Why Dreamworks Hates “The Little Mermaid”

How could anyone hate Ariel?

Since it was released on November 17, 1989, The Little Mermaid has captured hearts all over the world. Ariel has become one of the most beloved Disney Princesses of all time. She is adored for her bravery, her kindness, and her incredible personality. Generations of children look up to the red-headed princess, and with the new live-action movie coming out on May 26, even more children will adore Ariel in the future. However, Ariel does have some major haters, one of them being DreamWorks Animation.

Credit: Disney

A Beef for the Ages

There is a long-lasting beef between Disney’s The Little Mermaid and DreamWorks Animation. It all started back in the 1980s when The Little Mermaid was first starting production. At the time film producer, Jeffery Katzenberg was working for Walt Disney Studios. Katzenberg was very talented and highly regarded in his field. When talks of The Little Mermaid began, Katzenberg made his disapproval of the film clear to his colleagues. He feared that there were too many mermaid movies being made at the time. Katzenberg was also critical of Ariel’s fiery red hair.

After the film became a huge success, Katzenberg was ridiculed for his early doubts. His dislike of the little mermaid followed him for much of his career. Later in his career, Katenberg left Walt Disney Studios for DreamWorks Animation. DreamWorks was at its prime with the success of the Shrek movies. When it came time to make Shrek 2, Katzenberg added a sneaky jab toward his former employer.

Credit: DreamWorks Animation

In a scene from the film, Princess Fiona is seen throwing an Ariel lookalike into the ocean. Fans were quick to pick up on the reference, and it became a very iconic moment in the film.

Katzenberg Strikes Again

It seems that DreamWorks Animation has made a jab at Ariel once again. DreamWorks Animation just released a trailer for their new movie, Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken. In the trailer, we see the film’s villain, who happens to look very similar to Ariel.

Credit: DreamWorks Animation

It should also be noted that the Teenage Kraken trailer was released right around the same time that the live-action The Little Mermaid trailer was. It seems that this beef may never end, but boy is it entertaining!