Ariel's Giant Strides Quiz | Movies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A great stride for "The Little Mermaid" in the 1989 Disney film is a change in nomenclature. In other words, the little mermaid got what?

Answer: Named Ariel

Disney gave the starring mermaid in this 1989 movie a name--Ariel. In the original 1836 Hans Christian Andersen fable the mermaid has no name at all. Ariel is Hebrew meaning "lion of God". It is also used in the Old Testament as a symbol for the holy city of Jerusalem. Ariel is a very interesting choice given the religious tones of the original tale; and it is a great stride for a girl to have a name. Jodi Benson played Princess Ariel, the daughter of King Triton.

2. Filming Disney's 1989 "The Little Mermaid" required some large strides in technology, due to what about the nature of the story?

Answer: Underwater scenes

Because of the underwater scenes Disney's 1989 "The Little Mermaid" required more special effects than anything since their 1940 masterpiece "Fantasia". There were merpeople motions, over a million bubbles, wavy underwater hair, lighting, airbrushing, depth shots and even some newfangled computer animation required.

But producer/directors Ron Clements and John Musker were well rewarded for their efforts with a Disney revival and over $211 million grossed worldwide. This was the final movie using the long-time hand-painted method of animation--Disney went digital for their next film in 1990.

3. In Disney's 1989 version of "The Little Mermaid" King Triton forbids merpeople from taking which exciting stride?

Answer: Contact humans

Disney mermaids living in Atlantica are supposed to stay safely near their families under the sea, orders King Triton, but Ariel loves forbidden sunken ships, and collects human treasures. Chased by a shark, Ariel rises to the surface and happens to see a passing ship full of human passengers celebrating a birthday party--a coincidence that will change her life.

4. In "The Little Mermaid" something amazing yet scary happens to the Ariel. She takes a giant stride toward maturity and fate when she does what associated with cupid?

Answer: Falls in love

Disney's Ariel falls in love with a human, Prince Eric, as she watches him enjoy his birthday party on a ship. Christopher Daniel Barnes plays the dashing Prince Eric, though Jim Carrey had been considered for the part, too.

5. The mermaid Ariel has a best friend who encourages her fascination with all things human. Which yellow and blue buddy searches sunken ships with her?

Answer: Flounder

Ariel's yellow and blue fish friend Flounder (who is not the type of fish called flounder), supports Ariel's strides toward things human, even gifting her with a sunken statue of her beloved Prince Eric. The commercial success of Disney's 1989 "The Little Mermaid" included the appearance of related tattoos, cake toppers, stuffed animals, water toys, dolls and handheld electronic games. Flounder also has repeat performances in future Disney stories.

He was voiced in 1989 by Jason Marin.

6. Although this happens often in the lore of mermaids, Disney's young Ariel has never taken this step before. A great storm dashes a ship and Ariel does what?

Answer: Rescues a human

In Disney's "The Little Mermaid" a key event in the story is Ariel's rescue of a drowning Prince Eric. The Prince is barely conscious, yet he'll remember her beautiful voice. For Ariel life takes a turn, including new tensions with her father King Triton (Kenneth Mars), who mistrusts humans and forbids any contact.

In legend mermaids have long been credited with ocean rescues. Most likely these compassionate creatures are dolphins, known to push a person in peril to the surface. For Prince Eric though, it was a lovely mermaid saved him.

7. Disney's "The Little Mermaid" Ariel must overcome the greed and trickery of the evil witch Ursula, who strives toward which grand goal?

Answer: Rule the sea

Ursula (Pat Carroll) is a dastardly, fabulous villain, alluring and deceptive, taking many forms. Her two devilish minions Flotsam and Jetsam (Paddi Edwards) do her bidding. In Disney's 1989 film, Ursula takes Ariel's voice, promising her a brief chance at love with Prince Eric in return.

8. A pivotal stride for Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" is a radical transformation after a monstrous sea witch gives Ariel what?

Answer: A human body

Ariel has always felt a kinship and interest in humans, but once she saw Prince Eric her longing to become human grew. Ursula the sea witch agrees to trade Ariel's voice for three days in human form, during which Eric must kiss her, or all will be lost. Without her voice though, Prince Eric does not recognize Ariel as the girl who saved him from drowning.

9. Disney's undersea witch Ursula undergoes her own transformation when she fears she is losing her wager with Ariel. Who does she turn into?

Answer: Vanessa

The sea witch Ursula assumes human form as Vanessa, using Ariel's stolen voice to trick Prince Eric into thinking it was Vanessa who rescued him. It's notable that both Ursula and King Triton had the power all along to transform beings into humans. In the end King Triton uses this power to give his daughter the human form she so desired.

In the original fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen the little mermaid longs for a soul even more than love, as mermaids lack a soul and so cannot live on in eternity. If the Prince comes to love her part of his soul transfers to her.

10. A controversial but great stride for 1989, what innovative step did Walt Disney Classics take with the "The Little Mermaid"?

Answer: Release to home video

Back in the day Disney released only the rare few of its Walt Disney Classics line to home video, preferring to produce a highly profitable reissue of their films every seven years. But they strode into the future by releasing a home video just six months after "The Little Mermaid" movie came out.

It became the top-selling title of the year, with seven million sold in just the first month. After that Disney released a home video of all its films soon after movie release.

Source: Author Godwit

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Ariel's Giant Strides Trivia Quiz

Ariel is the star of Disney's 1989 "The Little Mermaid". Can you pick out the giant strides made by both the character Ariel, and Disney, in this beloved story adaptation? (Some outside knowledge is needed.)

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