Disney live action The little Mermaid is set to release in May 2023. They have just released their first teaser and it has already sparked a lot of opinions and views. Currently, social media is already abuzz over the color tone of the film and the use of extended cool colors and scale of blue rather than warmer tones.
Fans say the movie looks dark due to the increased cool tones that give it a very sad outlook, rather than the animated story we’ve always known.
See also: The Little Mermaid: People were so insulted by a black actor playing Ariel that they used AI to make Halle Bailey white
Disney wants The Little Mermaid to fail
Fans claim that the intentional use of a depressing color scale is because Disney wants to sabotage its own movie and wants people to hate it instead. The colors have been largely toned down and for a children’s movie it doesn’t look as cheerful as it should.
Disney presents, a film by Zack Snyder: The Little Mermaid lmao
— kuso 🇺🇲🇭🇳 (@LnSe7en) September 15, 2022
Some fans even made fun of it being a Zack Snyder movie because of the aura it gives off. The music also doesn’t seem to match the tone of the film. Their focus on realism rather than art direction can disrupt some Disney classics with The little Mermaid not being the only one going through this.
See also: ‘Thank you for creating such a breathtaking film’
Other movies that changed tone
Another example of the same would be the live-action version of The Lion King. Their ideal focus on realism seems to hamper their color palettes. A movie about the jungle and the lions seemed bland and lifeless.
The little Mermaid also, a film about mermaids and the underwater world, a world full of vibrant colors and discoveries lacks this aspect and gives the film a more depressing tone. Some people have compared it to horror movie color schemes and even said it looks like it.
The only reason this would be acceptable is if they do color theory where where she feels trapped (the ocean) is lit dimly and dimly for mood reasons, then the surface is technicolor. Otherwise it may just be “realism” that would suck
— 💙🌛Ȟ̴̡̛̥̳̤̺̪̺̹͉͍̖̲̩͍͐̄́̄͋͌͛͊͜eather̸̠̿̍̈́🌜💙 (@serpentinedr3am) September 15, 2022
The little mermaid spins the opposite of vibrant
Focusing on the colors of Ariel herself, a mermaid with fiery red hair and a sparkling green tail, the mermaid princess stands out in her own way with all the colors she can pull off. However, with the tones set in the movie, none of these look as special as they actually are.
Ariel’s unique design as well as her ocean house look dull and lifeless in the cool colors they are featured in. Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel is in a children’s film with so much life and pace, but with the color schemes used in film and cameras, that sense of liveliness is extracted, and with it the essence of the movie itself.
See also: Here’s How The Little Mermaid Will Settle Things Amid Criticism From Disney Live-Action
Source: Twitter
