Who wrote the original story adapted by Disney’s 1989 film The Little Mermaid?

Hans Christian Andersen wrote the original story adapted by Disney’s 1989 film The Little Mermaid.

Andersen’s literary fairy tale, “The Little Mermaid,” was first published in 1837. It follows a young mermaid who longs to experience the human world and falls in love with a prince, but its plot and ending differ substantially from Disney’s version.

Disney retained the central ideas of a mermaid, a human prince, and a desire to cross between sea and land. The animated film changed the tone, expanded the supporting cast, introduced songs, and created a more conventionally happy romantic resolution.

Andersen was a Danish author whose other famous tales include “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Snow Queen,” and “The Little Match Girl.” The source story is literary fiction, not an anonymous traditional folk tale.