Hans Christian Andersen and Disney: The Tale of Two Different Mermaids
by Mirha Girt University of Wisconsin–Madison Disney’s recreation of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories, like “The Little Mermaid,” altered their meanings and changed Andersen’s portrayal of women, in particular. Disney’s versions—lighter and often with a happy ending—erase the original passion and anguish that are the backbone of Andersen’s stories. These films lead many people to believe they are watching the recreation of the real story when they actually present quite a different story from Andersen’s. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”—produced by Walt…