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The new animated Dreamworks movie called Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken has been a hot topic lately for two reasons: the abysmal predictions regarding the film’s box office performance and its main villain’s extremely-noticeable similarity to Ariel from the 1989 animated Disney movie The Little Mermaid.
The “Kat” Is Out of the Bag
Some misinformed Disney fans might think that Dreamworks chose to make their villainous mermaid (who is named Chelsea Van Der Zee and voiced by Annie Murphy) simply to attract the attention of Disney Fanatics and pique their interest, but dedicated Disney fans who pay attention to Disney lore and Disney history will recognize another reason for the character design: Jeffery Katzenberg!
Chelsea and Ariel. Photo Credits: Dreamworks and Disney
Jeffery Katzenberg was a well-respected producer at Walt Disney Studios who made it clear back in the 1980s, when The Little Mermaid was being developed, that he did not like the idea of the movie. Katzenberg reportedly felt that the mermaid market, so to speak, was oversaturated — and he apparently disliked Ariel’s hair color, as well.
Poor Ariel!
When Katzenberg left Disney’s employment and jumped ship to DreamWorks Animation, he threw some shade towards Ariel in an infamous Shrek 2 scene, where a mermaid strongly resembling Prince Eric’s beau is violently tossed into the sea by Princess Fiona.
Is the Vendetta Continuing?
After seeing the distinct resemblance between Chelsea Van Der Zee and the Disney princess Ariel, it seems likely that someone behind the scenes at Dreamworks is still intent on amusing audiences with Ariel-related mockeries — and the Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken trailer was released as the new Little Mermaid trailer was released, too!
Evil and villainous mermaids in ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’. The monstrous mermaid in this Dreamworks film is Chelsea Van Der Zee, voiced by Annie Murphy. The film also stars Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Jane Fonda, Sam Richardson, and Liza Koshy. Credit: Dreamworks / Universal Pictures
Coincidence? Some Disney fans will think not!
Are you going to see Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken in theaters?
The film is expected to perform poorly at the box office, even though its vibrant animation and its unique plot about a kraken embracing her powers (under the tutelage of Jane Fonda) seems promising — but Elemental was expected to be an enormous failure for Pixar and has just bounced back, so time will tell!
