I am a big fan of The Little Mermaid. I love mermaids in general, Hans Christian Anderson's folktale, and almost all interpretations of the story in popular culture. But, oddly enough, I'm not a huge fan of the Disney version with Ariel. I don't hate it or anything, but it's pretty far down my list. My favorite is the 1975 anime film by Toei Animation. It's well-animated and sticks to the original story. A close second though is Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid from 1991. The story is more cutesy and the animation isn't as refined, but there are a lot of notable similarities, mostly in the little mermaid herself. In both versions, she is a young blonde mermaid named Marina drawn with an anime influence. In the 1975 movie, she is topless with strategically flowing hair. But in the 1991 show, she has scales that continue up her torso in a design I find very appealing (the Disney seashell bra always seemed silly to me... and uncomfortable). I love Marina's two-tone green tail especially (but I could do without the little earrings).
Saban's The Adventures of the Little Mermaid (1991) was intended to capitalize on the success of Disney's The Little Mermaid film from 1989, but only lasted one season when Disney released their own official television series in 1992.
There was a decent amount of merchandise from Saban's show, but very few actual toys. The Toy Group, Inc. released a set of four collectible figures in 1991 that I think are the most toy-like of all the products. Plus, as far as I know, this line was the only attempt to make the Sea Witch, Hedwig (who is a favorite of mine). These figures are composed of a dense hollow plastic, similar to a rubber ducky. Let's check out the two Marina figures below!
I love this first figure because of its homage to The Little Mermaid statue by Edward Erikson in the Copenhagen harbor in Langelinie. I've always been really drawn to that statue.
The second figure features Marina bursting out of the water.
Time for some Group and Comparison Pics!
Here are the three female figurines in the series: Marina (upright), Hedwig, and Marina (sitting).
And with Prince Justin added in.
Cheers!
Very cool. Have never heard of this movie. Will have to check it out.
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