In the original story, the mermaid's ending is tragic as she turns into sea foam, while in the Disney version, Ariel gets a happy ending and marries the prince. Also, in the original, she is mute on land due to the deal with the sea witch, but in Disney's, she regains her voice. The original mermaid is more about self - sacrifice and unrequited love, while the Disney one is more of a fairytale romance.
In the original story, the mermaid's journey is much darker. For example, she feels constant pain when walking on her new legs, while in the Disney version this aspect is softened. Also, in the original, the prince doesn't immediately fall in love with her like in the Disney movie. Instead, he treats her more like a curious object at first.
Well, the original story has a more tragic tone. The mermaid's deal with the sea witch is more menacing. She sacrifices her voice not just for legs but also in a more desperate way. In the Disney version, they soften this a lot. The Disney mermaid is more of an adventurous girl finding love. But the original mermaid's fate of turning into sea foam shows a harsher reality compared to the Disney's happily - married - off ending.
One key difference is the ending. In the Disney version, Ariel gets to marry the prince and they live happily ever after. But in the real story, she doesn't get the prince and turns into sea foam. Also, in the real story, the pain she endures on land is much more severe than what is shown in Disney's adaptation.
The original Little Mermaid story by Hans Christian Andersen is much darker. In the original, the mermaid doesn't get a happily - ever - after like in the Disney version. When she fails to win the prince's love, instead of turning into sea foam and having a happy spiritual existence as in the Disney adaptation, she dies and turns into sea foam in a more tragic sense.
The original dark story has a more tragic and complex nature. In the original, the mermaid's transformation is extremely painful. She endures great agony when getting legs. Also, the prince doesn't truly love her back and in the end, instead of a happy union, she turns into sea foam. While the Disney version is much more family - friendly and focuses on themes like true love conquering all and has a happy ending.
Well, the Danish original story of the Little Mermaid is a lot more melancholy. In the original, the mermaid sacrifices her voice not just for a chance at love but also as part of a very cruel deal. The prince she loves doesn't end up with her in the way Disney shows. He marries another princess. And her sisters try to save her by giving their hair to the sea witch, but it's all in vain. In Disney, it's all made more upbeat and hopeful.
The Disney version of the Little Mermaid simplifies the story in some ways. It focuses on the romance between Ariel and Prince Eric. Ariel is presented as a beautiful and determined young mermaid. However, the original story delved deeper into the mermaid's sense of loss and the price she had to pay for her legs. The Disney version also gives more importance to side characters like Flounder and Scuttle to make the story more appealing to a younger audience, while the original was more about the mermaid's internal struggle.
In the real story, it's much darker. The mermaid doesn't get a happily - ever - after. She suffers a lot on land, and in the end, she turns into sea foam. In the Disney version, she gets to marry the prince and live happily. Also, in the real story, the mermaid has to make a much harsher deal with the sea witch, sacrificing her voice which is not as simply resolved as in the Disney movie.
The Grimm version of the Little Mermaid is darker. In it, the mermaid's transformation and her experiences are filled with more hardship. The Disney one, on the other hand, is more about the adventure and the beauty of the underwater world. The Grimm story may not have as much of the catchy music and bright colors as Disney. And the characters in the Grimm version seem to have more complex and less idealized personalities.
One major difference is the concept of love and sacrifice. In the original story, the little mermaid's love for the prince is almost self - destructive. She endures so much pain just for a chance to be with him. The Disney version simplifies this. Another difference is the role of the sea witch. In the original, the deal with the witch is more complex and the consequences are harsher. And finally, the ending. Disney changed it to a more positive and commercial - friendly one, while the original ending of the mermaid becoming sea foam is a very poignant and sad conclusion.