Flounder’s look in ‘The Little Mermaid’ has some fans upset. ‘He’s been through it’
The new promotional posters for the much anticipated live-action revamp of “The Little Mermaid” starring Halle Bailey dropped earlier this week — and some fans aren’t too thrilled with the new look of one beloved character.
In the 1989 Disney cartoon, Ariel’s sidekicks are Sebastian, a critical red crab; Scuttle, a dingbat seagull; and Flounder, a bright blue and yellow fish stuck in a state of arrested development. However, in an attempt to be— well— more real with their live-action characters, each character’s digital makeover looks a little too close to the downright freakishness of the deep, dark ocean.
Especially the once-delightful Flounder, who fans say looks like he’s recently taken up cardio in order to attend the Met Gala.
Jacob Tremblay (@JacobTremblay) is #Flounder pic.twitter.com/T6z94QkLWZ
— The Little Mermaid (@LittleMermaid) April 26, 2023
Oh, no thank you please.
Folks are very displeased with the supposed aesthetic downgrade of the character — who is voiced by “Room” actor Jacob Tremblay — and took to Twitter to express their concerns. And their jokes.
Can someone please explain to me how the only two Flounder designs Disney were able to come up with for the live action Little Mermaid were:
1. Just a soulless looking fish
2. An eldritch horror pic.twitter.com/ytbTbwN7ln— DaydreamerDan ️ (@Daydreamerdan_) April 27, 2023
First posters for Sebastian and Flounder in ‘THE LITTLE MERMAID’. pic.twitter.com/QIwoWJeQId
— Gretchen Felker-Martin (@scumbelievable) April 26, 2023
Flounder in The Little Mermaid is not a real-life flounder (related to flatfish).
Based on this poster released by Disney, Flounder is a sergeant major fish, genus Abudefduf. pic.twitter.com/r2qvmLgyd2— Mangingisda #SaveTaliptip (@MangingisdaSays) April 26, 2023
The Disney Bosses: "let's do a live action Little Mermaid!"
The animators: "have any of us seen a flounder?" https://t.co/F6uUQsaNfk— Mx. D. E. Anderson (@diannaeanderson) April 27, 2023
Here’s your first look at Flounder in Denis Villeneuve’s THE LITTLE MERMAID. pic.twitter.com/zD8ThC67Nf
— Eric Marchen (@EM6211) April 27, 2023
First posters for Sebastian and Flounder in ‘THE LITTLE MERMAID’. pic.twitter.com/b1Aicv6DjF
— Carl Kinsella (@TVsCarlKinsella) April 26, 2023
Anyway shout out to Disney for finally finding a way to make a version of The Little Mermaid's Flounder more soulless than Funko pic.twitter.com/p1x1Ecda9V
— Kevin (@scribblesscript) April 26, 2023
I woke up and saw a picture of flounder from the little mermaid live action movie and i'm still not sure if that was reality or not
— Amiya (@amiyaaranha) April 27, 2023
I dunno, I think the released image of Flounder in the new live action Little Mermaid doesn't look that bad... pic.twitter.com/UjiN7T12Mu
— McGravin (@UnrealMcGravin) April 27, 2023
I’m excited for the little mermaid… But that being said… why does Flounder look like he got life advice from Tim Burton? #TheLittleMermaid #Flounder pic.twitter.com/FdZz0UVm0Z
— Nerdy Nicole is Suspish of Everyone (@CandissNicole) April 27, 2023
I’m so excited for the new Little Mermaid movie, but why did they do Flounder like that!? He looks like he’s been through it pic.twitter.com/snE3YRjVUI
— (@elenamiheala) April 27, 2023
Say sike rn
— evan (@evandertweets) April 26, 2023
I have no words... what they have done with you, Flounder
— Roxy (@Roxy_bunnygirl) April 27, 2023
This isn’t the first go-round producers have had with the fan base. After the first teaser dropped showcasing Bailey, a Black singer and actor, people flooded social media with racist comments, Forbes reported.
The live-action version is set to premiere on May 26.
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