Photo courtesy of DISNEY Princess Ariel and the cast of characters from the 1989 Disney classic, ‘The Little Mermaid.’

Nearly 40 years ago, Disney released “The Little Mermaid,” and pop culture was never the same. Between its iconic visuals and addictive soundtrack, the movie has long since become one of the Mouse House’s most beloved film classics.

And for good reason.

The story of Ariel and her friends under the sea is timeless and continues to inspire the imagination of today’s youth. “The Little Mermaid” has a message that still resonates to this day.

Millions of kids grew up with Ariel (Jodi Benson), Sebastian (Samuel E. Wright), Flounder (Jason Marin) and Prince Eric (Christopher David Barnes), so they have a fondness for it. Ariel was one of the most idolized Disney princesses for kids, who were entranced by the underwater world she inhabited.

Miller Cinemas in downtown Lewistown hosts “Little Mermaid” Paint and Movie with Princess Luna at 7 p.m. on Sunday. The $30 cost includes one mermaid tail craft, along with one child’s movie ticket and one adult movie ticket. Seating is limited, and tickets must be pre-paid.

The paint project at the Busy Brush starts at 2 p.m., followed by the private movie screening at the

Miller Cinemas at 3 p.m.

I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know the story of “The Little Mermaid” at this point, but just in case anyone’s forgotten: the movie follows Princess Ariel as she longs to explore the world up above and learn the ways of humans.

When the Sea Witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) offers her a deal, where Ariel must give up her voice in exchange for legs, she takes it, paving the way for her romance with the dashing Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes).

Like most Disney animated movies, “The Little Mermaid” tells its story at a brisk pace, effectively establishing each character and their personality right before diving into the meat of the plot. Ariel’s impulsive decision to give up her voice​​​​​​. Her desire to know more about the human world is so strong, she’d willingly explore a dangerous shipwreck, so of course she’d jump at any chance to go above the surface. Her curiosity is one of her defining features, making her one of the most compelling Disney princesses of all-time.

Every character is clearly defined and expertly drawn, and that extends to the evil Ursula, one of Disney’s best villains. Ursula’s character design is the most inventive; the lower part of her body is that of an octopus, she’s able to slink and float across the screen in a visually arresting manner.

As a whole, The Little Mermaid makes the most of its underwater setting. This is best seen in the standout musical number “Under the Sea,” which features numerous sea creatures breaking out into song and dance.

The movie’s soundtrack is quintessential Disney: Alan Menken’s delightful tunes, from the soulful yearning of “Part of Your World” to the menacing allure of “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” both define the movie’s voice and tell us so much about the characters singing them.

“The Little Mermaid” has only become more poignant over the years. There’s so much we can learn from Ariel — a world different from our own doesn’t have to be scary, and we should be more open to learning about other experiences. Yes, there’s little doubt that the choices she makes are reckless and ill-advised, but the film doesn’t claim otherwise.

Ariel faces the fallout of her actions, leading to the genuinely chilling and thrilling climactic battle with Ursula. I’m still stunned at how dark the ending is, seeing as Ursula’s ultimate fate isn’t as ambiguous as other Disney villains.

The Little Mermaid has endured in pop culture for nearly 40 years, and I expect it will continue to do so, even as Disney puts further stock in its live-action offerings.

There’s something deeply comforting about the classic style of hand-drawn animation, and it’s a joy to revisit it.

Rating: G

Runtime: 83 minutes

Grade: A-

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Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel.