The Song That Sparked a Renaissance | Video Essay
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- Опубліковано 11 жов 2022
- Part of Your World: The Song That Sparked a Renaissance
(A Disney Video Essay)
Hello and welcome to The Trove!
This video is all about the inception and impact of Ariel's famous song - "Part of Your World." It covers the history leading up to the beginning of the Renaissance before delving into the creative process behind the song and its indelible effect and legacy.
"Part of Your World" is my favorite Disney song, and with this video I hope to convey not only how much it means to me, but how much it means to Disney Animation as a whole. Ultimately, this is a love letter to The Little Mermaid and Howard Ashman.
Hope you enjoy.
Thanks for stopping by! If you love Disney animation, rankings, video essays, or trivia, head over to The Trove to see more videos like that. Consider liking and subscribing if you enjoyed this video, and expect more fun Disney videos coming soon!
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SOURCES
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"Waking Sleeping Beauty" directed by Don Hahn (Disney+)
"Howard" directed by Don Hahn (Disney+)
www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-c...
gevajournal.wordpress.com/201...
thedisneyodyssey.wordpress.co...
www.howardashman.com/blog/and...
www.usatoday.com/story/life/m...
www.polygon.com/2019/2/26/182...
www.btchflcks.com/2012/09/wom...
www.zimbio.com/Beyond+the+Box...
time.com/3589558/little-merma...
50mostinfluentialdisneyanimat...
ew.com/article/2013/09/27/lit...
the-artifice.com/lgbtq-disney...
www.marieclaire.com/celebrity...
www.dailydot.com/upstream/ten...
www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-...
slate.com/culture/2015/03/how...
iwantedwings.com/2015/12/16/w...
www.howardashman.com/blog/tal...
www.psychmc.com/articles/empa....
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I am not afraid to admit this video made me cry. I don't know if it was the tribute to Howard, Jodi's vocals, or the memories of watching TLM when I was a child, but here we are, tears streaming down my face. Thank you.
Wow, that means a lot to me. Thank you so much for watching!
Same! As a lifelong Disney fan (born in 1990), this was the era I was born into and it’s stayed part of my family’s life since. My little sister ended up playing Belle at Magic Kingdom for 8 years. Everything about these movies will always be my Neverland. I’m a mess!😭😭💚💜
You're in similar company, here! I wanted to marry Prince Eric!
@@FreeSpirit47 me too! I kinda still want to, tbh
@@mauriboquitas Aww, that's cute. I'm so much happier single & celibate. It was just a phase, for me!
the fact that Jeffery Katzenburg was so close to getting rid of the song is mind-boggling to me. thank god for the animators who refused to take it out! they fought for the song and i think the whole ordeal helped put Jeffery in his place. he might’ve known business, but he clearly didn’t see the vision.
Yeah, Jeffrey is such an interesting guy within Disney's history. He really didn't seem to understand storytelling - at least not at first.
@@thetroveyoutube Yet, Jeffrey was the one came up with the Prince of Egypt, he hired Stephen Schwartz to compose the score. Who before worked with Alan Menken.
@@orangeslash1667 Jeffrey definitely improved a lot, especially after he co-founded Dreamworks. They have some lovely films.
@@thetroveyoutube indeed
Jeffery Katzenberg at this point had little experience as an artist and storyteller. This was his education. He learned how to found Dreamworks from these guys as they created this movie and the ones to follow. Up til then he only had experience in business. They were opening his eyes.
I remember there was a memorial for Howard Ashman that said he gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul. I think this is absolutely true. He made Ariel and the Beast MORE than just lines on a page. He (ironically) made them HUMAN and gave them each a genuine soul. He MADE US care about them. That is why the Disney Renaissance STILL holds up 30 years later as one of Disney's greatest accomplishments. And I think THIS is what the guy meant when he said they needed to "wake up Sleeping Beauty." Sleeping Beauty is also one of Disney's greatest animated films. Its stunning. And, like Ariel, Princess Aurora ALSO has an "I want" song. She wants a prince. I think it was reintroducing this deep and sincere emotion back into the animated stories that made the Disney Renaissance so special and made it better than the movies like The Black Cauldron. It restored that element of magic that Disney was missing.
I completely agree. Like Peter Schneider said, above all else, Howard was human, and these human themes are engrained into his work and give them longevity.
@@thetroveyoutube I think that is what makes his animated characters so special. He infused them with human characteristics. Love. Emotions. A soul. He made them come alive on the screen and he made US fall in love with them. I WANTED Ariel and the Beast and Aladdin and Quasimodo and all the others to get their happy endings. And (whether it was intentional or not) I think that's what people who are different want....someone who understands them. That's why the live action movies (like Beauty and the Beast) don't quite hit that same ring of perfection. It lacks the emotional human element. We will see if this new Little Mermaid can recapture Ariel's humanity and emotions (which will be ESPECIALLY important when she is singing and wen she loses her voice and has to express herself with just her eyes and body language. Our Ariel was able to do this beautifully. The new girl IS singing Part of Your World in the trailer....let's see if she can recapture what the song MEANS (as you illustrated perfectly in your video).
