“Why Disney’s ‘Arielle, the Mermaid’ Fails to Inspire and Entertain Children: A Critical Review”

And that’s why this film is so sad. Didn’t Disney originally make films for children? Wasn’t it about kidnapping them into magical worlds and letting them believe in the good in the world and in people? Again and again, Disney fans defend the banal and sloppily filmed new versions by saying that the old classics would be suggested to today’s children. But if this new “Arielle” is intended for children, one has to ask: Why don’t we treat the children of the year 2023 to the same bright colors, the same bombastic look and the same magic as before?

At Disney, you no longer allow yourself to be inspired or surprised, but rummage in the past, think as little as possible, and the children, well, they’ll be entertained. These films once took their young audience seriously and wanted to inspire them. There is no longer any sign of that.

Disney urgently needed a film like “The Little Mermaid” was back then. A film so gripping, so charming and so invigorating that it rouses this creative black hole and everyone involved from the lethargy. But they probably don’t want to do these films anymore. At the very least, one should hope that behind all of this is really just ice-cold greed for profit. Otherwise the conclusion would have to be much sadder and read: Disney just can’t do it sea.

“Arielle, the Mermaid” has been in German cinemas since May 25, 2023.