The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

Year: 1976

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: Czech

Director: Karel Kachyňa

FantasyRomance

A mermaid saves a drowning prince and falls for him. Desperate to live on land, she trades her enchanting voice to an evil sorceress for human legs. The prince, bewitched by her beauty, still believes a mysterious princess rescued him on the beach, sparking a tragic misunderstanding that even the sea‑king cannot avert.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Little Mermaid yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Little Mermaid (1976)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Little Mermaid (1976). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Sea, Surface World, Shore

Most of the action unfolds in the underwater kingdom ruled by the King of the Seas, with key moments on the surface and along the shore where humans live. The sea realm is magical and perilous, populated by mermaids, sea witches, and ancient curses. The surface world represents curiosity, love, and the possibility of a different life.

🌊 Ocean 🧭 Adventure 👑 Fantasy

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:28

Main Characters – The Little Mermaid (1976)

Meet the key characters of The Little Mermaid (1976), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

The Little Mermaid

A curious daughter of the King of the Seas who longs to glimpse the world above. She saves a prince and makes a fateful bargain with a sea witch to become human. She shows courage, selflessness, and a willingness to sacrifice for love, even when it means losing her voice and facing an uncertain future.

🧜‍♀️ Mermaid 💖 Love 🌊 Sea

The Prince

A human prince who is saved by the mermaid and falls in love with the maiden he met on shore. He is torn between love and social expectations, and his choices drive the plot as he navigates loyalty, duty, and romance.

🤴 Prince 💖 Love 👑 Royalty

King of All Seas

A powerful ruler who guards his realm and daughter. He curses the prince's kingdom when he fears for his daughter's happiness, showing both stern authority and familial love.

👑 Power 🐚 Sea King 🌀 Curse

Witch

A sea witch who offers the bargain to trade voice for humanity. She embodies temptation and danger, granting the mermaid her wish while making the price perilous.

🧙‍♀️ Witch 🎭 Trickery 🫖 Magic

Grandmother

An elder storyteller who shares legends about the surface world, guiding the mermaid with warnings and wisdom.

👵 Elder 📚 Storytelling 🧭 Guidance

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:28

Major Themes – The Little Mermaid (1976)

Explore the central themes of The Little Mermaid (1976), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💖 Love and Sacrifice

Love drives the mermaid to make a radical sacrifice: she trades her voice to become human so she can be near the prince. The transformation is painful and fragile, with a constant threat that the prince may love another, turning her dream into peril. Her devotion shows that true love can endure hardship and risk everything. The story uses this sacrifice to explore how love can bridge worlds and demand personal loss.

⚖️ Choice and Identity

The mermaid's decision to become human defines her identity and tests her autonomy. She must navigate a wordless existence, relying on actions and empathy rather than speech. The prince's eventual betrothal to another maiden heightens the tension between appearance and essence. The narrative examines what it means to be seen and loved for who a person truly is.

🌟 Redemption and Prosperity

The mermaid's miracles as a friend to the prince help lift a curse that afflicts his kingdom. Her plea to the king demonstrates that mercy and cooperation can restore balance and bring prosperity. The resolution suggests that compassion can triumph over fear and rigidity. The dawn of flowers floating on the sea symbolizes a transformed, hopeful world.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:28

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Tragic Fairytale Romances like The Little Mermaid

Stories where love across impossible boundaries leads to a heartbreaking sacrifice.Discover movies like The Little Mermaid that explore the heartbreaking beauty of forbidden love in a fairytale setting. If you were moved by the mermaid's tragic sacrifice, you'll find similar stories of impossible yearning, magical bargains, and bittersweet endings in this collection of romantic fantasies.

tragic romanceforbidden loveyearningsacrificialfatalisticdreamlikemelancholic beautyheartbreaking

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a linear path: an encounter sparks an all-consuming, impossible love; the protagonist makes a great sacrifice (often involving their identity or voice) to be with their beloved; a tragic misunderstanding or the weight of their choice leads to a sorrowful, often self-sacrificial, resolution. The journey is more about emotional suffering than external conflict.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core DNA of melancholic romance, fantasy settings, and a fatalistic narrative arc. They are united by a heavy emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows the tragedy to unfold deliberately, and a focus on the beauty and pain of loving someone you can never truly have.

Movies About Identity Sacrifice like The Little Mermaid

Character-driven dramas about losing oneself for love, leading to profound sorrow.Explore films similar to The Little Mermaid that delve into the melancholic theme of sacrificing one's identity for love. These stories feature characters who give up their voice, past, or essence, resulting in a poignant journey of silent yearning and emotional isolation, perfect for viewers who appreciate heavy, character-driven dramas.

identity crisisself sacrificeunrequited lovemelancholyisolationyearningtransformationemotional pain

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a transformative choice: to become someone new for a chance at happiness. This transformation is physically or emotionally painful and creates a fundamental barrier to communication (like losing one's voice). The story then explores the quiet agony of being present yet unknown, loved for a facade but not for one's true self, culminating in an ending defined by the consequences of that initial sacrifice.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared exploration of identity loss and the heavy price of transformation. They possess a steady, introspective pacing that allows the audience to feel the protagonist's isolation. The tone is consistently melancholic, and the emotional weight is high, focusing on internal conflict rather than external action.

Unlock the Full Story of The Little Mermaid

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Little Mermaid in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Little Mermaid is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Little Mermaid Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Little Mermaid, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Little Mermaid Summary

The Little Mermaid Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Little Mermaid with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Little Mermaid Timeline

The Little Mermaid Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Little Mermaid that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Little Mermaid Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Little Mermaid

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Little Mermaid: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Little Mermaid