That was at the end of Beauty and the Beast. What’s amazing is that Beauty and the Beast was not really the film Howard wanted to be a part of. He was more interested in Aladdin and was working heavily on that movie, but Jeffrey pulled him onto Beauty because he realized that that story needed Howard’s genius touch for story because they were really struggling with it. And it became the first, and only, animated film to ever get nominated for Best Picture. Not animated picture, Picture, periodt!
Ariel always resonated withn me since day one. When she sings the line "Love to explore that shore up above" and reaches out to the surface, I always reach out with her.
Her treasure trove is her place of safety and she builds upon her own agency to fulfill her dream and never give up on her independent yearning.
In my mind, Ariel is my hero.
"Part of your world" is the moment you truly care. She has a dream that seems impossible and all the odds are against her. But you see how much she wishes to explore the world outside and you can feel her pain and her emotions. You can do nothing but care. Thank you for this beautiful video.
Thank you!
Hearing Alan Menken tear up when talking about Howard killed me and just a CASCADE of tears now
Who knows what other wonders Howard could have done at Disney had he not sadly passed. Glad he fought for the song.
It's wild to think about how much more he had to give, but we'll forever be grateful for what he was able to leave us with.
Ariel was never unhappy with her world; she was just curious about another one. I love how "Kingdom Hearts" shows this: "So many places I want to see... I know I'll get there someday." Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, and Moana can all relate to this.
I don't think she was that happy tbh, felt she was born in the wrong body, identified herself more as a human than a mermaid, had to hide her interests, had no one to relate to...I don't think she's just curious about the surface and is fine being and living under the sea...but that's me
@@princepeterwolf I don't ever recall her ever being unhappy with her mermaid form. She hadn't considered becoming human before meeting Ursula, as she laments losing her father and sisters. Plus she loves the underwater life but finds land much more fascinating, almost like another country.
@@princepeterwolf i think she was happy, but stagnant. she just wanted more out of life. i think we can all relate to being happy with day-to-day life but still feeling like something’s missing.
I feel like she had found a way to get by because she didn't know joining the human world was actually an option. Dissatisfied may be a better descriptor than unhappy for her mental state. That's just my take though, it's nice to read different interpretations.
@@thetroveyoutube Dissatisfied is definitely the word I'd use. She herself said "I want more." And I don't blame her; if I knew merpeople were real and had their own sophisticated culture, I'd be intrigued as well.
This was an incredibly moving tribute to Howard Ashman and this movie. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried while watching it. The quality of this video is amazing!
Thank you, this means a lot!
Growing up with Disney's Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, I realize now that back then "Part of Your World" stuck with me more than, say, "Once Upon A Dream" or "A Dream Is A Wish". PoYW was also more fun to sing as a young girl, with the speaking parts and words like "thingamabobs". Thank you for giving us, as you aptly said, a deep dive - I really learnt a lot!
You're welcome, and thank you for watching/commenting! Glad you noticed the deep dive pun haha.
All I want to say is “Part of that world” is 3 minutes of magic. True cinematic magic.
Thank you so much for making this video, it’s the best review someone could make about not just Part of your World but for the Little Mermaid as a movie overall. With all of the discourse going around these days I can’t help but feel nostalgic of the days where directors and studios dared to challenge the status quo and create stories and characters with a drive and purpose despite how far fetched their ideas might have been.
Thank you so much!
@@thetroveyoutube Ironic that people overlook Part of Your World meaning from a black experience hence why Halle Bailey's casting makes sense.
@@suzygirl1843 I'm excited that she'll bring life to the song for a whole new generation/community
You perfectly encapsulated why “Part of Your World” is such an iconic song in “The Little Mermaid” and how the song itself shaped the Disney Renaissance Era. This song has stuck with me my whole life. When Ariel extends her hand to the surface and when the waves crash behind her during the reprise while holding that note, it (in a good way) sends chills down my spine. Did I mention Jodi Benson’s amazing vocal performance? Her vocals and Howard Ashman make this song special. This song and movie (my favorite of the Disney Renaissance) hold a special place in my heart.
Thanks so much for watching. I'm always glad to hear from others who love this movie and song.
I’ve always felt like Ariel was just different from all the other Disney princesses. She really set the standard, and it has been nearly impossible to imbue the following princesses with just as much emotion and genuine spirit. Like she IS Howard.
Yes, I think there have been other great princesses, but no one will compare to how much of Howard's spirit lives in Ariel.
The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King deserve more respect from Disney fans rn, people think they're dumb movies now they seriously need to rewatch them. They do have good messages for children and also great pacing.
And Aladdin!! 🙌🤩✨
Disney’s smartest move was making a film similar to the fairytales of the Walt era. Doesn’t matter that only 3 were made in the first 52 years of the studios animated films, they are the ones everyone remembers.
