The Little Mermaid Already Highlights A Major Disney Remake Problem

The Little Mermaid remake, alongside the action-packed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, share an unfortunate problem. In cinema, the mysterious ocean depths are sometimes only as impressive as the filmmaker’s imagination and the technology at their disposal. As far as nautical adventures go, Ariel and Aquaman already had their bar raised; and expectations set high as other movies dive further into the deep.

At one time, The Little Mermaid and its unique characters stood out as a spectacle of animation as Disney animators labored to create the movie’s underwater scenes. Meanwhile, Aquaman became recognized for its enjoyably over-the-top action and stylized deep-sea cities. However, after both films were released, the first trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water debuted in 2022. A sequel to 2009’s Avatar, the trailer highlighted James Cameron’s world of Pandora and how the movie’s groundbreaking visual effects would bring its oceans to life. Having garnered over 146 million views in 24 hours, Avatar: The Way of Water’s trailer didn’t disappoint and continued to establish the series as a pinnacle of CGI technology.

As Aquaman and The Little Mermaid prepare for their next theatrical release, they’ve got an obstacle to face, the shadow cast over them by Avatar: The Way of Water. The Little Mermaid remake and Aquaman’s sequel will inevitably draw comparisons to James Cameron’s work, whose passion project already set a new standard for what’s possible for seaside CGI. Already questions are being raised if Aquaman 2 and The Little Mermaid will find a way to stand out on their own merits or fail to rise above Avatar 2’s groundbreaking underwater technology.

Why The Little Mermaid & Aquaman 2’s Underwater CGI Will Struggle Against Avatar 2

Although Avatar’s stories are divisive among critics, there’s no denying that visually it represents some of the best of modern CGI. Already, James Cameron’s efforts to create Pandora’s oceans proved to be unparalleled. Having dived into the Mariana Trench to capture raw footage, used advanced performance capture technology, and filmed underwater scenes in both practical and computer-generated environments, there’s no doubt Cameron’s labor is lovingly Herculean. Meanwhile, Disney’s live-action remakes are known for their bad CGI, with critics citing The Lion King’s cast as “expressionless,” Dumbo’s designs as unsettling, and Pinocchio as “wooden” in all the wrong ways. The Little Mermaid’s first impression wasn’t much better as many noted the teaser released at D23 felt lifeless, showing unnatural underwater movements with a distinct lack of bubbles and swaying detritus. Additionally, Ariel seemed to be singing out of a landlocked recording booth instead of an underwater grotto. As for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, although DC has released little information, the many delays around the film’s release are concerning. Disney and Warner Bros. can’t hope to match the standards set by Cameron, although they’ll undoubtedly draw comparisons among their underwater scenes.

There’s always hope Aquaman’s sequel and The Little Mermaid will be successful despite having Avatar: The Way of Water as a visual contender. The Little Mermaid’s casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel garnered praise and the original film is a Disney classic. When reflecting on Aquaman, despite controversies around the second film, the lead-actor Jason Momoa and extravagant action have proven to be crowd-pleasers. Special effects don’t necessarily define a film’s success, and sometimes all they need is the right cast and story to distinguish their respective films.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, along with The Little Mermaid, have plenty of pressure on them to be as beautiful as they are entertaining. From previews alone, it seems that James Cameron has set a daunting new standard with Avatar: The Way of Water’s underwater CGI. It remains to be seen if the final product is as intimidating as it seems.