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Disneyaniacs!

Probably the less said about this the better but, inspired by an article in Disney Magazine, I thought it'd be cool to interview a diehard Disney fan for this issue of the zine. Naturally, the first place I looked was the internet, where fans of all stripes apparently breed. Despite Disney's rep for aggressively policing and prosecuting copyright infringers, fan web pages chock full of Disney images, sounds, and logos were all over. There are fan pages for all things Disney--EPCOT fans, Mickey fans, you name it. But the most interesting, for me, were those devoted to The Little Mermaid and its star, Ariel. There are about 15 or so--enough to be a genre--and there's really nothing quite like them. Doug Webb is webmaster for Doug's Ariel Mermaid Homepage; while perhaps the most articulate fan, Doug is but one drop in the ocean of self-described Arielholics. The following interview, conducted by yours truly, took place via email in December 1996. -- Carrie McLaren

Note: as of July 1997, Doug's page is no longer.

How many times have you see The Little Mermaid?
About 150. I've seen each TV episode quite a few times, too.

Would you say Little Mermaid is a children's movie?
Yes. Children see the same qualities in Ariel that many adults do.

Are there other Ariel fans that are as avid as you are?
Many others have been deeply moved by her. The depth to which people are attracted to Ariel depends upon how much they need what she has. Ariel offers a way of life that many of us would like to emulate, if only we could reproduce her personality. I think all of us would like to be happy and innocent and live in a world full of love and clearly marked values. Ariel has affected me so strongly because I see so little of these things in this world. I've also had trouble meeting women, so Ariel fills a need in me to "have someone." Being affected by Ariel is kind of like "getting" religion.

How much Ariel merchandise do you own?
I started collecting LM in the fall of '90, after I saw the video and fell in love with Ariel. I just wanted to have a part of her. It's a way of being with her, to see her in a new way. I've tried to keep up with new merchandise. It's moved me out of my bedroom. I sleep on the living room floor. I want to start a LM museum so children can see it all. That's my dream.

How much money would you say you've spent on Ariel?
Over $20,000, and I don't make a lot of money.

There's all sorts of Ariel merchandise, so how do you decide which items to get?
Little Mermaid merchandise began to thin out about two years ago. It's just now starting to reappear, but I can't buy it anymore because I'm saving money to move to Florida and get a job at Walt Disney World (I hope!). Not buying new stuff really hurts, but up until this past summer, I bought everything I could. I even bought the clothes. I like the clothes because they have some really beautiful pics of her on them. I love the Ariel dolls. I got a little colored-glass brooch of her at Walt Disney World that's really beautiful. A shell jewelry box with Ariel on the top. A tea set. There's really so much; I just can't list it all.

How good a job does Disney do with the merchandising?
My only complaint is the sometimes sloppy attention to accuracy on Ariel's face, especially on figures.

Is there a point to be reached where you have enough?
My point has been reached by no more money and no more room in my apartment! If I had more of both, I'd still be buying.

Do you wish Ariel were a real person?
No. A real person could never be as perfect as she is now. She will retain the same personality as long as Disney sees fit to keep her that way. As I've said to others: Ariel and Flounder will be happily exploring shipwrecks long after we're gone.

Do you think Ariel has leadership potential?
Ariel leads without trying. She leads by example. She shows us that goodness and innocence don't have to be put down and laughed at. She shows that decency doesn't have to be hypocritical. Ariel, herself, would not make a good leader. She has a strong will, but not the kind it takes to direct and manipulate others.

Are you attracted to other animated characters? Or maybe other mermaids?
No, I couldn't care less about mermaids. Ariel being a mermaid is just a coincidence.

Do you have friends that are as interested in Ariel as you are?
No one living in my area is a fan. All of the fans that I've met (except for one) I found on the Internet.

When you write other Ariel fans, do you find you have things in common other than Ariel? What sorts of other things?
Many of my fellow fans are very intelligent. I don't know whether this is because they own a computer or what. Many are artists or writers, like myself. Some are a little loony (which gets me worried!). Many are liberal, which is the direct opposite of myself. This just shows Ariel's wide appeal.

Have you done anything unusual related to being an Ariel fan?
Giving my life to an animated character might be considered unusual. I've endured hardships that I would never suffer for most real people.

What's the weirdest thing you've done? Any funny stories you could share?
Lot's of stuff to get LM goodies. Spent over two hours in a video store waiting for the manager who told me he had a stand-up display for sell. He never showed up. Visited five "Big Lots," all over Nashville, looking for a LM shovel. Visited two or three malls, and four or five department stores, numerous smaller stores, through rain, heat, cold, and snow every weekend for six years looking for new merchandise. Bought a computer so I could see the LM pages on the Internet. Spent a year making a cross-stitch (my third and last. The others were LM, too) to send to Jodie Benson (She has it in her living room). Stopped eating seafood (a personal act of devotion because I love seafood). Gave up watching anything but LM. Haven't watched TV in years. Sold everything non-LM I own to get more LM. Wear a LM charm everywhere I go, when I'm not wearing a my LM shirt (which I wear on the weekends in the mall). Got my picture taken with Ariel at WDW in a pirate costume. Got out of the hospital for a bleeding ulcer and headed for the mall to catch up on LM goodies. Borrowed money to bid in the Sotheby's auction of '90. Have a swimming pool in my dining room (no water in it). Go down to WDW and spend all my time buying LM and watching Voyage of LM. None of this is funny, sorry. It's just a testament to how much Ariel has affected my life.

Would you describe being an Ariel fan as a hobby? What are your other hobbies?
If life is a hobby, then Ariel is a hobby. I like to write LM, read LM, draw LM, and paint LM. I'll also admit a fondness for playing Doom. It releases my aggression :)

Do you prefer to watch alone or in groups?
I've never watched LM with others.

Do you think you'll ever get sick of Ariel?
I have times when Ariel isn't in my thoughts. But in six years, she has always been close. As long as she makes me happy, I'll never grow tired of her.