That dedication always kills me. “Gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul.” Whoever wrote that is too powerful. Go for the jugular.
I can relate to Part of Your World on a very basic level. I love learning. The pursuit of knowledge is really important to me. That’s what I love about Ariel. She wants to experience things. Good, bad, or whatever, she wants to know. She wants to know the purpose of her artifacts and experience the same scenarios if she can. It’s not some high and mighty goal, but I admire her pursuit of knowledge for personal fulfillment.
The song that really resonated with me growing up was Go the Distance. The idea of a warm welcome and crowds cheering was something that really appealed to me. I didn’t have a ton of friends in my early teens because of my nervous disposition and little crossover of interests. My siblings were more notable than I was, so I used their friends to replace my loneliness. (Encanto would’ve slayed me when I was in middle school now that I think about it). I never really thought there was something wrong with me, but I still felt that isolation. It made me want to work hard to find my own space. “I know every mile will be worth my while.” That line HITS ME. It’s hopeful, but it shows that you needs to face trials to get where you want to be. And it can be worth it!
I love what you wrote here, thank you so much for sharing!
I’ve seen dozens of videos about the Disney renaissance and consider myself a Disney buff but there were some things in this video that I’ve never heard before like Jodi’s reverence for Howard and the recount of Howard singing Part of Your World in his apartment. This video was a wonderful tribute to him and it definitely made me cry!
Thanks so much, I'm glad to hear it!
I look at it a lot like, yes she refined her dream to include Eric. But include him, not become him. She still loved learning the world and he helped her love it even more. She even gave him a better love of his own world in the end. I had this idea of my life and just because my boyfriend joined it doesn’t mean I changed my plan. I just tweaked it to include him.
To this day I play the Little mermaid soundtrack on repeat. that music and those lyrics are truly A masterpiece. we can all relate to that little mermaid longing to be part of something else and I feel that’s what makes this movie such a classic and so special❤
I used to suffer from social anxiety disorder and I could relate to this song so well it almost felt like an anthem. Like Ariel, I finally got out of the water and experienced love.
That's amazing!!
This is one of the most powerful tributes to Howard I have ever seen.
What an amazing tribute to Part of Your World, The Little Mermaid, Howard, and Jodi Benson! Definitely got me emotional watching this. Thank you!
You're welcome and thank YOU for watching!
Eli Tettelbach right this video was so cute also just like you there really cute guy 🙈
I'm a straight brown man and as a kid I could empathize with Ariel and her longing to be a human. Thank you for such a loving tribute,it was truly special
Thank you so much for watching!
Aint no way he didn’t get to live to see it. You just made me cry and it’s 8am, bro, waaay too early.
I loved Part of Your World when I was little. I had “everything”, but with talented siblings and slightly emotionally abusive parents, I longed to be seen and loved.
The renaissance song that really hits me though? Reflection. I imitated people and changed myself in order to be liked, or be safe. I became what everyone needed me to be, and when Mulan sang “Why is my reflection someone I don’t know?” It hit me just how much I felt that way. I, like her, tried to be perfect for my family, but in the end, I could never be good enough. It was a big shock to move out and make friends with people who enjoyed being with me and wanted to spend time with me.
Reflection really does hit so hard. I relate to it also. I'm so glad you've been able to find good people in your life who accept you!
I'm SO SORRY FOR YOU!!!! I have had so many hardships, but thanks to Disney, I am stronger. I DO truly hope everything works out for you 🙏 ❤️
wow i didn't know this is where the want song started. this has single handedly made disney an empire, it's incredible that it was just some guy they hired from broadway that gave them the MUST HAVE scene in all of their movies, crazy!
Howard is incredible, I can’t believe how much emotion he infused into the interpretation of the song. Even his original recording of the song was amazing how much he embodied the character. I agree that Jodi Benson’s vocals are iconic because even though she has Howard to guide her, she’s still the one of a kind talent that was able to bring it to life. I agree that while Howard is soo important to the song, but even with his guidance another singer and actress couldn’t have done as much justice. I love how Jodi’s amazing vocal control is able to perfectly capture the essence of the character and how her singing is amazing but also how seamlessly she moves from belting it out and the conversational bits. I love the way she not only gas softer volume when she sings “wish I could be” before belting “part of your world” but how even though her vocals aren’t cracking, that one line of “wish I could be” evokes the same sense as when someone’s voice cracks with emotion. It is so iconically beautiful and the way she performs the more conversational parts is phenomenal, it’s the execution of it that makes it so iconic and why no one else could’ve done the role as much justice in my opinion.
TLM has always been my favorite movie 💜🧜🏽♀️ so glad you made a chapter about Howard, he gave Ariel her heart and soul. So sad he passed away.
Really excited for the live action
The version that Howard sang is just so full of powerful emotions, thank you for this video
Oh God, whenever Howard's name is brought up I couldn't hold my tears. Howard Ashman, the musical angel of Disney.
