Shirrel Rhoades: 'The Little Mermaid' swims past controversy

We all know the story of “The Little Mermaid” — that fairy tale about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea to gain a human soul. It was written by Hans Christian Anderson in 1837. Other tales by him include “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Princess and the Pea,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “The Steadfast Tin Soldier.”

Disney appropriated the story for a 1989 animated film. The film won two Academy Awards, and marked the beginning of the so-called Disney renaissance.

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