What message does the controversy behind the costumes of “The Little Mermaid” movie want to convey?
Jun
In Disney’s adaptation of the classic 1989 animated film, “The Little Mermaid,” starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, the character’s appearance has sparked both tears and laughter among audiences due to what is perceived as a departure from the original.
Summary:
- Ariel’s Live-Action Hair – the distinguishing factor
- The era of Mermaid-core is set to explode
- Haute Couture costumes designed specifically for the character Ursula
- The dress inspired by the ocean’s blue hue
- The majestic armor of King Triton
- The billowy white dress in the final scene
The scene of the young girl sitting on the sea surface, gazing at the land from a rocky ledge, is one of the film’s most precious moments. Additionally, attention has been drawn to Ariel’s sparkling mermaid tail glistening in the sunlight and her iconic windswept hair that has captivated audiences.
The costumes were chosen by Colleen Atwood and the hair was designed by stylist Camille Friend. These elements evoke a nostalgic and warm feeling, while also leaving a certain impact on the next generation of Disney fans. According to Friend, there was an audience member who contacted her and enthusiastically expressed how much their daughter loved the film. “I was really moved because I didn’t know what people thought about it and how it might affect people. But after hearing from that person about how much their daughter loved the film, I was very happy.”
Ariel’s Live-Action Hair – the distinguishing factor Bailey aims to celebrate her natural hair, establishing the image of the first Black Ariel: “This hair represents the crown of black people, so it’s very special to us. So I was really grateful to be allowed to keep my hair in the film.”
Friend, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work on “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” explained, “Halle needed someone who truly understands and knows what to do with her hair. So, they called me. We had to figure out how to make her hair look as natural as possible while still maintaining the image of the character Ariel.” Initially, Friend created a wig with twisted locks for the character but still preserved Ariel’s buoyancy to stand out underwater. Additionally, they used CGI effects to make the hair look as realistic as possible.
The era of Mermaid-core is set to explode The film’s color palette stands out with a prismatic range, mainly created from shades of blue and green. The American costume designer and her team designed costumes for the mermaid, starting from creating the tail and each scale to resemble reality. They then used CGI image simulation technology for underwater scenes.
“I like the idea of this translucent tail – we can see the reflection of water images and movement through them.”
Ariel’s close-fitting bodice is delicately crafted with faint purple fins. The patterns on the costume and the images of Ariel and her six sisters are all inspired by fish. For example, Princess Indira is designed with a yellow and brown off-shoulder crop-top paired with a matching tail, and Princess Karina’s costume remains faithful to the original.
Haute Couture costumes designed specifically for the character Ursula Atwood mentioned Ursula, the sea witch who steals Ariel’s enchanting voice: “I feel like she’s a character who always focuses on her appearance. This antagonist character will never dress shabbily.”
Ursula always stays in her dark, gloomy lair, her ominous aura enveloped in a long-sleeved sequin dress. The costume designer explained, “I used a layer of sequin fabric in purple with a laser-cut leather layer on top. So, when she moves, you’ll see the purple light from that outfit.” The glittering effect is created for Ursula’s eight tentacles to evoke the meticulously crafted ball gown.
The dress inspired by the ocean’s blue hue Ursula noticed Ariel’s desire to experience “life on land,” and therefore, the girl had to “rise up” against the restrictive regime built by the rules of King Triton. After trading her fish tail and singing voice for Ursula’s, she arrives at the shore of an island in the Caribbean. There, Ariel, now a human, wears a floral dress that Atwood based on 1830s costumes to honor the “color of the sea.” Additionally, the dress is adorned with vivid pleats resembling ocean waves and transparent cotton fabric.
The dress evokes many associations with Ariel’s mermaid origin, from the ‘surface texture treatment’ technique mimicking fish scales. Atwood created coral-inspired patterns through popular 19th-century embroidery styles on the bodice.
Tiffany Williams, responsible for Bailey’s daily hair styling, maintains her hair and adds a purple-pink hairband. It can be seen that although far from home, Ariel still retains the “breath” of the sea through that accessory.
“You can also notice other hair accessories attached to this mermaid character,” Friend said. “All those little pieces are reminders of who she used to be and who she is now.”
The majestic armor of King Triton Atwood collaborated with sculptor Jose Fernandez – owner of the costume design company for superheroes, Ironhead Studios – to build a mini version of the ocean’s King’s prototype costume. And they even created a material similar to a clamshell.
The costume designer Colleen said, “Everything is handmade, and it feels like all the materials that make up the armor are from the ocean. His crown is inspired by the giant shark teeth and connected by a type of seaweed.”
The billowy white dress in the final scene In the finale, Ariel has a happy ending with Prince Eric with the support of her family. And just like in the animated version, Ariel wears a pink dress on her happy day.
The top layer of the dress is made from pineapple silk, also known as pineapple fiber from pineapple plants. The American costume designer said, “I like this idea, you can imagine that the dress was made on the island in their story. The square patterns on the skirt remind us of fishermen’s nets or fish scales.”
Atwood said, “The embroidery on the dress represents all kinds of sea creatures, such as small squids or fish. It’s Ariel’s world when she was still a little princess under the sea. Not only that, but she also sees them as friends.”