The way Disney is going rn, they're going to need another one of these renaissances
NO KIDDING!!!!!! 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
This video made me shed tears. Reminiscing of Howard, Jodi and my favorite mermaid and song is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
I'm touched that you enjoyed it!
The Little Mermeid was and is my favorite animated movie. I used to sing Part of your World endlesly in my home when I was a child and I still do it from time to time. In my case, I was born and raise into a disfunctional family and always wondered if life could be easier, happier elsewhere. The longing in Ariel´s song made me feel I was not alone, and everyone could dream to a better life in a better -yet unknown- world. I think all of us have something to reach out, something we want to be, to become, to achieve, and that´s why it´s so easy to conect to this song and Ariel.
Thank you so much for this video, brought to my mind old and beautiful memories.
This video essay was great!! Very well thought out and put together. Ariel and “Part of Your World” are two of my earliest childhood memories and their impact has not diminished in the years since. “Part of Your World” set the bar for every “I want” song in the Disney Renaissance and it’s still my personal favourite of any Disney song. There’s such such an earnest and sincere longing in the song and I think that’s why it resonates so strongly. Everyone knows what it feels like to want something desperately but have it out of reach. Very similar to “Over the Rainbow” like you mentioned. “Part of that World” became “Part of Your World” during the reprise and I agree, that moment of Ariel behind the rock and singing to Eric is truly where the Disney Renaissance took off. It conveys this sense of “I have a dream, and I will make it come true,” and the audience is rooting for her to get it for the rest of the film. Can we take a moment to recognize the second reprise of “Part of Your World” during the finale, when Triton lets his daughter go and Ariel takes the arm of Eric as they embark on their new life together: “Now we can walk, now we can run, now we can stay all day in the sun. Just you and me, and I will be PART OF YOUR WORLD!” One of the most triumphant moments of not only any Disney movie, but any movie period. It’s a dream fulfilled. It fills me with tears just thinking about it 😂😂😂
I love what you've written here, and thank you for mentioning the version of the song at the end of the film! I didn't talk about that in my video but I agree with your thoughts on it.
With a video this high-quality, I'd expect you to have upwards of a million subscribers. Keep it up; you're doing great work.
Wow, thank you!!
so truee
yup...ya got me...😭😭😭...the way they talk about Howard at the end broke my heart...this film and that song is FOREVER engrained in my soul...thanks for this great video!! 💖💖💖
Thanks for watching! Any time Howard is brought up my eyes water, for real.
i lit UP when you spoke about horward and glen! they are the reason ariel is so real to many of us. as silly as it sounds, i can't imagine my life without her or the little mermaid. i wouldn't be the same without her (or rapunzel so thanks again glen 😭) and thank YOU for this video!
i'm loving these video essays! you provide such a well researched script that teaches even this disney trivia know-it-all something new, your editing is always so professional and you radiate disney spirit and always bring your own magic to every video! i always can't wait to see what you talk about next :) your channel deserves so much more appreciation!!
Howard and Glen are the best :) I also can't imagine my life without Ariel.
I really can't thank you enough for your continued kind words and encouragement. Comments like this make all the work I put into videos like this so worth it!
Rapunzel or Tangled?
Howard, Jodi, & Glenn’s contributions were vital to making Ariel the character we all love, but there is one more person who deserves recognition and some of the credit: Sherri Stoner, the live action reference model for Ariel. Howard & Jodi gave Ariel her voice, Glenn brought her to life visually, but her body language & facial expressions were all Sherri. Glenn translated them into the animation. All four of them made this character who she is. Take away any one of them, and we would not have Ariel as we know her.
This is a wonderful point, thank you for bringing the well deserved attention to Sherri Stoner.
Great video about one of my favorite films as a kid. The grotto scene with Part of your world, the reprise, reuniting with Eric after getting legs, her first breath as a human when she throws her hair back, the dining room scene, and kiss the girl scene were magical moments of the film. Not just the emotion it arouses in us, but musically and artistically are stunning because it was avant garde in animated film at the time. And you see CGI starting to be utilized in animated film.
TLM was a Hail Mary for Disney. They pulled off the impossible.
I'm so very glad to hear someone else loves Part of Your World the way I do !
Thank you for doing this song and this movie the justice it deserves .
I'm glad it translated well, it means a lot.
You just summed up why The Little Mermaid is such a classic and one of Disney's best! It started the era of the Reinsuance where the characters were fully fleshed out, the villains were fun and clever, the stories were engrossing, and the art was spectacular! Even to this day, Ariel still has one of the biggest personalities of all the Disney Princesses. She was the first Disney Princess with attitude. She was free spirited, rebellious, daring, devious, funloving, warm, and charismatic, but she was also impulsive and naive, both flaws which the villain used against her. It may not have had the same lessons as the original fairytale but the movie had great lessons about why parents need to let their kids grow and see the world for themselves. (I just love the part of the story about Ariel and her dad where Triton needs to learn to let go, while Ariel learns to respect him) It also taught the lessons that communication can be nonverbal, and some risks are worth taking, and it also showed us not to trust sketchy contracts. I find Ariel's desire to see the world away from home to be relatable and I also found the issues between her and Triton to Ben relatable. Part of Your World is one of Disney's best songs and proof that Ariel's motivations were because she wanted to see e human world. Her meeting and saving Eric was the inciting accident, but he was not her core motivation. It's my favorite Disney movie and one of the most underrated besides Bambi. Bambi is very underrated and in my opinion is the best film Walt Disney made. Without The Little Mermaid, most of Disney's other great films in the Reinsuance and modern era never would have happened. This film started The a Disney formula and showed that the main characters and villains should have personalities and motivations.
