Disney has been having too much fun with their little live-action remakes of our childhood favorite films.
Not only have they remade The Little Mermaid, but as of this year, they are also on their way to produce Moana and Lilo & Stitch in live-action.
While fans are not on board with this, they have expressed some concerns on the new trailer and posters unveiling some of our fan-favorite animal characters being ‘too realistic.’
There is nothing wrong with going for realism, especially since Disney has already introduced this idea with their previous films, Aladdin and The Lion King.
However, what fans missed from the latter is in regards with how the animals were rendered.
In other words, as one fan pointed out, the “realistic models” of Flounder and Sebastian are “encouraging impressionable small children” to “commit inappropriate things with their own pets.”
This comment stemmed from one particular video involving Halle Bailey’s Ariel ‘pulling too hard’ on Flounder’s thin fins as they did in the previous animated film.
Many fans have grown concerned as to how the character model could perpetuate the message to children that it is ‘okay’ to harm the sea creatures in real life. Check out some of the fan tweets below:
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This is not the first time The Little Mermaid faced backlash.
In fact, initially, not many audiences would view the live-action as ‘necessary’ or ‘fun at all’, most of which involve racist comments against Ariel being portrayed as Black.
Previously, The Lion King received their own, as well, given how nobody in theaters saw the characters similar to their animated counterparts.
The lions and lionesses remained expressionless, much like with watching an actual safari from afar with a few voiceovers from synched lips.
Most recently, Disney was being accused of intentionally whitewashing their live-action cast for Lilo & Stitch.
While Disney previously addressed the racist backlash The Little Mermaid received, they have yet to respond to the recent callouts.
The Little Mermaid is slated to arrive in theaters on May 26, 2023.
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