What is the name of Ursula’s magical shell in Disney’s 1989 The Little Mermaid?
Answer
The nautilus shell
Ursula’s magical shell in Disney’s 1989 The Little Mermaid is a nautilus shell.
The shell is the object in which Ursula stores Ariel’s stolen voice after making the bargain that gives Ariel human legs. Ursula wears it as a pendant, making it both a visual emblem and the physical focus of her control over Ariel.
In the film’s climax, Prince Eric destroys the shell with the broken bowsprit of his ship. This releases Ariel’s voice and helps break Ursula’s hold over her. The shell is sometimes loosely called a necklace or pearl because it hangs around Ursula’s neck, but the object itself is identified as a nautilus shell.
Ursula’s design was inspired in part by the drag performer Divine, while her character combines the sea-witch concept with elements of Disney villain tradition. The shell’s role makes it one of the film’s key magical objects.