Favorite Disney movie list:
1. The Little Mermaid
2. The Lion King
3. Mulan
4. Beauty and the Beast
5. Aladdin
6. The Hunchback of Norte Dame
7. Bambi
8. Pocahontas and Moana
9. Sleeping Beauty
10. Hercules
You described the film so perfectly, thank you for this comment. Love the points you made about Ariel's relationship with her dad. That gives the movie so much heart. And I love your ranking!
Man being protective of his lyrics had every right to be, only for the upcoming live action regurgitation to be all 'We're changing this and that and it's better, f*ck you'
All because of sensitive sissies who think Poor Unfortunate Souls needs alteration because "little girls wont feel bad for changing themselves" and kiss the girl needs new lyrics "because consent" 😠
Um isnt Ursula tricking Ariel and needs to be nasty as she can within reason to steal her voice? Shes a villainess!
Cant recall Kiss The Girl requiring updates because of "consent issues". Eric never forced himself on Ariel and if he doesnt kiss Ariel within three days, she'll turn back into a mermaid and be Ursulas slave
Glad im not the ONLY one who sees this!!!!@@Thomasmemoryscentral
For me, growing up gay, the song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" really resonated with me as a child. I was captivated by Ursula's unabashed performance and had never seen anything like it before at age 7. Unbeknownst to me, I was essentially witnessing my first Drag Show in cartoon form (Ursula being modeled after Divine, of course) and hearing a different kind of siren accordingly. This song (especially) probably contributes to the theory of Howard inserting his own "agendas" into the film, but I know I'm not alone in being appreciative that 33 year old me discovered part of his world with the help of a flamboyant seawitch.
I love this so much, thanks for sharing your experience!
And now we get the sucky life action where Halle just sings for the sake of hitting high notes without any soul in her words 🤡
Thank you so much- I found this very moving. It’s also my favourite Disney song, and film. I teach singing and almost every young girl I’ve ever taught has wanted to sing this song more than any other.
Loves this... Literally the song that fueled the hopes of my childhood. Your heartfelt commentary and care that went into your essay felt poignant and beautiful. Thank you. ❤❤❤❤❤
I didn't knew HALF of why I love this song and Ariel as a character so damn much, thanks for sharing this, The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney film, was my first animated Disney film I watch entirely and I have no idea how many times more I have rewatch this film, and Part of your World continues been my favorite song and part of the film, I didn't knew how important this song was for the film until this video and now I know who thanks for besides Glen and Jodi..............so thank you Howard, you give us Ariel and an entire generation of amazing Disney songs, that legacy can't be replicated.
(Hugs Howard Ashman in tears) Thank you so much for everything, Howard.
"The Little Mermaid" is a childhood favourite of mine and when I later in my teens found myself as a bisexual and fell in love, often with people I could never have, the desire in the song just resonated even more with me than it had done ever before, and I can truly see how this song has been one the LGBTQ+ community can identify and apply to one's own life situations, dreams and experiences. The reprise is so tender and moving, where you can hear the intense love Ariel feels for Eric as she brushes his cheek when he lies there on the beach unconscious and the build-up the that final crescendo and long note on the rock is so epic and iconic as well. And the choir singing a final reprise of the song at their wedding at the end of the movie is probably the most beautiful version of them all and brings back the way the older Disney princess movies would end, with the princess getting the prince and the song's theme getting reprised by a choir. They did this with "Beauty And The Beast" (both 1991 animation and 2017 live-action) as well, and although Aladdin and Jasmine does sing a short reprise of their duet at the end of the movie, there's sadly no choir there but it still somewhat works the same way. But hearing the choir sing the end finale of "Part Of Your World" so beautifully has actually made me dream about having a choir sing that finale version of "Part Of Your World" at a future wedding of my own as well, whether that be with a man or a woman, it will still illustrate how happy I am to finally be part of that person's world.
Thank you for a great video essay on this iconic song, you did an awesome job! 👏👏
Thank you for sharing this beautiful note about your own experiences. Wishing you happiness in your future!
I love A Part Of your world because as a American with two Hispanic parents it was hard for growing up with two different point of views to be more American or Hispanic and that really resonates with me still today especially either too many whites friends and not enough Hispanic friends which I’d why identify so much with this song is why I love it so much and to see that Ariel in the does get her happy ending and son can I ❤
this video made me cry. thank you so so much for making this!!
