Disney fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the live-action adaptation of
The Little Mermaid, set to hit theaters in 2023. Either to enjoy it or criticize it depending on
their personal stance on live-action remakes. And although everyone has seen the 1989 Disney
Original, many people aren’t familiar with the original fairytale… and just how messed up it is.
In fact, a lot of the fairy tales that Disney Animation movies are based on… are actually
incredibly dark, morbid or all around messed up. So let’s take a look at some of them today.
I’m Caleb with WickedBinge. And these are The Dark Origins of Disney Princesses.
Let’s start with the Princess who everyone is talking about… Ariel From The Little Mermaid.
But before we go way back to the original fairy tale… Let’s take a look at the
original Disney animation. It’s actually a bit darker than many of us remember it.
One of the most striking elements of the film is its emphasis on sacrifice. Ariel, the protagonist,
is willing to give up her voice and make a deal with Ursula, the sea witch, in order to become
human and pursue her dreams of being with Prince Eric. This willingness to sacrifice is a common
theme in fairy tales and reflects the idea that true love requires sacrifice and risk.
Another dark element of the film is the betrayal that Ariel experiences. When
Ursula transforms into Vanessa and uses Ariel's voice to enchant Eric, Ariel is
heartbroken and betrayed by both Eric and Ursula. This betrayal highlights the theme of deception,
which is a common theme in many Disney films. And let’s also not gloss over the fact that Ursula
gets killed in a particularly brutal manner. Getting impaled and electrocuted. Not saying
she didn’t deserve it… but it is pretty dark. That said, when it comes to really Messed Up
stories… The Disney version can’t hold a trident to the original fairy tale.
The original story of The Little Mermaid was written by Danish author Hans Christian
Andersen and was first published in 1837. That was a long time ago, and like many fair tales
of this era… Things get pretty screwed up. The story tells the tale of a young mermaid
who falls in love with a human prince and makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her voice for legs
so that she can live on land and try to win the prince's love. However, the sea witch makes this
transformation come at a terrible cost - every step she takes on her new legs will feel like
she is walking on sharp knives, and she will have no voice to express her pain. This punishment is
inflicted upon her by the sea witch as a way to extract revenge against the mermaid's father.
Even worse, the prince falls in love with another woman, and the mermaid is faced with a choice…
Which is far more morbid than the one we remember Ariel facing. That choice is between killing the
prince to regain her tail and returning to the sea or dying and becoming sea foam.
Again, the story faces an emphasis on sacrifice. The mermaid is willing to give up everything,
including her voice and her life, in order to be with the prince she loves. This willingness
to sacrifice is a common theme in Andersen's stories, and it reflects his own struggles
with love and loss in his personal life. But perhaps the darker element of the story
is the betrayal that the mermaid ultimately experiences. After giving up her voice to the
sea witch in exchange for legs, the mermaid is unable to speak and communicate with the
prince she loves. Even after saving his life. When the prince falls in love with another woman,
the mermaid is heartbroken and betrayed by the prince's actions. This betrayal highlights the
theme of unrequited love, which is a common theme in many of Andersen's fairy tales.
Finally, the tragic ending of the story is perhaps the darkest aspect of The Little Mermaid. After
the prince marries another woman, the mermaid is faced with the choice we mentioned a moment ago…
Killing him and returning to her life in the sea or dying and becoming sea foam. She chooses the
latter, and the story ends with her transformation into sea foam and her acceptance of her fate.
Next, let’s talk about Cinderella. First of all, let's talk about
violence. In the original story, Cinderella's stepsisters are so desperate to fit into the
glass slipper that they chop off parts of their own feet. And this isn't depicted
as shocking or disturbing - it's just seen as a consequence of their greed and ambition. Yikes.
And let's not forget about the fairy godmother. In the original story,
she's not the benevolent figure we've come to know and love. Instead, she's kind of
indifferent to Cinderella's plight, and only helps her after being begged repeatedly. Plus,
she warns Cinderella not to stay out too late at the ball,
which implies that there may be consequences if she disobeys. Not exactly warm and fuzzy.
