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The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
File:The Little Mermaid 2 Poster.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byJim Kammerud
Written by
  • Elizabeth Anderson
  • Temple Mathews
  • Elise D'Haene
  • Eddie Guzelian
Based onThe Little Mermaid
by Hans Christian Andersen
Produced by
  • Leslie Hough
  • David Lovegren
Starring
  • Jodi Benson
  • Tara Strong
  • Samuel E. Wright
  • Pat Carroll
  • Rob Paulsen
  • Kenneth Mars
  • Cam Clarke
  • Buddy Hackett
  • Max Casella
  • Stephen Furst
  • Clancy Brown
Music byDanny Troob
Production
company
Distributed byWalt Disney Home Video
Release date
  • September 19, 2000 (2000-09-19)
Running time
75 minutes[1]
Country
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • United States [1]
LanguageEnglish


The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea is a 2000 animated direct-to-video musical fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, and the second installment in The Little Mermaid trilogy. Directed by Jim Kammerud and Brian Smith, the story of the film takes place 12 years after the original, and focuses on Ariel and Eric's daughter Melody, a human princess who longs to swim in the ocean despite her parents' law that the sea is forbidden to her.

Many voice actors from the original film returned for the sequel, including Jodi Benson as Ariel, Kenneth Mars as King Triton, Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, and Buddy Hackett as Scuttle in his final film role before his death in June 2003. Pat Carroll, who voiced Ursula in the first film, returned as Ursula's sister Morgana, the sequel's new villain. Tara Strong joined the cast as Melody, Rob Paulsen replaced Christopher Daniel Barnes as Prince Eric and Kay E. Kuter voiced Grimsby replacing Ben Wright who died four months before the first film was released.

The film received largely negative reviews with criticism directed at the plot and lack of originality, though Melody's character, alongside Strong's acting has been praised. In 2008, Disney released a third film, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, which is a prequel to the first film.

Plot[]

Two years after they got married and Ursula's demise, Ariel and Eric celebrate the birth of their daughter Melody on a ship at sea. Ariel's father King Triton presents Melody with a magic locket. The party is interrupted by Ursula's sister Morgana, who threatens to have Melody fed to her pet tiger shark, Undertow, unless Triton surrenders his trident to her. Morgana then announces her plan to use the trident to avenge Ursula and take over the ocean. Ariel and Eric work together to foil Morgana's plan, and Triton shrinks Undertow to the size of a piranha. Morgana escapes, eluding the attempts of King Triton's forces to capture her and declaring that she will someday exact her revenge on both Ariel and Triton and avenge Ursula's death. Fearing Morgana and remembering Ursula, Ariel decides that, until Morgana is captured, they will have to withhold all knowledge of the sea world and her heritage from Melody in order to protect her. Triton tosses the locket into the ocean, and a massive wall is built to separate the royal castle from the sea. Triton assigns Sebastian to watch over Melody.

Twelve years later, Melody remains unaware of her mother's mermaid heritage and is forbidden from ever going into the sea. However, she has been sneaking out of the castle regularly to swim, and one day finds the locket. Seeing her name on the locket, Melody questions her mother about it, but Ariel confronts Melody and forbids her to go into the sea. Frustrated with her mother's refusal to answer her questions, Melody steals a small boat and sails away from home. Melody is discovered by Undertow, who leads her straight to Morgana. In desperation, Sebastian tells Ariel and Eric that Melody went out to the sea. Meanwhile, Melody meets Morgana, who reveals that Melody's background is marine, and uses the remains of Ursula's magic to transform Melody into a mermaid. Triton prepares search parties, and is convinced by Ariel and Eric to use his trident to transform Ariel back into a mermaid in order to help in the search for Melody. Ariel searches the sea for Melody, regretting not sharing her heritage with her, while Melody explores her newfound abilities as a mermaid, and has a strong feeling that she was meant to be part of the sea.

