Toon Talk: Little Mermaid DVD - Oct 3, 2006

Toon Talk: Little Mermaid DVD
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(c) Disney

THE LITTLE MERMAID - The Awards:

And the nominees were … (wins noted by *):

Academy Awards:
  • *Original Score: Alan Menken
  • *Original Song: “Under the Sea�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
  • Original Song: “Kiss the Girl�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken

Golden Globes:
  • Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
  • *Original Score: Alan Menken
  • *Original Song: “Under the Sea�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
  • Original Song: “Kiss the Girl�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken

Grammy Awards:
  • Instrumental Composition Written for Motion Picture or Television: Alan Menken
  • *Song Written Specifically for Motion Picture or Television: “Under the Sea�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
  • Song Written Specifically for Motion Picture or Television: “Kiss the Girl�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards:

  • *Animated Film

American Film Institute:
  • AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Passions (2002)
  • AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains (2003): Ursula (Pat Carroll, Voice Actor/Ruben Aquino, Supervising Animator)
  • AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Songs (2004): “Under the Sea�? - Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken, Performed by Samuel E. Wright
  • AFI’s Greatest Movie Musicals (2006)

As with this year’s previous Platinum release (Lady and the Tramp), it appears that Disney Home Video has wised up when it comes to bonus features, opting for quality over quantity, restraint over synergistic smorgasbords.

Disc One’s features include the requisite Disney-starlet-pop-cover-music video with “Kiss the Girl�? as performed by High School Musical’s Ashley Tisdale, as well as the “Fast Play�? feature, a “Disney Song Selection�? with optional onscreen lyrics, a Disc Two Preview, a special sneak peek at the upcoming direct-to-video sequel The Little Mermaid III (where it appears that Ariel has once again returned to the sea, along with some Harry Belafonte tunes) and an informative audio commentary by the film’s writers/directors Ron Clements and John Musker and composer Alan Menken. Also featured in the commentary are audio excerpts from an interview with Howard Ashman at the time of the film’s making.