You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!
Dude your channel is criminally underrated
This made me check the sub count! I thought they would have like 1 million views. Deserves way more
You have to wonder how different the later Disney Renaissance films and by extension todays Disney would be if Howard Ashman and Frank Wells were still around? Ashman needs no explanation as to what he contributed. Wells however was the man who was the mediator of the egos of Katzenburg and Eisner and his death began that beginning of the end. So my question remains as to what the Renaissance and Disney would look like had those two titans still lived?
Edit* It has taken a long time (23 years, now I’m 30) to admit that beneath my tsundere tendencies, I like the Little Mermaid and Ariel was my crush as a young boy.
I often think about how things would be if Howard was still with us. Good point mentioning Frank Wells as well. I guess we'll never know, but can be grateful for what we did get from them.
@@thetroveyoutube amen to that
Why does passion like this just make me cry and laugh to myself like a lunatic
Thank you for making this video and shedding a light on Howard’s contribution to the Disney legacy. Loved every second of it. Thank you 💙
Thanks so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this, thank you for the wonderful vid!
Thanks so much! I've been meaning to check out your channel, it looks like fantastic content!
A little late to the party, but this video also made me cry. Thank you for this wonderful tribute.
Also, you have such a soothing voice...it makes me melt ☺
amazing video, literally put everything i love about this song and movie into words
Thank you!!
the whole "giving up your voice for a man" always bothered me, as you said; she sang the song before she met Eric.
I personally see it as extra layer of motivation to become human, what's bad with wanting to be with someone? If she didn't have that connection she would be alone in the human world.
Eric was also looking for Ariel and said in the movie that he wants to marry "the woman who saved him" based on having a beautiful, but nobody is complaining about that?
They get to know each other while Ariel was mute and Eric sees Ariel as who she is, rather than just a voice, Compared to Triton and Sebastian who's first words about Ariel were about her voice and how beautiful the concert will be, because she will be singing... while she was looking for human artefacts and almost got eaten by shark.
Most of the people complaining about giving up her voice often forget:
She gave up her voice after her father destroyed her collection, she was at her lowest point and she was given a way to escape the situation by Ursula.
If I was in her tail in that exact moment - I would have given up my voice to be somewhere away from the people who hurt me emotionally
I cried... this was great!😊
Amazing tribute ♥️♥️
Like another comment in this section, the song I can relate the most in the Disney canon is definitively Go the Distance from Hercules. When he was younger, I always felt like an outcast, like I was too different from other people for fitting here, and I was just waiting for me to be in a world where I would be understood and accepted. So having this song talking about searching my own place with people like me, "go anywhere to find where I belong", felt very personal. Today like is a bit better and I've met wonderful people, but I still have this feeling a bit.
Another movie that hits me like a fucking truck is Encanto. Seriously when Mirabel started singing Waiting on a Miracle because of her family rejecting and ignoring her, like she doesn't exist and isn't important for them...ouch. Hits very close to some experience of mine, I was almost tearing up.
Anyway an amazing video, I've learned quite a few things about Hashman and the Little Mermaid, which is nice because you talks with a lot of passion. I can also relate to BS criticism of your favourite movie by people (no guys the Lion King doesn't promote fascim), always thought Ariel was underrated
PS: some thoughts on the remake of the Little Mermaid? People talked about it for weeks
"Go the Distance" really is a special song. I'm glad things have improved a bit for you and hope they continue to do so. I really appreciate you sharing this!
As for The Little Mermaid remake - I'm not letting my hopes get very high just because I haven't liked many of the remakes, but it does seem to have some promise, at least in Ariel's casting.
thank you so much for doing this video
all the information you gave related me to the song in a new way, even tough i believed to just love it as much as i could
i actually discovered how wonderlful this song is at the age of 18, but because i was going through a bad time in my life, and i kind of needed a refuge
it helped me to understand a lot of things about myself
i have always felt like a misunderstood person, and i have always related to water (im a cancer, a cry a lot, i have always swam, i have a strong connection to ocean), so it makes sense to believe that i live in my own ocean, that the rest of humans don't understand or go into
and i've always been the excluded person, and i desesperately dreamed to be part of the rest
part of your world kind of represents that dream, and that feeling of not being part of the world i want to, because no one understands mine
it is very beautiful to know that im not the only one that relates so deeply to this song and character, and its origins made me feel even more conected
thank you so much again
Thanks for this lovely comment! I enjoy hearing from others about what this song means to them so I really appreciate this.
One of my favorite Disney songs
This video is beautiful I love this movie and will defend it forever. The first Disney VHS I ever owned. Is the reason I am a synchronised swimmer today. The Howard documentary on Disney+ is truly wonderful
That's so cool that it inspired you to be a synchronized swimmer! I also love the Howard documentary.
Still can't believe Part of Your World wasn't nominated for an Oscar
It's so shocking
I loved listening to your voice. Thank you 😊😘
Thanks!!
amzingly well done thanks you so much for this I learned so much and am so happy i love this song and show its been such a big impact on my life
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the video and love the song!
