The Timeline of "The Little Mermaid"
                      A Historical Approach
               by Philip Mak (pmak@cs.stmarys.ca)
 
 
Abstract: Have you ever wondered what time period "The Little
Mermaid" takes place in? This article will answer that question
from a historical perspective.
 
"The Little Mermaid" takes place in an English-speaking community
at the time of wooden ships and cannons. There is very little
more information the movie itself provides, however the
television series provides two bits of useful information.
 
According to the episode "Calliope Dreams", we know that the show
takes place sometime in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's lifetime (1756-
91). He was on a sailing ship out at sea, with his piano on
board, which rolled over the side and into the sea when the boat
tipped a little. ("Sorry we lost your harp Mr. Mozart, but we'll
take good care of your piano.")
 
We also know that the show takes place in Ludwig van Beethoven's
lifetime (1770-1827) from the episode "Scuttle". Since Scuttle
helped him compose his Fifth Symphony by falling on his piano
keyboard and playing the first three notes of his theme, we know
that the show happens sometime before 1808, when his Fifth
Symphony was completed.
 
I will take this moment to note that this introduces a
discrepancy, since Mozart died in 1791, 17 years before
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony was completed. We are therefore forced
to assume that the Mozart in "Calliope Dreams" was not Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart, but in fact a different musician who's last name
was Mozart; probably Wolfgang's father Leopold Mozart,
considering Wolfgang had no children. (This was probably a Disney
writer's error, but that's beside the point.)
 
Since Beethoven was still trying to think of a theme for his
Fifth Symphony, he must have been starting it. Symphonies
generally take a few years to write, so the episode "Scuttle"
must have taken place around 1804. The movie must have taken
place not long after that episode (since Ariel doesn't look a day
older). The third season is the last one, therefore it is logical
to conclude the movie took place in the fourth season timeline.
The episode "Scuttle" was the first one of the third season, and
therefore the movie will have taken place about one year after
1804.
 
Therefore, we conclude that "The Little Mermaid" takes place
around 1805.