The Little Mermaid returns to the sea - Sounds Familiar by Baby Gil

As told by Disney, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid is Ariel, the rebellious daughter of the sea king Triton who is obsessed with one day being able to live on land. During one of her excursions to the top of the ocean, she falls in love with the handsome Prince Eric, whom she earlier saved from drowning. Then before they get to live happily ever, they had to do battle with the evil sea witch Ursula and convince Ariel’s father that it would be okay for her to have legs and become a princess.

Of course all these take place amidst a colorful undersea setting and accompanied by a lovely music score. And not to forget, Ariel gets able support from cute, witty and totally amusing friends who are totally devoted to her. And unlike the original where the Little Mermaid turned into foam at the end because of unrequited love, the Disney version took the liberty of giving Ariel a happy ending which audiences around the world heartily agreed with.

The Little Mermaid, which came out in 1981 gave Disney the winning formula that would see it through a record breaking series of animated films that included the likes of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King within the ensuing years. This unprecedented success not only took film animation to unheard of heights but also realized massive merchandising potentials with off-shoots like records, toys, books, clothes and other items that Disney fans from all over the world gobbled up with great enthusiasm.

Among these are direct to video sequels that are not on the same technical and artistic level but which continued the story and featured the already well-known characters like The Return of Jafar for Aladdin and Simba’s Pride to The Lion King. Admittedly, only kids are capable of taking on too much familiar cuteness and these productions do not always succeed. But there are times when Disney hits the bull’s eye and manages to come up with something that is almost as charming as the original. Return to the Sea, the sequel to The Little Mermaid is one of these.

The new film brings back the now much loved characters of Ariel, King Triton, Sebastian the Crab, the bird Scuttle and the fish Flounder. Set some years after Ariel’s wedding to Prince Eric, it introduces their daughter Melody, who has this obsessive longing to become a mermaid. The villain Ursula remains in oblivion but her equally wicked sister Morgana is around to avenge her departed sibling. Of course, Melody gets her share of cute and funny friends and these are Tip the Penguin and Dash the Walrus.

Ariel and Eric are in the middle of living happily ever after when Morgana discovered a way to get through to Melody and accomplish her revenge. The witch turns Melody into a mermaid and then reveals the secret that Ariel was in truth, a creature of the sea. Resentful that her parents kept this from her, Melody joins Morgana in a plot against Triton whom she does not know is her grandfather. To save the girl, Triton gives Ariel back her fins and the former little mermaid returns to sea where her old friends join in the rescue mission.

Although not at par with the first film, there is still much to like with Return to Sea. Teenage girls will be able to relate to the awkward, adventurous Melody and they might even grow to also love Tip and Dash. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are not around to do the music but Michael and Patti Silversher came up with several new songs that the kiddies will be able to sing along with. And then there is Morgana, who makes for another memorable Disney villain. Ursula’s opposite in looks she comes across as a water-logged Cruella De Ville and is as alternately fearful and amusing.

Give the kiddies a treat with Return to Sea. And if they want more, get a copy of the soundtrack album that they can listen to again and again. Sebastian sings again and cuts included are Down to Sea, Tip and Dash, Iko Iko, Octupus’s Garden, For a Moment, Give a Little Love, Hot, Hot Hot, and the Here on the Land and Sea finale.

And not to forget, play the video up to the end credits because out there is a charming new version of Part of Your World by country music star Chely Wright.