The - Little Mermaid (1989)

Despite warnings from her father, King Triton , Ariel falls in love with Prince Eric after saving him from a shipwreck.

The story, loosely based on the 1837 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, follows , a 16-year-old mermaid princess fascinated by the human world. The Little Mermaid (1989)

The film's soundtrack, composed by with lyrics by Howard Ashman , is considered a masterpiece that defined the modern Disney formula. Despite warnings from her father, King Triton ,

After a climactic battle where Eric defeats a monstrously enlarged Ursula, Triton realizes Ariel's devotion and permanently transforms her into a human so she can marry Eric. Musical Innovation Despite warnings from her father