Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” was first published in 1837.
Andersen’s story appeared in a collection of fairy tales for children on April 7, 1837. The original tale follows a young mermaid who longs for the human world and falls in love with a prince, but it differs sharply from Disney’s version in tone, plot, and ending.
Disney’s 1989 film keeps the basic premise of a mermaid seeking a human life and romance, but it adds characters, comic sequences, songs, and a happy resolution. Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder, Ursula, and Prince Eric are Disney creations or substantial adaptations rather than direct counterparts with identical roles in Andersen’s text.
The date is often confused with the release year of Disney’s animated film, which arrived more than 150 years later. Andersen’s story therefore predates both Disney adaptations by a considerable period.