Q: I see this rumor pop up so often that I figured I should ask Dave himself. A lot of people insist that Ariel’s character design (at least the facial structure and characteristics) was inspired by Alice’s design. I’m not convinced, but does this rumor hold any water?
Joseph, Nevada City, California
A: Ariel’s lead animator Glen Keane recently said, “I was supposed to animate Ursula, but when I heard Jodi Benson sing ‘Part of Your World,’ I said, ‘I have to draw that character!’ I talked to [directors] Ron [Clements] and John [Musker] and said. ‘I’ve gotta draw Ariel.’ They asked, ‘Can you draw a pretty girl?’ I said, ‘Oh, I’ve been drawing my whole married life, and I think I can!’ I did a lot of design study drawings on my wife and used her for my inspiration for Ariel. And she’s kind of got this girl-next-door kind of a look; she actually looks very much like Ariel.”
Dave Smith