The Meaning Behind Names
The attention to details in animated films will never cease to amaze us. There are so many details that go over us unnoticed since we don’t really pay attention to small details while watching a film, especially when it’s a children’s film. We’re too invested in the plot to notice everything that was carefully constructed around it.
In The Little Mermaid, Ursula uses a butterfly in the spell that transforms her into a human. Then, in her human form, she uses the name Vanessa – a genus of butterfly. This is meaningful because in many cultures around the world, butterflies are a symbol of transformation. So, even this seemingly meaningless detail required thought and research on the writers’ part.