 What’s a Warner Brothers character doing in a Disney movie? In 1964, Warner Brothers released “The Incredible Mr. Limpet,” staring the hilariously talented (and future Disney veteran) Don Knotts. The story, partly animated and partly live-action, follows the story of one Mr. Limpet and how, after falling into the ocean, he is magically changed into a fish and becomes a WWII hero, using natural sonar to aid allied ships in the war effort. The film was a hit, but what does Disney have to do with all of this? Mr. Limpet’s character designer and animation director was Disney veteran Vladimir “Bill” Tytla, well-renowned for bringing to life such Disney legends as the demon Chernaborg in Fantasia, the puppeteer/villain Stromboli in Pinocchio, and even when baby Dumbo takes a bath in Dumbo!  Later on, in the late 1980s, when Disney was hard at work on the Little Mermaid, animators working on the film couldn’t help but pay homage to a legendary artist who helped inspire them to carry on the legacy of animated excellence. Thus, at the end of the “Under the Sea” number, when all the fish are in their frozen pose, one can spot the incredible Mr. Limpet among the school of fish.  But Mr. Limpet’s story doesn’t end there! Later on, when imagineers were building “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure” attraction at Disney’s California Adventure, a Mr. Limpet animatronic gets to play his part as well!
In the “Under the Sea” scene, just after you past Ariel, behind and to the right, hidden behind a clamshell and seaweed is the indelible Mr. Limpet, watching with his iconic Don Knott’s grin as Flounder dances with the Carmen Miranda fish. Disney believes in its past and is optimistic for its future. It remembers those who played a role, even if they have gone on to other things, and continues again and again to pay homage to the people who laid the groundwork for what they are accomplishing today! Ursula's appearance was largely inspired by American actor and drag queen Divine. Clements eventually decided to place Ursula's head on top of the body of an octopus instead, which ultimately resulted in her current design. The animators then studied the way in which octopuses move, explaining, "There was a very kind of seductive and yet scary aspect", which they incorporated into the character's own gait. "There’s no limit to how low Ursula will stoop to achieve her goals"; the character often relies on a combination of sorcery and deception to achieve them. "A bargainer of the worst kind", Ursula only agrees to help the less fortunate when she's confident that she can gain something from them in return. as a sea witch who is scheming to take advantage of the ambitions of King Triton's youngest daughter Princess Ariel in order to usurp the throne and turning merpeople into polyps for her garden. When Ariel saves and falls in love with a human named Prince Eric much to her father's chagrin, Ursula temporarily grants Ariel's wish to live as a human for three days in return for her voice.     Ariel and Sebastian are BFFs. While Flounder frolics under the sea, these two share funny stories and a brisk walk through Prince Eric's garden. Ariel loves using her land legs, if you remember the previously posted Kiss the Girl photo shoot.  "You are hopeless, child. You know that. Completely hopeless."  "I hope that you appreciate what I go through for you, young lady! Now, we got to make a plan to get that boy to kiss you. Tomorrow, when he takes you for that ride, you gotta look your best! You gotta bat your eyes like this."   “The seaweed is always greener, in somebody's elses' lake. The human world, it’s a mess.”  "And don’t you shake your head at me, young lady! Maybe there’s still time. If we could get that witch to give you back your voice, you could go home with all the normal fish and just be."
I have been wanting to do this particular cosplay for a while. It is where after Ariel gets her land legs, and stays her first night out of water at Prince Eric's castle.      |
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