Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid (1975)

I'm sure all of us go with the Disney version because of its romantic happy ending and getting a nice kick out of it afterwards. However, the realistic version as you see in this movie where it has a heartbreaking ending and you probably start crying. I honestly did! No really, why on earth did fairytale authors back then have to add dark stuff towards the end of their stories? They probably were just dull men who wanted everyone including the children audience to have depressing lives lol!! I honestly do have to thank Disney for rejigging the endings and preventing me to not have my whole childhood ruined haha! I have to say for a 1970 Japanese animated film, the quality and the animation was pretty well done. I thought it would be grainy but nope, I was able to see the whole thing crystal clear! The voice actors were great including the boy who played Fritz the dolphin(or whale?).Good movie but bring the tissues near the end!

This is a true Hans Christian Anderson film. I grew up reading Hans Christian Anderson. Not all his stories but The Little Mermaid for sure. I grew up on this 1975 film. I don't ever remember not liking it. Then as I got older I watched it again. I always cry because it is very sad. Life is not always happy. I think whenever I needed a good cry I would watch this film just to cry. I haven't watched it in years but I do own it on video. And when my little girl is old enough I will show it to her. This is a Classic Film. I do really like Disney's version, but in a different way.

My mum bought this for my when I was young by accident instead of the Disney version. When Marina died at the end I remember sobbing my heart out so much my mum threw the tape out! Now I really want to see it again and I've been looking for the tape everywhere, does anyone have any ideas where this can be bought from I've looked on ebay and in second hand shops but to no avail. Also it would be great to have it on DVD, is it by anychance on DVD???Does anyone have any other recommendations of other great anime older anime films? Maybe from western fairy tales like the little mermaid.Lunare

I found this version of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" to be on of the best. If you are looking for the cutsey "Disney-esque" version then please go and rent the Disney version. This story is about the little mermaid told in the original form of Hans Christian Andersen's tale. In his story the little mermaid did not live happily ever after with the prince and she doesn't in this version either. Instead she makes the ultimate sacrifice of her life to save the life and guarantee the happiness of the one she loves. When I first saw this anime as a child I cried my eyes out but even now many years later I can still appreciate that this film does not cater to the "Happily Ever After" cheesiness that most people have come to expect.