QUARANTINE BLOG # 450

June 23, 2021

From the 1930s to the 1960s, the Disney studios produced successful animated films based on well-known stories.  Then followed a period when top box office figures were harder to come by and one of Disney’s top animators, Don Bluth, left to start his own company, taking 20% of the Disney animators with him.  For several years Don Bluth Productions led the way in animated movies, then in 1989, and continuing for the next 10 years, Disney regained the top rung in the animated film ladder with Disney Renaissance – returning to their roots.  The first of those “come back” films was The Little Mermaid.

Disney had been developing The Little Mermaid since the 1930s, and by 1988, after the success of Touchstone Pictures Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the studio had decided to make it into an animated musical, much like many of its previous animated movies, but with a more Broadway feel to it, with the song sequences serving as the tentpoles of the film.  Bluth studios, The Land Before Time, held the box office record for an animated film, until the release of The Little Mermaid.

Based on the 1837 Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, the film tells the story of a mermaid princess named Ariel, who dreams of becoming human and falls in love with a human prince named Eric, which leads her to make a magic deal with the sea witch, Ursula, to become human and be with Eric.

More money and resources were dedicated to The Little Mermaid than any other Disney animated film in decades.  The underwater setting required the most special effects animation for a Disney animated feature since Fantasia in 1940.  Effects animation supervisor Mark Dindal estimated that over a million bubbles were drawn for this film.  The Little Mermaid was the last Disney feature film in the canon to use the traditional hand-painted cel method of animation.

For several years a live-action film has been underway, following the success of the live-action Aladdin.  Principal photography was scheduled to begin last March, but was halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It restarted in January, with on location filming to begin in Italy this summer.

We’ll wrap this up with Ursula’s theme song, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” (why do the villains have such great songs) and Academy Award winning Best Original Song – “Under the Sea” (Clarence, the English-butler crab, was changed to Sebastian, a Jamaican crab, the music style shifted throughout the film to reflect this) – and my favorite, Academy nominated Best Original Song – “Kiss the Girl.”  

Why my favorite you ask?  Well, we need to travel in the Way Back Machine to our house on Cap Chat Street in Hephzibah.  Our second born child was dating a bashful young fellow, who in all of the months they were hanging out together had yet to kiss her, a situation that was a source of amusement to friends and family – probably not so to the non-kissee.  Well, one night, anticipating their arrival back home, I set up the cassette player, and while they were talking on the porch, I pushed play.  It did not help, but sometime later when their lips did touch, the next morning the regular  announcements at Davidson Fine Arts School broadcast the news.

Epilogue: When he broke up with her sometime later, I handed her a spoon.  She understood – it is a line from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.  

👉  Here are some unusual, but good ideas:

👉  And some not so good ideas:

👉  This bowler has thrown 11 strikes in a row.  All he needs is one more for a perfect 300 game.  Watch the 9 pin.  Unbelievable.

👉  Today, June 23, has several interesting celebrations:

Let It Go Day.  Today we let go of everything that has been bugging us and worrying our minds.  Regrets, grudges, and any sort of negativity that holds us back and keeps us from making progress.  Life will be better and you will be able to begin anew after letting all the past go.

National Pink Day.  Some may say that pink is for girls and blue is for boys, but both the history of the color pink and how it is perceived today are much more complex and varied than that. The perception of pink in society, long associated with femininity, has changed over the years. 

Pink’s rise in popularity in the West took place in the mid-eighteenth century. During that time, men and women wore faint, powdery pieces of pink clothing as a status symbol of luxury and class.  It was often more associated with males because it was seen as a lighter shade of red, which was a color viewed as masculine. Boys continued to wear pink well into the nineteenth century, including pink ribbons and decorations.  In the mid-nineteenth century, pink shifted away from masculinity and was viewed as being delicate.

Pink is associated with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A pink ribbon is the symbol of breast cancer awareness. 

👉  Today’s close, “God Knows When My Life’s a Struggle,” is from “Adventures Through the Holy Bible.”

When Jesus was about 30 years old, word reached Nazareth that a prophet at the Jordan River was telling people that they would soon see the Savior.  This prophet was John the Baptist.  He urged the people to feel sorry for their sins and stop doing wrong, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  When people repented, John baptized them in the Jordan River.

One day, Jesus approached John and asked to be baptized.  When Jesus came out of the water, the sky opened and people heard God’s voice saying, “This is My beloved Son!”  The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and rested upon Jesus.  Seeing this, John the Baptist was filled with wonder.  Pointing to Jesus, he said, “Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Then Jesus went to a wilderness area to be alone and to talk with His heavenly Father.  But Satan followed Him, trying everything in his power to make Jesus sin.

During 40 days of prayer Jesus went without food.  Satan showed up, disguised as an angel from heaven, and suggested, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  But Jesus did not need to prove His identity to Satan.  He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  This was a verse Jesus had learned from Scripture (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Satan confronted Jesus with two more fierce temptations.  Each time, Jesus fought back with the Word of God, “It is written.”  After Satan’s third tempting offer, Jesus said, “Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Matthew 4:10).  Satan had to leave; he had failed.  Jesus had won the battle.  Satan had demanded miracles to prove that Jesus was the son of God, but Jesus’ firm stand on Scripture was a greater sign.

The only thing in our world upon which we can totally rely is the Word of God.  When we understand the power of God’s promises and the love in His commands, we will obey His word, and trust His promises.  Even if we don’t know where our next meal is coming from.  Even if our life is in danger.  When your life’s a struggle, hang on to God’s hand by trusting His Word.  He will see you to victory.

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