Thank you.💗
Pat Carroll and Samuel E. Wright both passed away years later.
This is my first time learning of Howard Ashman, and as a young queer person myself it puts a lot into perspective. I grew up with the renaissance movies, many of them are in my list of all-time favorite movies. I remember as a little girl being obsessed with Mulan, I actually stood in the mirror after getting my face painted at a carnival and wiped half of it away in front of the mirror. To this day, “Reflection” resonates deeply with me and as an adult I understand it was because Mulan and I shared that loneliness, wanting the freedom to be our authentic self without fear of punishment or rejection. Knowing the man behind those songs means the world to me. I wish more people in my generation knew as well.
Mulan was always, still is, my favourite movie, she just grabbed my soul, and the song ''reflection'' screams to the ✨alphabet mafia✨
but the little mermaid's song is just *chef kiss*
Really nice video! As a merman myself, I've always loved this film. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it!
HOLY CRAP this channel grew suddenly. Congrats man, its all deserved!
Thanks so much! I appreciate the support!
Amazing video, amazing tribute, and amazing song!
Thank you!!
@@thetroveyoutube thanks to you for such amazing content!
It all makes sense considering Ursula was based on Drag Queen Divine
I love this movie it's the first Disney movie I got on Christmas in 90. I was 4 at the time, and still to this day, I still have the original vhs with pristine case. Along with the dvds (original dvd and anniversary edition) plus the Blu-ray for my kids. This gives me nothing but the feels..... ❤❤
Love a classic VHS
I've always been attached to POYW, since I can remember this one was one of my favorite songs that I keep on singing all the time together with Color Of The Wind, two songs with a deeper meaning and beautiful messages that are larger than life. Being a gay boy could also be part of the reason why this movie and its song feels so true and I can identify myself in them. Mermaids, fish, the ocean in general always felt like a way to escape reality and be free, it's ironic that for the little mermaid it was just the opposite.
It's also a beautiful coincidence that both the person who gave life to The Little Mermaid and the person who reinvented her as Ariel were gay people struggling with society and I think that's exactly what made both the original story and the Disney version work perfectly, despite their big differences, they are the same at their core... And we all know that Hans Christian Andersen would have loved to live in our time period and feel better about his sexuality and even give the little mermaid (and himself) the happy ending they deserved.
Very much agreed, thanks for watching and commenting!
Now these were 35min well spent
I'm late to the party but this is your best video yet! The amount of research you put into this is astounding! Ariel may not be my favorite character but 'Part of That World' is the pillar to the future Disney songs like 'Almost There.' Amazing video!!
Edit: I put your instead of that (oops 😆)
Thanks so much!! It's sort of confusing because the song is still called "Part of Your World" even though she never specifically says that until the reprise.
@@thetroveyoutube Oh so I was right before. Oh well. 🤷 You are a great creator and you deserve the recognition!
@@Maria_Miciano_5 Thank you :)
I knew about Howard Ashman and the history of Part of Your World, but I thought it was wonderful how you wanted to give proper recognition.
I'm not sure how old you are, but I was a kid when The Little Mermaid came out, and you sound a little younger than me. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Howard Ashman. His story is very important to the LGBTQIA+ community, of which I am a part, and it needs to be heard. We need to hang on to that longing that Ariel expressed so perfectly.
I'm 28, so I was born a few years after the move came out, but it's been a blessing growing up with it always being part of my life. Thank you for sharing, and I'm glad Howard's legacy lives on.
I love Ariel so much 😢
They should add your essay into Waking Sleeping Beauty. I'm not kidding. It's one of the best documentaries out there about the Disney Renaissance, and your essay is one of the best on The Little Mermaid. I teared up when you spoke about Howard and Jodi and Glen. I subbed. Keep doing what you're doing.
This is such a nice compliment, thank you! I was inspired a lot by Waking Sleeping Beauty so it's great to hear this.
Great video. My favorite song is the villain’s song, Poor Unfortunate Souls. ❤
I loved watching this video it was so interesting and I love the little mermaid so much it’s my 9th favorite Disney movie of all time 😊.
Thank you, as always!
This deserves at least a million views.
That's the dream, haha. Thank you!
Just found your channel. You make truly fantastic videos! The bell is RUNG looking forward to more.
Thank you so much!
Part of Your World was my childhood growing up 😭. And yes, it’s probably how my family knew I was gay when I was just a wee lad. The song still gives me goosebumps when I hear it.
Part of Your World is applicable not allegorical. Thats what makes it relatable to anyone. Its good writing, not Howards personal life experience. Kind of what like the animators and Howard’s sister said…
However, I agree with all of your other points. Nailed it.
Now, lets let the work speak for itself, instead of pinning allegory to it.
