Mystical Secrets Unveiled: Dive Deep into The Mind-Blowing VFX Behind Little Mermaid's Live-Action Underwater World

Summary

The VFX artists at Corridor Crew break down the flaws in the underwater scenes of Disney's live-action Little Mermaid, including improper hair physics and inaccurate lighting.

Acknowledging the criticisms, the group recognizes that they were not the intended audience and acknowledges the film's well-executed nature. The enchanting world of The Little Mermaid encourages a sense of disbelief, and a completely realistic portrayal of the deep ocean may have deterred, rather than entertained, viewers, especially given the movie's target demographic.

The VFX artists at Corridor Crew analyze the shortcomings of The Little Mermaid's live-action underwater scenes in their recent episode of VFX Artists React. They delve into the underwater scenes of Disney's 2023 remake, which was based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale and served as a remake of their own award-winning adaptation. With Halle Bailey leading the cast as the mermaid princess Ariel, the film explores her love for a human and her internal struggle to choose between her world and his. Directed by Disney veteran Rob Marshall, The Little Mermaid achieved moderate success, earning a mix of positive and negative reviews while generating $569 million in box office revenue against its $300 million production budget.

In the above video, three of the artists discuss the various issues depicted in the underwater sequences of the movie. They address concerns such as the unrealistic hair physics and the improper reflection of light on the characters' skin, considering the fact that they are submerged deep underwater. Despite these criticisms, the group acknowledges that they were not the intended audience for the film and recognize its overall impressive execution.

Little Mermaid's Live-Action Underwater Was Never Going To Be Perfect (& It's Okay)

The live-action Little Mermaid received criticism for not accurately portraying its underwater scenes, especially considering its high production costs. Some reports ranked it as one of Disney's most expensive remakes, placing it either behind or ahead of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. This comparison becomes more significant when looking at Avatar: The Way of Water, which reportedly cost $400 million to make and employed practical underwater filming techniques in short bursts, rather than relying solely on blue screen technology.

However, considering the nature of the film, The Little Mermaid can be pardoned for any flaws in its portrayal of live-action underwater scenes. Unlike James Cameron's Avatar sequel, which may strive for a sense of realism, the Disney remake exists in a fantastical world where talking sea creatures and magical mermaids thrive. This allows for a greater suspension of disbelief from the audience.

As stated in the video, it is important to consider that The Little Mermaid's target audience primarily consists of younger viewers. Although some individuals who grew up with the Disney animated classic may share similar sentiments as the Corridor Crew, it is essential to cater to the expectations of both children and those who were introduced to the original movie via platforms like Disney+. Portraying the deep ocean in a fully realistic manner could potentially alienate viewers rather than entertain them.

Source: Corridor Crew