Review: The Little Mermaid lands on 4K Blu-ray for a 30th anniversary Signature Collection

Three decades after Ariel first swam into theatres, The Little Mermaid is now regarded as one of Disney’s most iconic films. The story of Ariel, a young mermaid longing to break free of her repressive family and her surroundings is timeless, even if the film seems to side more with her family and her fellow friends under the sea, who are doing everything in their power to stifle her dreams. While the themes are fairly outdated at this point, there is definitely a sense of magic surrounding The Little Mermaid, a film which resonates with children today as much as it did with those of us who still remember how all-consuming a force it was when it first hit theatres (and eventually home video).

The Little Mermaid was a huge leap forward in animation, and that classic style looks better than ever on this new Signature Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The added resolution simply enhances what was already a striking color palette, making this by far the best-looking version of the film to ever hit home video. Modern film animation has evolved considerably since 1989, but there is something tangible and striking about the animation here, which really shines on this release. Those with the ability to play Dolby Atmos will also benefit from a massive soundscape, which should annoy the neighbours to no end as you blast “Under The Sea” at wall-shaking volume.

This is the second Signature Collection release from Disney, following The Lion King last year, and they’ve provided a bevy of new (and previously available) extras here. The main new extra is the Sing Along mode, which provides the lyrics on-screen to the film’s memorable songs (as if you really need the prompt to remember these). Also of note is the short feature Alan Menken and the Leading Ladies, which showcases the composer speaking with a number of women who have lent their voices to a handful of classic Disney films.

This release also ports over the commentary track with writers & directors Ron Clements and John Muskerand and composer Alan Menken, along with some brief additional extras from the previous Blu-ray release. There are also a number of additional features exclusive to the digital version of the film, including a 30th anniversary retrospective feature, along with deleted scenes, music videos, easter eggs, and more.

With some fun new extras, including the Sing Along mode that should be a hit with younger viewers, alongside a top-notch audio and video presentation, this is without a doubt the best version of The Little Mermaid to hit home video. More discerning viewers may balk at some of the outdated messaging of the film, but for those willing to take a deep dive back under the sea, this latest release of The Little Mermaid comes highly recommended. “What more is you lookin’ for?”

The Little Mermaid Signature Collection is available now.