Episode
The Little Mermaid Live Action vs Animated: Did Disney Improve Ariel's Story?
- Podcast
- Friends of Disney
- Published
- Feb 2, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2978
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Summary
Did Disney improve The Little Mermaid with its live-action remake, or is the animated classic still unbeatable? In this episode of the Friends of Disney Podcast, we're comparing Disney's 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid against the beloved 1989 animated classic that helped launch the Disney Renaissance. We discuss Halle Bailey's portrayal of Ariel, the expanded relationship between Ariel and Eric, the new songs added by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film's controversial CGI choices, and whether Disney's live-action remake brings anything meaningful to the original story. While one host believes the remake has some underrated strengths, another thinks it belongs firmly in the trash—leading to one of our most spirited Disney debates yet. Topics Discussed: • Ariel and Eric's relationship in the animated and live-action films • Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel • The new music and songs from the remake • Sebastian, Flounder, Ursula, and the CGI redesigns • Disney's live-action remake strategy • The legacy of the original 1989 animated film • Whether the remake improves or hurts the story If you love Disney movies, Disney Princess discussions, Disney nostalgia, animated classics, and Disney remake debates, be sure to subscribe to the Friends of Disney Podcast for new episodes every week. What do you think? Is the animated Little Mermaid still the definitive version, or did the live-action remake improve Ariel's story? #Disney #TheLittleMermaid #DisneyPrincess #DisneyPodcast #DisneyMovies #LittleMermaid #DisneyRenaissance #Ariel #HalleBailey #DisneyLiveAction