The Little Mermaid (1989 film) film, it would be difficult for children to identify with Ariel and that the characters seemed bland. Hinson concluded his review saying that the film is "accomplished but uninspiring, "The Little Mermaid" has enough to please any kid. All that's missing is the magic." "Empire" gave a positive review of the film, stating that "["The Little Mermaid" is] a charmer of a movie, boasting all the ingredients that make a Disney experience something to treasure yet free of all the politically correct, formulaic elements that have bogged down the more recent productions." In April 2008 – almost 20 years after
The Little Mermaid (1989 film) cut from 1939's "The Wizard of Oz" when appealing to Katzenberg. Keane pushed for the song to remain until the film was in a more finalized state. During a second test screening, the scene, now colorized and further developed, tested well with a separate child audience, and the musical number was kept. The film was originally released on November 17, 1989, followed by re-release on November 14, 1997. After the success of the 3D re-release of "The Lion King", Disney announced a 3D re-release of "The Little Mermaid" scheduled for September 13, 2013, but this was cancelled on January 14,