Finally, after years of waiting, little Disney fans in green and purple mermaid-themed outfits flocked to their nearest theatre to watch Halle Bailey as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” on May 26. The live-action reimagining of the 1989 animated original announced casting in 2019. Despite some to-be-expected racist backlash, most seemed excited about the addition of Disney’s first Black live-action princess.
As the premier date drew closer and the press tour was underway, it became clear just how powerful Halle’s portrayal of Ariel was, especially for little Disney fans who flocked to her on the red carpet with tears in their eyes. Halle, who is known for her strong mezzo-soprano voice and collaboration with her sister, Chlöe Bailey, was a welcome addition to the princess lineup.
As the lights dimmed and the movie started, the theatre seemed to be buzzing with excitement and anticipation for the opening number which did not disappoint. Halle brought a whole new layer of beauty to ‘Part of Your World,’ a classic among Disney fans that I thought could never get any better. As an actress, Halle blew this role out of the water with animated facial expressions and graceful mannerisms. While playing a character that stayed silent for most of the movie, Halle certainly perfected the art of the meaningful glance.
The movie itself was a well-thought-out and witty reimagining of the original with jokes and even some new songs that kept the audience - a mix of children, parents, and nostalgic 20-somethings - engaged the whole way through. Despite initial concerns about the lighting after the release of early trailers, the setting of the movie was gorgeous and vibrant.
Since the film’s release, Disney has shared some of the behind-the-scenes production magic, revealing that the underwater settings were made digitally with help from nautical footage and related color palettes.
“We didn’t want it to look like a manmade or futuristic kingdom, but to feel like it actually comes from something very real,” said Production Designer John Myhre in a statement from Disney. “We wanted to try and keep it as natural as possible, so everything underwater actually comes from the sea.”
Another detail that gained a lot of attention from viewers was Ariel’s fire-red hair, which was notably missing from this remake. However, it's important to know the reason behind this and acknowledge that all hair types (especially for Black people) are not the same. The Head of The Little Mermaid’s hair department, Camille Friend certainly doesn't have a lack of experience with credits that include “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
In a recent interview with Variety, Friend shared that part of the challenge in creating Arial’s signature red look was protecting Halle’s natural hair - locs she and Chlöe have had since around age 3 - and not cutting her hair or using a wig. Instead, Friend opted for a $150,000 process in which Halle’s locs were wrapped with extensions.
We’ve seen on many occasions how important a Black woman’s hair can be, and hopefully this commitment to obeying the wishes of the actor and hiring a diverse hair (and makeup) crew becomes more mainstream in the film and TV industry.
Overall, the 2023 remake was beautifully orchestrated and left me (a nostalgic 20-something) with the same sense of wonder and amazement I felt when I first saw the original as a kid. It felt like an ode to little Black girls with wholesome jokes and catchy new songs that I haven't stopped singing since I left the theatre.
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