Moving on, Mulan is actually another Disney movie that has
some darker elements, even as a kids film. For instance, when you factor in the avalanche,
Mulan has the highest kill count, by far, when compared to other Disney heroes. There’s also the
really tragic elements depicting war - where we see the lost of civilian life. Including children.
A dark element of both the Disney movie and the original story is the idea of sacrifice
and duty. Mulan's decision to take her father's place in the army is motivated by a deep sense of
duty and honor, and she is willing to risk her life for her country and her family. However,
this also means that she must give up her own dreams and aspirations,
and live a life that is defined by duty and responsibility rather than personal fulfillment.
The big change from the original story is the ending.
The original ending of the Mulan story is quite different from the happy ending we see in the
Disney movie. In the original legend, Mulan returns home from the war to find that her
father has died and her mother has remarried. She is honored by the emperor for her service,
but refuses any rewards and instead asks for a horse to take her home.
On the way back, Mulan is confronted by her fellow soldiers, who have come to visit her.
They are surprised to learn that she is a woman, and feel betrayed that she has disguised herself
and fought alongside them. In some versions of the story, Mulan is so ashamed that she kills herself
on the spot. In other tellings, she is exiled by the emperor and forced to live in obscurity.
In some versions, she becomes so distraught that she takes her own life,
either by hanging or by self-immolation. While the details of Mulan's death are not
always clear or consistent in different versions of the story, her tragic end serves as a reminder
of the sacrifices that she made in order to serve her country and protect her family's honor. It
also highlights the cultural expectations placed on women at the time, who were expected to be
dutiful daughters and wives above all else. Moving on, let’s take a look at
Repunzal from Tangled. One of the most disturbing
and adult themes in the Brothers Grimm version of "Rapunzel" is the suggestion that Rapunzel
becomes pregnant after her encounters with the prince. The witch discovers this and
banishes Rapunzel to a remote desert, where she gives birth to twins. This element of
the story adds a whole new level of complexity and darkness to the already troubling tale, and
forces us to confront the real-world consequences of
Rapunzel's intimate relationship with the prince. Also, after being discovered by the witch,
the prince is blinded by her and forced to wander the wilderness alone. This punishment is much
harsher than in other versions of the story, and adds a tragic dimension to the prince's character.
Finally, let’s talk about Tiana in The Princess and The Frog.
Many aren’t as familiar with the "Frog Prince" fairytale, which acted as the frame work for
the Disney retelling. We were surprised to learn that this classic story, which has been
retold countless times, has some pretty dark and unsettling elements that often get overlooked.
One of the first things that struck us about the story is the Princess' initial
disgust towards the Frog. In the original version, she actually throws him against the
wall in disgust. It may not seem like the most violent thing to happen in a fairytale, but it
really reinforces the Princess’ lack of empathy. . Then, of course, there's the Frog's transformation
and demand for marriage. After the Frog turns into a prince, he demands that the Princess
marry him as a reward for her promise to him. But it's not based on love or mutual affection,
it's just a sense of entitlement and obligation. We were left wondering about the ethics of
marriage as a transactional exchange and the role of power dynamics in romantic relationships.
Finally, in some versions of the story, a false bride tries to claim the prince as her own and
is punished by being dragged through the streets in a barrel filled with spikes. This punishment
is often described in gruesome detail, with the false bride screaming and bleeding as the
barrel is rolled through the town. The spikes in the barrel are said to be sharp and pointed,
causing the bride immense pain and suffering. This punishment serves
as a warning to anyone who would dare to deceive or betray the prince or the kingdom.
It's worth noting that this type of punishment was not uncommon in medieval times, when the
original "Frog Prince" story is thought to have originated. Public punishments were often used
to deter crime and maintain order, and the use of spikes or other sharp objects was intended
to cause maximum pain and suffering. However, from a modern perspective,
this punishment is extremely brutal and raises questions about the
appropriateness of violent retribution. But let us know in the comment section
which of these Disney Princess origins you feel is the most messed up. Make sure to hit
that notification bell and binge our other videos. But most importantly, stay wicked.