Did last JAWS movie inspire Little Mermaid shark scene?

A figure frantically swims through the wreck of a boat, hotly pursued by a deadly great white shark snapping at their heels, this description could equally be from JAWS the Revenge (1987) or The Little Mermaid (1989).

Did the boat wreck chase sequence between Mike Brody (Lance Guest) and the shark influence the Ariel and great white shark wreck scene in the Walt Disney animated classic released just two years later?

To escape the shark Michael swims into the wreck of the boat, but the large shark follows suit and Michael finds himself stuck behind a door and has to push through it.

In The Little Mermaid it is Flounder that gets stuck in a porthole, but he manages to push through just in time before he becomes smorgasbord.

Back to JAWS the Revenge, and Mike is still stuck in the claustrophobic inside of the boat, they helpful shark smashes through the wall “Heeeere’s Johnny!” style helping ramp up the tension.

Finally, Mike makes his escape by ascending to the surface with the aid of his oxygen tank, which he uses to get there quicker, leaving a trail of bubbles in his wake.

Meanwhile, the great white shark in The Little Mermaid smashes through glass and literally chews through the scenery, before in the end it gets its head firmly stuck in the anchor – which seems more like a scene from The Shallows (2016).

As Ariel and Flounder leave the carnage of the shipwreck, they two make their way to the surface in the same manner, leaving a trail of bubbles behind.

JAWS the Revenge may have signalled the death knell for the JAWS franchise, but this sequence is one of the best and most thrilling and exciting in the film, even if the shark animatronic does have its limitations. In fact, it made it into our top ten reasons to love JAWS the Revenge.

The Little Mermaid (1989) saw the beginning of the modern classic Disney phase, that would continue with Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. The latter two have already have the live action remake treatment by The House of Mouse, with The Little Mermaid the latest to make the jump from animation to live action realisation.

It’s great to see a thrilling shark attack sequence is still a part of that world at the top of the teaser trailer below.

Words by Dean Newman

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