On this day in 1989, ‘The Little Mermaid’ was released in theaters. Inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, the story follows Ariel who is willing to give up her life as a mermaid to be with the human prince she loves. ‘The Little Mermaid’ was the last animated feature to use the traditional hand-painted cel method. The film started a new era of success for Disney, winning two Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Under the Sea.” [35 years ago in 2024]