Disney

The remake includes three new songs.

Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid."Giles Keyte/Disney Enterprises

Scuttle is a northern gannet instead of a seagull.

Scuttle in the animated movie versus the remake.Walt Disney Animation, Courtesy of Disney

Ariel doesn't sign a contract with Ursula. Instead, she forges a blood-binding one.

Ariel doesn't sign anything in the new movie.Walt Disney Animation

Ursula's memorable "body language" line is removed from "Poor Unfortunate Souls."

Ursula in "The Little Mermaid" animated movie.Walt Disney Animation

Ursula makes a slight change to her deal with Ariel, without the princess' knowledge.

Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) and Ariel (Halle Bailey) in "The Little Mermaid."Photo courtesy of Disney.

Eric isn't a natural-born prince. He was adopted by a queen in the remake.

Noma Dumezweni plays Queen Selina in "The Little Mermaid."Giles Keyte/Disney

Sebastian isn't chased around the castle by a chef.

The chef finds Sebastian in the kitchen in "The Little Mermaid."Walt Disney Animation, Disney+

Ariel tells Eric her name, not Sebastian.

Eric learns Ariel's name in different ways in both "The Little Mermaid" movies.Walt Disney Animation, Courtesy Disney

Ariel kills Ursula instead of Eric.

Eric drives a ship into Ursula in "The Little Mermaid."Walt Disney Animation

Ariel doesn't get her iconic blue, sparkly dress at the film's end when staying human.

Two of Ariel's dresses in the animated "The Little Mermaid" versus Ariel's look in the live-action feature.Walt Disney Animation, Giles Keyte/Disney

Ariel and Eric don't receive a lavish wedding.

Ariel and Eric's wedding is seen in the animated movie.Walt Disney Animation

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