Film

The Little Mermaid

Name: The Little Mermaid
Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 2023
Cast: Sonya Krueger, Dee Wallace, Steve Guttenberg, Sharon Desiree, Tammy Klein

Other titles called The Little Mermaid: the 1989 film, the 1992 series (CBS), the 2023 film.

Fairy tale
Light-hearted

A low-budget animated retelling of the little mermaid tale, trading Disney's gloss for something scrappier and stranger. It has the bones of the story—princess, witch, bargain, transformation—but executes them with the kind of earnest oddness that comes from a genuinely independent production. Competent voice acting and a brisk runtime mean it moves, even if the animation feels thin. For kids who've exhausted the obvious options and parents who don't mind rough edges.

TMDb rating

2.7

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like light, undemanding family cartoons where the comedy comes from a creature trying to fit into a world that isn't built for it.

Skip it if you find broad, mugging comedy and sugary sincerity tiring, since the film leans on both throughout.

What it asks of you: A brisk hour and a half, mostly bright and busy, asking you to keep up with the gags rather than settle into a mood.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Swan Princess1994

A hand-drawn animated feature that does the fairy-tale-with-magic-bargain thing with real charm and surprisingly good voice acting. It has genuine stakes and a slightly darker edge than you'd expect.

But The animation is dated and occasionally jerky, and the pacing stumbles in the middle act.

Anastasia1997

A historically loose animated adventure that proves you don't need Disney money to make something visually coherent and emotionally engaging. Strong voice work, a memorable villain, real wit in the script.

But It's a period piece that moves slowly in places; some kids find it boring compared to faster-paced alternatives.

Thumbelina1994

Don Bluth animation, which means it has a distinctive look and real craft. The story of a tiny girl navigating a dangerous world has genuine tension, and the supporting characters are memorable.

But The pacing is uneven and the romance subplot feels forced compared to the adventure elements.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Little Mermaid

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Tale of Despereaux2008

Both stories hinge on a protagonist who violates sacred bonds or natural law out of love or desire, and both films take that violation seriously rather than playing it for laughs.

A stunningly animated adaptation of a children's book that shares the mermaid's core obsession—a character willing to break fundamental rules for love. It's gorgeously rendered and genuinely moving, with real stakes for a family film.

But It's darker than you might expect; themes of loss and sacrifice can hit hard for younger viewers, and the pacing is deliberate rather than brisk.

The Pebble and the Penguin1995

An undersea adventure that commits to its oddness—musical numbers, strange character designs, a quest narrative that actually has stakes. It's weird in a way that holds your attention.

But It's genuinely weird to the point that it can feel off-putting; the animation is stiff and some sequences drag.

Quest for Camelot1998

An adventure film with a disabled protagonist and a surprisingly complex female friendship at its core. The action sequences have real energy and the voice cast is genuinely strong.

But The 3D animation hasn't aged well and the tone shifts between dark and slapstick in ways that can feel jarring.

Strange Magic2015

Like the mermaid film, it takes a disposable fairy-tale premise and makes the sea witch figure (here, a jilted bride) the emotional center; it's about what happens when you side-step the predetermined narrative.

A musical animated film that uses the fairy tale as a framework to explore female agency and revenge. It's visually striking, unapologetically committed to its world, and surprisingly sophisticated about its central relationships.

But It's a musical first and foremost—if you don't want music, a lot, you'll feel exhausted. Some find the visual style too elaborate and cluttered.

Song of the Sea2014

Both stories involve transformation between human and sea worlds, but this one asks what it costs to return, rather than what it costs to leave—it's the mermaid tale told from a place of genuine melancholy.

A gorgeous Irish animated film about selkies and the sea that trades plot for atmosphere and visual poetry. It's a quiet film about myth and loss that respects its audience's intelligence and emotional capacity.

But There's almost no dialogue, the plot is elusive, and if you need narrative propulsion and clear stakes, you'll find it frustratingly slow. Some viewers will call it pretentious.