Melody visits Morgana to thank her, only for Morgana to tell Melody that the spell was only temporary, and that she can only make the spell permanent if Melody retrieves the trident from Triton, which Morgana claims he stole from her. Melody decides to get the trident, and during her search befriends Tip and Dash, a penguin and walrus duo who join her. Melody succeeds in stealing the trident, and returns to Morgana, but before Melody can hand the trident over to Morgana, Ariel arrives and pleads for Melody not to give Morgana the trident. Melody refuses to listen to Ariel, having been angered by Ariel's decision to lie to her, and gives Morgana the trident. With the trident in her power, Morgana reveals her true intentions, goes back on her deal, and traps Melody in a cave by sealing the entrance with a thick layer of ice, while also informing her that her time as a mermaid is about to expire. Melody then expresses her guilt for trusting Morgana. Soon afterward, Morgana's spell on Melody wears off, causing her to revert into a human and nearly drown. Tip and Dash manage to free her with unintentional help from Undertow (who was turned back to normal by Morgana) and drag her to the shore.

Morgana uses the trident's magic to lord over the ocean, rising to the surface to gloat and creates a giant ice structure. Scuttle, Triton, Sebastian, and Eric arrive, and a battle ensues against Morgana and her minions. Melody manages to grab the trident, impales one of Morgana's tentacles, and throws it back to Triton, who encases Morgana in a block of ice, which sinks underwater as her ice structure collapses, and a picture of her sister sinks as well. Melody reunites with her family and apologizes to Ariel for her actions, and Triton offers his granddaughter the choice of becoming a mermaid permanently. Instead, Melody uses the trident to destroy the wall separating her home from the sea, reuniting the humans and the merpeople.

Voice cast[]

Main article: List of The Little Mermaid characters
  • Tara Strong as Melody (credited as Tara Charendoff)
  • Jodi Benson as Ariel
  • Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian
  • Pat Carroll as Morgana
  • Buddy Hackett as Scuttle (final film role)
  • Kenneth Mars as King Triton
  • Max Casella as Tip
  • Stephen Furst as Dash
  • Rob Paulsen as Eric
  • Clancy Brown as Undertow
  • Cam Clarke as Flounder
  • René Auberjonois as Chef Louis
  • Kay E. Kuter as Grimsby
  • Edie McClurg as Carlotta
  • Dee Bradley Baker as Cloak and Dagger
  • Frank Welker as Max

Release[]

Home media[]

The film was released directly to video on September 19, 2000.[2] It was released on May 7, 2001, in the UK. On November 6, 2006, the film was released in a bundle together with the original film in the Region 2 release.[3] The original DVD release was later discontinued and a special edition DVD with a deleted song, "Gonna Get My Wish", and a new game was released on December 16, 2008.[4] A package called The Little Mermaid Trilogy, which includes all three Little Mermaid films, was released on the same day.[5] This film, along with The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, was released in a 2-Movie collection on DVD and Blu-ray on November 19, 2013.[6]

Reception[]

Movie's response[]

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 17% of 6 critics gave the film a positive review, and the average rating is 3.8/10.[7] In 2011, Total Film ranked it as 27th among the 50 worst children's films ever made.[8]

Melody's reception[]

Unlike the film and even her mother Ariel, for whom the latter was generally mixed, Melody, the main character, was generally well received by both critics and Little Mermaid fans, who praised her emotional relationship with Ariel, character growth, likability, and Tara Strong's performance. In 2019, Screen Rant put her at #9 on Disney's Unofficial Princesses, Ranked.[9] Melody is one of Tara Strong's favorite characters to voice, as she was a big fan of the 1989 film growing up.

Home video sales[]

The film was the tenth-most-successful direct-to-video release of 2000, with retail revenues of $121 million.[10] The film sold 6 million VHS and DVD units in 2000.[11]

Soundtrack[]

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Songs from The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea & More!
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedSeptember 19, 2000 (2000-09-19)
Recorded2000
Length25:21
LabelWalt Disney Records
ProducerBambi Moe, Don Mizell, Eric Silver, Leonard Jones, Shepard Stern

The film's official soundtrack was released on September 19, 2000,[12] and again on October 31, 2000, in a special edition double pack with the original film's soundtrack.[13] Additionally, two limited-edition two-tracked CD samples were released as a promotion for the soundtrack.[14]