Yep, I will admit, this is my # 1 Disney princess song, and I sung it for karaoke, and I had a crush on Ariel when I was a kid. The reason this movie couldn't be the movie I watched over and over again when I was little was being a guy it was hard to know I wouldn't have gotten made fun of for it. But, the song "Part of Your World" definitely is an awesome song, and I liked how they introduced Ariel and in that song she doesn't know what the objects are because she's never been around humans before and that was where I saw where the song really worked for her, she was curious to see the human world because she really didn't fit in with the mer-people. Yea, this is one of my favorite Disney movies, in fact this one almost became #1 for me, and I felt as an adult and still liking Disney it made up for the fact that of being afraid of what people would think. Of course, this one came in 2nd place for the Disney movies and Aladdin became #1 when I did my Disney ranking. But, I'm glad as an adult I realize it's ok for a guy to have that be that high on the list for Disney movies!
I was comparing the new version of the song with the old one today and I couldn't put my finger on why preferred the old one, even though Halle Bailey definitely showcases her talent in it. The part of the video about the direction and how the animator was inspired by the performance really puts the pieces together. Thanks for making this!
I really enjoyed this video and I can sense the effort that went into it. If I can make a suggestion, I would redo the thumbnail because it really doesn't catch the eye. Great work.
I wish Disney still had this ingenuity, passion, and creativity. Disney has become very soulless and lifeless; "re-telling" and largely bastardizing these classic movies that we grew up with. I feel that the WONDER, that was a part of exploring and learning along with these characters that we genuinely cared about that came out of new and creative stories has been replaced w/ simple and dull motivations like making cash grabs and changing established stories and characters that we love in order to fit a 'new time', and political views, rather than taking the time to invest the same amount of energy and ime into creating new and interesting stories and characters that represent ppl of diff. cultures.
I also find it totally unfair that one of the overall negative reactions to the movie is that she’s just another damsel and he saves her. but that fully dismisses the 2 times she saves his life before he’s even on that ship at the end. She saved him from drowning and then when Ursula is about to blast him with the trident Ariel pulls her hair and saves him again so he’s not just saving her day they are a team! She saves him as much as he saves her!!!!
Yes, I love that they save each other!
I just saw the leaked version of "Part of Your World" and despite that Halle Bailey's voice is good, that's not how Howard Ashman would have wanted
This video touches on Ariel being disliked as a role model for young girls, partly because she gives up her voice to be with Eric. I believe the channel Dreamsounds mentioned in a video that people have objected to Ursula's advice, "It's she who holds her tongue that gets her man." I consider myself a feminist, and I would argue that this acts as a caution to viewers _not_ to give up your voice, _not_ to stay silent, _not_ to downplay your intelligence or compromise your identity for others. When Ariel gave her voice to Ursula, she was left vulnerable, and Ursula ultimately used Ariel's voice for herself . It was only when Ariel _regained_ her voice that Eric's spell was broken and he recognized Ariel for who she was. It took cooperation from a community of animals - both sea dwelling and land dwelling - to rally around Ariel so that she would no longer be silenced.
Disney princesses aren't necessarily great role models. But who says that great role models can't make mistakes? Who says they can't be victimized themselves? Real people are subjected to such things - scams, theft of intellectual property, non-disclosure contracts, and poor, sexist romance advice. I prefer role models who experience real problems but learn to solve or overcome them.
Ariel didn't give up her voice for a man. She literally wanted to be human before she fell in love with Eric.
I really wish that you reconsider watching Beauty and the Beast in a different light. I know it's not your all time favorite. But I do believe after The Little Mermaid. Beauty and the Beast was another Great Big Shift in the Disney Renaissance; considering Walt Disney himself was trying to work on the story but couldn't get it right and "sat it back on the shelf".
Beauty and the Beast had the same impact on you for the little mermaid as it did for me with Beauty and the Beast... I was a movie that show two perspectives beautifully that came together in the end that no was really expecting. The pacing, the score, the animation, the acting and all the above was something I believe truly gave a more broad and enhancement of what Howards work truly was.
I haven't seen the little mermaid in a while and have considered going back to revisit it. But I really do ask of you to make a video upon beauty and the beast and take a closer look on what all went into the movie and how there was so much blood sweat tears and emotion going into this film while experiencing the loss of Howard Ashman before its movie debut.
I do really like Beauty and the Beast even though I rank it lower in my lists than most. It just doesn't connect with me as strongly on a personal level, which I guess I can't do anything about, but I'm glad to hear that it resonates strongly with you. I do think it's a beautiful story and the craftsmanship of the film is top tier. I don't dispute that it's a masterpiece, and I'd definitely be open to making a video about it in the future! Howard's impact on both The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast changed Disney animation forever.
@@thetroveyoutube cool 😎 I can’t wait to see it
Thank you for this video. As someone who will be flipping my fins as this iconic character, this was so inspiring ❤🧜🏼♀️
I’d love to see a video on Beauty and the Beast and the impact of that movie on the world taking Animation seriously as a true artform with Beauty and the Beast being the first Animated movie to get nominated as Best Picture.
Thanks so much for watching and for the suggestions!