The Little Mermaid Workprint ((exclusive)) Info

The Little Mermaid workprint is a fragile and rare artifact that requires careful preservation. Over the years, it has been preserved and restored through various efforts, including a 2011 restoration by the Walt Disney Archives. While it is not widely available for public viewing, some Disney fan communities and online forums have shared clips and stills from the workprint, giving fans a glimpse into this fascinating piece of Disney history.

At first, fans thought it was a hoax. Why would Disney let this out? The truth was more mundane: a collector had obtained a legitimate VHS workprint from a retired animator who worked on the film in 1988. That VHS was dubbed, digitized, and uploaded.

A "workprint" for The Little Mermaid (1989) is an early, unpolished version of the film used by creators during production to test pacing, timing, and sequence flow. It typically features incomplete animation, rough pencil sketches , and sometimes temporary audio tracks or storyboards. Key Features of the Workprint

or dialogue that might differ from the final polished theatrical mix.

In the theatrical cut, King Triton smashes the human statue grotto in a rage. In the workprint, the scene is longer. After destroying the statue, Triton finds a scroll of paper where Ariel has drawn a map to Eric’s castle. He burns the scroll with his trident, and the ashes fall on Ariel’s hair. This scene was cut for being "too cruel" and because animators felt the map concept was redundant.