The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

Year: 1976

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: Russian

MusicFantasyFamilyRomance

After rescuing a prince from a storm, a young mermaid falls in love and asks a sea witch to trade her shimmering blue hair for human legs. The spell lets her walk on land, but each step sears her with pain. She endures the agony to be near the prince, who, unaware of her sacrifice, becomes smitten with a vain princess.

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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

The tale feels timeless, blending ancient sea-court life with legends of human kingdoms. It unfolds like a classic fairy tale, where storms, bargains, and miracles drive the romance and the fate of a kingdom. There is no fixed historical period, only a mythic era where magic shapes every decision.

Location

Sea Kingdom, Surface World

Deep beneath the waves lies the Sea Kingdom, home to merfolk and the mysteries of the deep. The surface world appears as a bright, distant horizon that the mermaid longs to reach. The story shifts between the royal underwater court and the shipwrecked shoreline, blending magic, danger, and romance in a timeless fairy-tale setting.

🌊 Ocean 🧭 Fantasy 🗺️ Mythic

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

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 (Viktoriya Novikova)

Curious and compassionate, she longs to glimpse the world above the waves. To win the love of the prince, she sacrifices her voice and matures into a human being, navigating a foreign world with courage. Her evolution drives the plot, as she shifts from a voiceless observer to a decisive agent of change. Her steadfast love and resilience anchor the story’s emotional core.

🌊 🧭 💫

Prince (Yuri Senkevich)

A charming royal heir who is saved from danger and becomes the object of romantic attention. He is torn between the mystery of the maiden on shore and the mermaid who loves him from the depths. His choices propel the romance and the political intrigue between kingdoms. He embodies the conflict between duty and desire that drives the plot forward.

👑 💖 🗺️

Princess (Galina Artyomova)

A young princess whom the prince ultimately loves, representing the human world the mermaid longs to join. Her presence intensifies the romantic tension and the mistaken beliefs about who saved whom. She embodies grace, fidelity, and the world the mermaid aspires to join, complicating the mermaid’s pursuit of love. Her role reveals the clash between two realms and the power of genuine connection.

👑 💖 🗺️

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

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 & Sacrifice

A mermaid falls for a prince she barely knows and chooses to change her life to be with him by trading her voice for humanity. Her love comes with a heavy price: if the prince loves another, she risks turning into sea foam. Her actions reveal that true love means selflessness, even at the risk of losing herself. The climax shows that love can inspire brave, costly choices that alter destinies.

🎭 Identity & Voice

Losing her voice strips the mermaid of a core part of her identity, forcing her to navigate a new world through deeds and emotions rather than words. The bargain tests what it means to be heard and understood when one cannot speak. The story explores how identity is tied to expression, and how love can redefine who you are. Communication becomes a central challenge and a source of growth.

🌀 Transformation & Fate

The mermaid's physical and existential transformation embodies the pull between two worlds. Her vow to become human marks a turning point that blends longing with risk, as magical choices reshape kingdoms. Fate confronts her in the form of the prince’s heart and the sea king’s demands. In the end, selfless action redefines destiny and restores balance to both realms.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

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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

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The Little Mermaid Timeline

More About The Little Mermaid

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More About The Little Mermaid

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The Little Mermaid (1976) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Little Mermaid (1976) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Little Mermaid (1976) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow