Disclosure: I attended the #DisneyPlanesPremiere and #LittleMermaidEvent. My flight, lodging and expenses were all covered by Disney. However, all opinions are my own.
On my whirlwind trip to Los Angeles in July for the Planes Premiere which was a trip of a lifetime, I got to sit down and talk with these two amazing men. With the diamond edition of The Little Mermaid coming out on DVD on October 1, 2013 I am getting more and more excited. They are two outstanding individuals that helped craft The Little Mermaid into a Disney Classic.
Interview with John Musker and Ron Clements Writers The Little Mermaid
When The Little Mermaid came out in 1989 and I was 13 years old! My Nana and Papa took all of the grandchildren to the matinee in the Main Street Cinema in Trenton, MO. The theater and my grandparents are long gone but the memories are still very vivid and the experience of sitting down and talking with the writers seems surreal at best. Even after the countless awards the film has received through the years they were humble and genuine about their experiences.
One of the questions that stuck out in my mind the most was this: “When you guys started the movie, did you really think it was gonna be as big of a hit as it is now?” When they both gave their answers that were “no” answers I was more than surprised. I would have thought they would have known all along about how great the film really was. It was also amazing to me that the love for their work really did shine through even when they were “talking about” the behind the scenes action.
Another memory that stood out to me was when John and Ron were talking about Walt Disney and how he aspired to make all of his films not only kid friendly but a kid friendly movie that all ages including adults will love. They took that approach when it came time to make The Little Mermaid and made it into a successful movie that most of us in the room grew up watching as kids. Now we will have the honor and privilege of sharing it with our kids which makes it not only generational but a legacy as well.
Growing up with John and Ron
John and Ron also told us a lot about them growing up and watching Pinocchio and knowing that one day they would be writing and animating just like the creators did then. They told us about their ups and downs and how Disney animation after Walt’s death almost got the boot. But because of the success of The Jungle Book they decided that animation was there to stay. John and Ron were both trained by the “Old Nine Men” of Disney because they were a group of veteran animators and learned from them. No matter what they did the Old Nine Men could show them how to make it instantly better and Disney still carries on that tradition of teaching new animators the same way.
Animation has changed so much over the years and both men have withstood the test of time. They have gotten better, because well know writers and animators playing vital roles in films like “The Little Mermaid”, “Aladdin”, and “The Princess and the Frog” to name a few. They are truly amazing men and such an inspiration to lots of people young and old. There memories of making the movie will last a lifetime and I am very fortunate to be one of the lucky ones to have met these talented, humble and genuine men we call the writers and animators of “The Little Mermaid”
Interviewing John Musker and Ron Clements was a jig of a lifetime and one memory I will always cherish! Remember to check out all of the great new “Little Mermaid Merchandise” that we were lucky enough to see while visiting. My wish list keeps getting longer each time I revisit any of the pictures from this trip.
What is your favorite scene, movie or memory about The Little Mermaid?
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