Little Mermaid Costume

[jdizzel009]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 3:58pm

Does anyone know why the costume quality is not very good in the Little Mermaid? I'm just wondering.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:02pm

Because Disney has no money. So i) they couldn't afford pretty costumes, and ii) they could only afford the cheaper colour-blind costume designer.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:04pm

What do you mean? Idea-wise or material-wise?

The reason why any costumes are good or bad in a show is because of the efforts of the creative team behind the creation, and what they are willing to spend on materials.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:05pm

And Weez, you were probably being sarcastic, but Disney has tons of money.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:09pm

Yes, I was totally being sarcastic. Well done for spotting it.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:50pm

Because Disney failed. They had an opportunity to do something extraordinary, but tanked miserably. In all aspects of the production, including the horrendous costumes.

[fvalle24]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 6:40pm

I never understood why people think the costumes and sets suck? I thought the sets were amazing, very visually enticing. As far as the costumes, I'm not the biggest fan but I thought they did the best they could've have with what they were working with...

[James885]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:57pm

I thought that the sets were hideous. The two giant bongs were eyesores that did nothing except clutter up the stage and the plastic covering made it all look very cheap.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 9:38pm

I think the sets were worse than the costumes. The costumes could have been better, but the sets for some songs did not work at all. They had a lot of opportunity to make something exquisite and beautiful, yet they relied on a couple of huge plastic shapes as the "set" during some of the bigger numbers...Under the Sea, for example. I don't remember Kiss the Girl exactly, but I do remember the set design for that number really lacked anything magical.

It's sad. There was a lot of opportunity to make something beautiful in terms of costumes and set design. And Disney failed miserably (and I was a huge Little Mermaid fan as a girl).

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 9:48pm

They made a mistake in relying too heavily on some artist's painting (can't recall the name now, but there's another thread about the painting) that inspired Hans Christian Anderson, or something like that. They tried to be "different", not understanding that fans like Ariel & the Disney version, not the original tale. Hell, in that one, I think the mermaid turns into seam foam in the end, right?? It was not popular until the Disney film. They should've stuck to that film. I agree, they didn't do as well as they should have or could have.

Ariel's costume is great, imo. It's dynamic and seems to lively move with her. Same for the other mermaids. I liked the change in the "spriraling tail" from Denver to Broadway. Cannot say the same for the other costumes.

Most of the other costumes seem dead. Ever seen one of those genetically mutated lambs that has those extra dead legs in the back that just flop around and sag and cause other lambs to want to kill it because it is too different? Sometimes they come off the butt; sometimes they are on the back or side or wherever? That's what Sebastian's costume reminds me of. Gross.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 9:54pm

SPOILER ABOUT ENDING OF ORIGINAL TALE:

I had a kids version of the original, and I believe in it, she has to kill Eric so she can gain her voice back. Eric is also with either the witch disguised as a beautiful maiden or some other beautiful that happens to come along in the picture. Anyways, Ariel chooses not to kill Eric and as a result, she turns to sea foam. Something like that. My story might be off because I haven't read it in a long time.

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 9:59pm

My feeling about the costumes is that a lot of the focus was put on the principals, Ariel and Ursla specifically, and the rest of the under-water creatures were left to the last minute. Personally, I think Ursla is pretty close to perfect, the only thing I would hange is the morbidly obese thighs which perfectly display the foam padding underneath as well as the rubber dish washing gloves. Although lot of people criticized the mermaid costumes in the beginning, I can't really think of anything else they could have done while retaining the "no wires, no water" concept that was set from the beginning (although was not completely followed through in the end). Sebastien.....could have been worse, could have been better, definitely happy they fixed his hat after Denver.

Now the chorus on the other hand is completely heinous. The laziness of the designer is perfectly highlighted by Flounder's "costume" which I swear I saw on sale at old navy last week. Same of the costumes show real talent, other show horrible design.


Updated On: 7/20/08 at 09:59 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 10:49pm

I think that the Ursula costume looks like the Marguerite costume from the 'Storybook'/Opening scene in SP2-4, with some added stuff to it!


[IMG] Updated On: 7/19/08 at 10:49 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 11:04pm

The original ending is as follows:

The Prince is set to marry another woman, not a witch in disguise, but the woman who discovered him on the sea shore. The Mermaid's sisters (She's un-named) trade their hair to the Sea Witch to try and save their sister, and are told the following: In order to return to the sea (nothing about her voice, as I recall), she must kill the prince shortly before the sun rises after his wedding night, and his blood MUST wash over her legs. The Mermaid goes to his bedside, but is unable to murder him, because she loves him. The sun rises, but instead of turning to sea foam, the gods or something grant her the soul she always wanted, and she is able to watch over the Prince and his family.

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 11:11pm

philly, brilliant pics. Thank you for those.

Husk, et al, thanks for filling in the story. Updated On: 7/19/08 at 11:11 PM

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 12:00am

Actually, Husk, as I recall, the sea witch made a potion from the mermaid's tongue, thus causing her to lose her voice. Disney chose a more symbolic route. Also, I think like whenever she walked, for some reason, it felt like walking on broken glass. Those might just be embellishments in my story book, though.