Ursula is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Little Mermaid (1989). Voiced by actress Pat Carroll, Ursula is a villainous Cecaelian sea witch who offers a mermaid princess named Ariel a temporary opportunity to become human so that she may earn the love of Prince Eric within three days. However, Ursula is, in fact, determined to sabotage Ariel's chances so that she can ultimately usurp King Triton's position as ruler of the oceans. Pat Carroll was the voice actress of Ursula from 1989 to her death in 2022, with her final role as Ursula being posthumous in Disney Dreamlight Valley. [19] [20] [21] Carroll was not the filmmakers' first choice for the role; Clements, Musker and Ashman had long debated who should voice the villainess, [22] the casting of whom was long and tedious, spanning an entire year. [23] [24] In his book Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies, author Allan Neuwirth documented that the filmmakers searched "for just the right performer who could put across the deep-voiced, world-weary, deadpan villainess they had in mind–but never quite snaring their catch". [25] While Ashman was interested in actress Joan Collins because he was a fan of her performance as Alexis Colby in the soap opera Dynasty, [24] Clements and Musker favored actress Bea Arthur, for whom they had actually written the role, [3] describing Ursula as "having a Bea Arthur-type basso voice" in early drafts of their screenplay. [22] Clements and Musker fully expected Arthur to accept the role because she had already been working for Disney's Touchstone Television on the sitcom The Golden Girls. [24] However, Arthur's agent resented the directors-writers for insinuating that her client voice a witch, [24] refusing to even present the script to the actress. [22] In the Disney version, Ursula simply removes the voice. In the fairy tale, the Sea Witch goes to the extent of cutting out the mermaid’s tongue. Ah, fairy tales.

Brooks, Larry (December 19, 2014). "Ernie Hudson To Play Poseidon On Once Upon a Time". deadline.com. Deadline . Retrieved February 3, 2015. Holland, Peter (2003). Shakespeare Survey: Volume 56, Shakespeare and Comedy: An Annual Survey of Shakespeare Studies and Production. England: Cambridge University Press. p.158. ISBN 9780521827270. Both Florian and Evelyn have lived their lives by the rules, and whims, of others. But when they fall in love, they decide to take fate into their own hands—no matter the cost.Tokuda-Hall is also author of the award-winning children’s book, Also an Octopus, but in her first young adult novel, she expertly weaves a fast-paced plot and compelling characters into a story that is decidedly not just for teens. The utterly immersive and imaginative story will carry even the most YA-resistant adult into its waters. From the cabins and bilge of a pirate ship to elevators scaling massive cliffs on the Floating Isles, to a tumultuous and memory-bearing sea, the book is full of sensuous descriptions that also don't flinch away from the violence of imperialism, toxic masculinity, and abuse of power on large and small scales. With dynamic prose and all kinds of plot twists, Mermaid is not only readable but also utterly engaging. a b c d e f g Minow, Nell. "Interview: Ron Clements and John Musker of "The Little Mermaid" ". Beliefnet. Beliefnet, Inc . Retrieved April 1, 2016. In her book Tales, Then and Now: More Folktales as Literary Fictions for Young Adults, author Anna E. Altmann compared Ursula to Satan because both Ariel and Triton "sign a contract ... with her"; [10] James Plath of Movie Metropolis described Ursula's contract as "a Mephistophelean bargain." [68] Much like Satan, Ursula was banished from Triton's palace, similar to the way in which Lucifer was exiled from heaven. [44] Felix Vasquez of Cinema Crazed believes that Ursula "is evil just for the sake of being evil". [69] Writing for the Disney Archives, Dave Smith observed that Ursula "has the gross unsubtlety of Ratigan from ' The Great Mouse Detective' but substantially more brio." [70] Describing Ursula as "Bejeweled and lip-pouting like an overweight, over-rich, over-pampered, over-the-top society hostess gone mad," Smith perceived the character as "all flair, flamboyance, and theatricality mixed with a touch of con-artistry", citing wrath as her only genuine emotion. [70] Additionally, Ursula tends to act as though she is performing for an audience. [70] Jay Boyar of the Orlando Sentinel compared the character's appearance to that of evangelist Tammy Faye. [71] At times, Ursula tends to demonstrate stereotypically masculine physical traits. [72] Describing the character as "A campy sea witch with an insatiable thirst for power", Rolling Stone's David Ehrlich believes that Ursula resembles a child of Divine and Donald Trump. [73] Some critics identify the character with body positivity. According to Michaela Glover of The Odyssey, "Ursula portrays a bold business woman, not being afraid to show off her curves and use them, which defies the typical standards of beauty by also being a full figured woman." [74] Appearances [ edit ] The Little Mermaid (1989) [ edit ] Another thing I loved about is how magic works in this world. When we see the witch later in the book, she makes spells by telling stories. And in those, we basically get short stories that sit within the novel. The Pros Disney's The Little Mermaid Vanessa Fashion Doll in Signature Purple Dress". Mattel . Retrieved June 27, 2023.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Hill, Jim (June 14, 2007). "Why (For) Pat Carroll wasn't actually Disney's first choice to voice Ursula in "The Little Mermaid" ". Jim Hill Media . Retrieved March 4, 2016. Davis, Amy M (2014). Handsome Heroes and Vile Villains: Masculinity in Disney's Feature Films. Indiana University Press. p.170. ISBN 9780861969074. She felt a gentle pull on her elbow and turned to see that Florian had woken up. His eyes were still clouded with sleep and pain, but clearly he would not be caught away from his ward again.

You’ll keep your swimming gait, and no dancer will be able to float along like you. But every step you take will be as if you were treading on a sharp knife, so that you would think your blood must gush out. If you can bear all that, I will do what you wish.'”

a b c Wasko, Janet (2013). Understanding Disney: The Manufacture of Fantasy. United States: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780745669045. It is painful to me that Lila is more likely than Flora/Florian to be a character on peoples’ bookshelves as possibly their only example of literary non-binary representation.

Sea Witches in Mythology

a b Lassell, Michael (2009). The Little Mermaid: A Broadway Musical - From the Deep Blue Sea to the Great White Way. Disney Editions New York. ISBN 978-1-4231-1272-3. If you have read the Shades of Magic series, or just long for some good queer rep, please read this book. It’s queer representation as a whole and its non-binary/genderfluid representation in particular is honest, accurate, and compelling.