WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Little Mermaid, The
Genre:Animation

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating:
Sound Rating:
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Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals
The CAV Collector’s Edition offers an additional 21 minutes of extras including a “making of” sequence, concept art and theatrical trailer.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Walt Disney Home Video
(Catalog Number): 14795 CS
(MPAA Rating): G
(Retail Price): $49.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 83
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1989
(LD Release Date): 11/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

Credits Information
(Director): John Musker & Ron Clements
(Screenplay/Written By): John Musker & Ron Clements
(Story): NA
(Music): Alan Menken
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Michael A. Peraza, Jr. & Donald A. Towns (Art Directors)
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): NA
(Editor): John Carnochan
(Supervising Sound Editors): Richard C. Franklin, Jr.; Louis L. Edemann
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Howard Ashman & John Musker

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A & 70mm 6 Track Dolby
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, Disney’s 28th animated feature The Little Mermaid is the delightful story of Ariel, the mermaid who wants to be a human. Warnings by her father to stay away from those who walk on land go unheeded, and Ariel makes a deal with the conniving seawitch to trade her beautiful voice for legs. Kids and grownups alike will enjoy the characters, humor and the gentle message set Under the Sea. Not to mention the music, which won two Academy Awards®.

LaserDisc Picture:
Both THX® digitally mastered LaserDiscs, matted at 1.66:1, feature the same magnificent animation with sharp and detailed images that are solid, with only minor noise apparent in the darker scenes. Colors are wonderfully rendered and eye-popping throughout.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround matrix PCM soundtracks are engaging. The matrix PCM version sounds fuller compared to the discrete version. PCM bass is often deeper, even though bass on the discrete is at times enhanced by the .1 LFE channel. The "Storm At Sea" scene is an exception, delivering powerful deep bass to below 25Hz. Dialogue is, of course, ADR-produced, but intelligibility is excellent. The music is wonderful with delightfully romantic songs that are nicely recorded with an expansive soundstage and effective surround envelopment. Split surrounds are occasionally apparent in the discrete, effectively drenching the mono matrix surround. This is a charming soundtrack, especially the enhanced spatial sound quality of the new Dolby Digital version.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Yes
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: