Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Studio: United American Video
• VHS Release Date: October 13, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000FDWY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,536 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Melodramatic and absolutely beautiful!", December 3, 1999

By 

Jeannie (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Little Mermaid (Not Disney Version) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Don't judge a video by it's cover; this film was Japanese-animated in 1973 by Tomoharu Katsumata, the creator of "Arcadia of my Youth/Captain Harlock". By the time of it's American theatrical release in 1979, the film was taken under the direction of African/American actor, Tim Reid, who also directed "Once Upon A Time, When We Were Colored", and starred in the tv movie "Stephen King's It" This version is true to Hans Christian Anderson's orginal text,especially the ending, and is rather melodramatic, which appeals to an adult level, and reminds them to always have a box of tissues beside them while viewing this beautiful feature. I think this film would of been better off in the drama, animation, or special interest section than the children section; Thus, the film's ending will dissapoint young children who are used to the happy endings they see from Disney. Even though the characters of this film have talking animals for companions, don't expect any comic relief from them because the emotions these characters display are quite real as when we feel jealousy and greif. Such examples are displayed while Marina is staying with the prince, and his siamese cat, Jenny, is very jealous of the attention he's giving the mute girl(I thinks she suspects she was a mermaid) and plots ways of trying to get rid of her,even wanting her killed in the attempt, even if it means having him die with her. There were originally scenes which included brief nudity as when Marina and her sisters' bare breasts are exposed, and Marina's transformation into a human which almosts shows her completley nude. There are even scenes which include blood. But, unfortunately, these scenes have been cut in this edition, including a scene which a silly servent gets overexcited and exclaims about seeing an unconsious girl unclothed. The animation, screenplay, and instrumental score of the film are absolutely beautiful, and the religous Christian themes expressed are quite moving.It's a shame,though, that American animation never displays melodramtic features as Japan does,like "The Grave of the Fireflies", "The Bell of Chiron" ("The Ringing Bell"),and "The Legend of Syrius" ("Sea Prince and the Fire Child"); as well as other internationally animated films like "Watership Down", "The Plague Dogs", "When The Bough Breaks" (British), and "Sarah and the Sqiurrel" (Austrailian) which I reviewed some time ago on this page. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys films faithfully adapted to their original text. It also includes a live-action,documental backround of the story's origins with scenes of Copenhagen, Denmark, with it's famous "Little Mermaid" statue, serving as a prologue and epilouge for the film. The screen-format of this film is better viewed with a wide-screen television monitor, because it doesn't fit with a regular television monitor format. Be sure to check out this film wherever you can find it. Don't miss it!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YES this is the video you're looking for, June 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Little Mermaid (Not Disney Version) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

don't be fooled by the cover. this is the old Little Mermaid movie with Marina and that little dolphin!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an animated masterpiece, October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Little Mermaid (Not Disney Version) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I cannot even express my happiness at finally finding this version of The Little Mermaid. I had seen the box of this one before but had dismissed it because of the cover animation. I'm glad I finally decided to get it anyway because it turned out to be the right one! This was my favorite movie as a child and to this day every time I see it my heart breaks into a million pieces. You will never see a more beautiful version of this story. I was told for years that it was completely out of print. I'm soooo glad I finally found it! Get this!!!!!