Top 10 The Little Mermaid Easter Eggs You Didn't Notice

Disney’s 28th animated feature was based on an 1837 Danish fairytale of the same name written by Hans Christian Andersen. The film took some major liberties with the source material, most notably giving the tale a happier ending. However, the movie still pays homage to the original story with a subtle use of imagery. As Ariel sits on a rock towards the film’s conclusion, her pose greatly resembles a bronze mermaid statue sculpted by Edvard Eriksen. This statue was not only inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s work, but is also located in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is where the author once lived. A similar tribute would later pop up in the “Little Mermaid” animated series.

During the “Part of Your World” number, Ariel looks through all the gadgets, gizmos, whozits, whatzits, and thingamabobs in her collection. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, the little mermaid swims past a bust that might look familiar. It’s none other than Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. The bust calls both the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore to mind. We’re not sure how it wound up in Ariel’s possession, but that sculpture of Prince Eric clearly isn’t the only impressive statue in her grotto.

From “The Great Mouse Detective” to “Moana,” John Musker and Ron Clements have been leaders at the House of Mouse for well over 30 years. With each of their animated features, the directing duo tends to work in caricatures modeled after themselves. Of course most of these cameos go by so quickly that you need to pause your TV to notice them. When Ariel crashes Vanessa and Eric’s wedding, several guests are caught off guard by all of the commotion. One of the guests has a mustache and a tall, thin physique, resembling Musker. The guest standing next to him is shorter with a beard, looking an awful lot like Clements. Coincidence? We think not!

While she’s never landed a leading role, actress Edie McClurg has voiced an assortment of minor Disney characters. In “The Little Mermaid,” she provided the voice of Eric’s nurturing maid, Carlotta. This character’s original design cell depicted her wearing a green dress. In the end, however, this ensemble was substituted with a brownish-red dress and white apron. If this outfit looks familiar, that’s because it nearly matches Cinderella’s before she became a princess. Carlotta may never get to wear a beautiful gown like Cinderella, but at least her servant dress is still nicer than Ariel’s rags.

“The Little Mermaid” not only pays homage to “Cinderella,” but also suggests that both movies exist in the same universe and even took place around the same time. Eric’s royal wedding naturally attracted a couple high-profile guests, including the Grand Duke and the King from “Cinderella.” Both can be briefly spotted as chaos erupts at the ceremony and Max rushes over to bite Vanessa in the butt. Are these just throwaway cameos, or does their presence back up the popular fan theory that all the Disney movies are connected? Either way, it’s still an Easter egg fit for a king.

“The Little Mermaid” was Disney’s first full-length animated fairytale in three decades, their previous crack at the genre being 1959’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Given the unique link between these films, it’s only fitting that “The Little Mermaid” gives a hidden shout out to its predecessor. While it’s not easy to spot, a painting featuring Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip can be seen hanging in Eric’s dining room. This only further supports the theory that every Disney movie is part of the same world. Since Eric has a portrait of Aurora and Phillip in his possession, is it possible that there’s some blood between them?

“Part of Your World” is full of poignant imagery, although one of the most meaningful moments tends to elude viewers. As the passionate Ariel sings about fire, she gazes at an oil painting in her collection. This isn’t just any portrait, however. It’s “Magdalene with the Smoking Flame” by French Baroque painter Georges de La Tour. The flame in the picture ties into Ariel’s desire to learn why fire burns, but the symbolism is much deeper than that. Like Mary Magdalene, Ariel is also an outcast with many frowning upon her innermost desires. There’s also the fact that Magdalene is often depicted with red hair similar to Ariel’s, exemplifying the unlikely bond between both women.

To prevent Ariel from swimming back up to the surface, Sebastian the crab enlists a school of others to sing an infectious song. The finale packs in so many sea creatures that it’s easy to miss one particular fish wearing a pair of glasses. This fish resembles the titular character from “The Incredible Mr. Limpet.” What makes this cameo so ironic is that Mr. Limpet wanted nothing more than to be a fish. He even sings a song about it. This makes Mr. Limpet the polar opposite of Ariel, who wishes to trade in her tailfin for a set of human legs and walk on land. These two are both fish out of water!

Disney animators tend to litter their movies with Hidden Mickeys and “The Little Mermaid” is no exception. At the concert early on in the film, several guests have black hairdos that seem to resemble mouse ears. As the daughters of Triton are unveiled, a few bubbles appear to mimic Mickey as well. Then there’s Ursula’s contract, which might just look like gibberish at first glance. In the midst of all the legal jargon, though, you’ll find a little doodle that can only be Mickey Mouse. It just goes to show that you should always read the fine print.

In addition to those hidden Mickeys, everyone’s favorite mouse also makes a physical appearance in the film. As Triton arrives at the concert, Mickey can be seen in the audience alongside Goofy and Donald Duck. What are they doing there? How can they breathe underwater? Maybe the “Kingdom Hearts” games could help fill in the blanks. In any case, it’s still an awesome Easter egg and it’s not the only one in this scene. You’ll also find Kermit the Frog in attendance, which makes a bit more sense since you’re more likely to find a frog under the sea than a mouse. And to think, this was 15 years before Disney officially bought the Muppets!