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording artist(s)Length
1."Down to the Sea"Michael and Patty SilversherJodi Benson, Rob Paulsen, Clancy Brown, Kay E. Kuter, Samuel E. Wright and Chorus3:29
2."Tip and Dash"Michael and Patty SilversherMax Casella, Stephen Furst, Tara Charendoff1:59
3."Iko Iko" (*)Barbara Ann Hawkins, Jessie Thomas, Joan Johnson, Maralyn Jones, Joe Jones, Rose Lee Hawkins, Sharon JonesWright3:49
4."Octopus's Garden" (*)Richard StarkeyWright2:47
5."For a Moment"Michael and Patty SilversherBenson, Charendoff2:28
6."Give a Little Love" (*)Albert Hammond, Diane WarrenWright3:57
7."Hot, Hot, Hot"Alphonsus CassellWright5:08
8."Here on the Land and Sea" (Finale)Michael and Patty SilversherBenson, Charendoff, Wright and Chorus1:44
Total length:25:21
Limited edition two track CD 1[14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording artist(s)Length
1."Part of Your World"Alan Menken, Howard AshmanChely Wright3:25
2."Limbo Rock" (*) Samuel E. Wright2:29
Limited edition two track CD 2[14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording artist(s)Length
1."Here on the Land and Sea" (Finale)Michael and Patty SilversherJodi Benson, Tara Charendoff, Samuel E. Wright and Chorus1:44
2."Coconut" (*)Harry NilssonWright 
  • Note: *These tracks were originally recorded for the album Sebastian: Party Gras!.

The film's ending credits play a new recording of Part of Your World, performed by country singer Chely Wright. Another version of the song, performed by Ann Marie Boskovich, was used in some international releases of the film.[15]

Video game[]

The film was adapted into a 2D scrolling video game for PlayStation that released on September 25, 2000. It was developed by Blitz Games and published by THQ. It was later re-released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000)". Allmovie. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  2. The Little Mermaid II - Return to the Sea: Tara Strong, Pat Carroll, Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Buddy Hackett, Kenneth Mars, Max Casella, Stephen Furst, Rob Paulsen, Clancy Brown, Cam Clarke, René Auberjonois, Brian Smith, Jim Kammerud, David Lovegren, Leslie Hough, Eddie Guzelian, Elise D'Haene, Elizabeth Anderson, Temple Mathews: Movies & TV. ASIN 6305940959.
  3. "The Little Mermaid/the Little Mermaid II Box Set DVD: Amazon.co.uk: The Little Mermaid: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. 6 November 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  4. "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea [Special Edition]: Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Max Casella, Stephen Furst, Buddy Hackett, Kenneth Mars, Rob Paulsen, Sam Wright, Tara Charendoff, Jim Kammerud, Brian Smith: Movies & TV". Amazon. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  5. "The Little Mermaid Trilogy: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, The Little Mermaid, The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea Special Edition, .: Movies & TV". Amazon. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  6. "The Little Mermaid II and Ariel's Beginning: 2-Movie Collection". Amazon. 19 November 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  7. "The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  8. Winning, Josh (November 8, 2011). "50 Worst Kids Movies". Total Film. GamesRadar. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  9. "Disney's Unofficial Princesses, Ranked". Screen Rant. 22 August 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  10. "Top 2000 Homevideo titles". Variety. January 8, 2001. p. 79.
  11. Annual Report 2000 (PDF) (Report). The Walt Disney Company. 2001. p. 31. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  12. "Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea: Jodi Benson, Tara Strong: Music". Amazon. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  13. "The Little Mermaid & Little Mermaid II (Special Edition Double Pack)". Amazon. 1989. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Little Mermaid II - 2 Song CD: Ariel, Sebastian, Melody: Music". Amazon. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  15. Miccio, Anthony (January 28, 2009). "Idol Lies: Is Anne Marie Boskovich this week's Joanna Pacitti?". Retrieved May 7, 2015.

External links[]

Template:Disney's The Little Mermaid

Template:The Little Mermaid

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