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The face of Ariel was modeled after Alyssa Milano, who Glen Keane (the animator) felt exemplified a young teenager in the 1980s. The live-action reference model was Sherri Stoner, below.
Sherri Stoner in 1989, serving as the live-action character reference for Ariel in "The Little Mermaid"
Fun Fact: Sherri Stoner was later a writer for "Animaniacs","Pinky and the Brain", and "My Little Pony"
Eric was voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes, but his live-action reference model seen above is Joshua Finkel, who probably peaked in 1989.
Ursula was voiced by Pat Carroll, who still voices Ursula for nearly 30 years now in everything from TV movies to video games. But Ursula was *inspired* by legendary drag queen Divine.
Most of these are taken from a DVD extra that you can view here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5BEKRtvKA0
But Ariel was voiced by Jodi Benson, who has also voiced Barbie in the "Toy Story" franchise, characters from Cartoon Network's "Camp Lazlo", and "Thumbelina".
Previously: Peter Pan - http://imgur.com/gallery/7oIAF
Next: 101 Dalmations - http://imgur.com/gallery/BtznO
tooomanysteves
+1 for something new. (Seen the Alice In Wonderland post a dozen times)
OnlyIHardlyKnowHerJokes
Sherri Stoner? I hardly know her!
WholesomeCrackwhoresForSale
rchecka
She also had nice shells.
ComeOnNSlam
When you notice the prince has huge hands
illguessyourdogsbreed
I wonder how Sherri feels about being a butterface...
DutchKincaid
#2 Was a real fork too difficult to get their hands on?
T4ggl3
Without context or the images of the My Little Mermaid stuff for comparison this is like some weird indie art project.
breakfastburner
When my grandpa died my grandma dated Jodi bensons father. I grew up with her at every holiday she'd sing to us and is a very sweet woman.
TangySage
So lucky!!
Morg729
otternonsense85
Jodi Benson was from my hometown
micotyro
This is different than rotoscoping correct?
SherMattLockSmith
Jesus fuck, Ursula is Divine? Had they seen Pink Flamingos? What were they doing using that as an inspiration?
FishTaco5
Look at this stuff! Isn't it neat?
KillingTheJoke6
Didn't know the prince was a guido
theDoggetsmorelovethanme
.
db17k
This is so cool
BlargoBopolis
I honestly didn't know this was a part of animating. It makes sense now that I see it.
Corona688
It's the way Disney did a lot of their earlier movies, too. Skip back to Peter Pan, they sketched right on the photos.
GoddamnitClown
It's not part of most, and even Disney didn't film every scene. It's as likely to be an animator bending their arm for 10 mins as this stuff
tommyfever
I'm not a foot guy but I went to a live-action production of The Little Mermaid and the actress playing Ariel, right after she got her 1/?
tommyfever
2/2 feet in the story, did the thing like in the movie where she puts her feet in the air and flexes them and that was pretty special.
cutthroatink15
Didnt realize it when i was a kid, but ariel is pretty hot, not hot enough for me to fertelize her fish eggs with a cloud of semen though
malakim
http://imgur.com/BVhYJjT
minc3r
Look at this stuff! Isn't it neat?!
sureasyourebornyourenevergoingtoseenounicorn
I had no idea they used live action models back in the day.
Corona688
Disney did so lots and lots. Sometimes drew sketches right on the photos. Explains a lot about their animation style.
Audrelius
Pink Flamingos
PauLogic
DIVINE
ImHereForTheCera123MeltSteelBeams
I've never seen The Little Mermaid all the way through, there, I said it
MisssChanandlerBong
She's a skank anyway. You didn't miss much. And I say that as an avid Disney lover.
Ajax97
There are dozens of us!
ImHereForTheCera123MeltSteelBeams
Dozens!
badonkadonks
I knew I recognized Joshua Finkel. He was a professor at my uni.
badonkadonks
https://www.cluecho.com/2014/11/the-little-mermaid-animation-could-be-part-of-your-curriculum/ for more info
Aym42
Disney animators have topless versions of early Little Mermaid development hanging in their offices. Even as a teenager I found it weird
shadowex3
uh, do you mean unfinished drawings that just don't have the detailing of the clambra added on?
thefable27
A lot of times mermaids are drawn with out bras and just have hair long enough to cover their breast. I think Peter Pan has topless mermaids
Aym42
Neither of these. Little blonde mermaid with breasts uncovered.
Whiskey461
Alyssa Milano doesn't look anything like Ariel though...
Corona688
It's all in the eyes, I think. And hair, obviously.
Corona688
I mean, the eyes and hair are what they changed. The jaw structure, etc, is where the resemblance lies.
SunnySarah20
I don't see it at all either.
babbzilla
I can see it. Very much so in the chin & jaw line. Bit in the brow, and eyes. Definitely in the cheekbones. It's the little similarities.
LuciferRattlehead
IMHO Alyssa Milano is one of the prettiest women who ever existed.
Horus175
You can see why Star Lord named his ship after her.
thesmelge
To be fair, he'd have had trouble naming it after pretty earth girls after the 80's.
DaveTheMurderingHippo
Who?
Horus175
Star Lord, man. Legendary outlaw...? Guys?