Our Coven: Ursula The Sea Witch
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 4:00PM Team Experience is assembling our own coven of preferred witches for Halloween. Here's abstew with ... well, you know who
After nearly two decades of sub par animated films (I'm looking your way, The Black Caldron) that would've made Uncle Walt turn over in his cryogenic freezer, 1989's The Little Mermaid, the studio's first fairy tale in 30 years, finally brought back the art of animation and started the modern Disney renaissance. The film had everything going for it - sassy red-headed mermaid princess, Caribbean accented crab, show-stopping musical numbers, and, most importantly, a voluptuously wicked, tentacled diva villainess.
Early concept art shows that Ursula the Sea Witch's look went through many transformations before the final look of half octopus / half woman (and what a woman - Ursula is said to be modeled after the drag queen Divine). To voice the sea witch, the filmmakers offered the part to Bea Arthur who turned it down due to her work on The Golden Girls and Elaine Stritch had been cast but clashed with lyricist Howard Ashman. Actress Pat Carroll brought Ursula to life delivering some of the film's best lines ("You got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing, Zip!) There's always time for a one-liner while being evil. And don't underestimate the importance of body language!
Broom? No use for them under the sea. And probably best not to mention anything wooden as she meets her demise staked by the bow of a ship.
Favored Spell: Fortunately she knows a little magic - it's a talent that she always has possessed. Her spell of choice is taking voices (conveniently stowed in her shell necklace - fashion and function) and turning fishtails into legs in return. Although, if you can't pay the price, you just might find yourself a part of her little garden.
Familiars: Her babies, her poor little poopsies: a pair of scheming eels named Flotsam and Jetsam. They each share a glowing yellow eye that allows Ursula to see what they see.
Pointy Hat?: Her shock of white hair (styled with mousse - how 80's of her!) is pointy enough.
"Only Bad Witches Are Ugly": Considering her beauty regime (waterproof lipstick!) and the fact that she can change you into a weird plant with eyes, I wouldn't call her ugly to her face. At one point she does transform herself into a brunette version of Ariel with Joan Crawford eyebrows, so she's got options. Plus, anyone modeled after a drag queen is gonna look fabulous!
Meet the other members of our coven
Reader Comments (4)
I didn't even think of Ursula as a witch before! silly me! Sorry Grand High Witch Eva Ernst, Ursula is my gal. Life is full of tough choices, innit?
i wonder if it might be vaguely relaxing to be a plant with weird eyes and just sway in the water...or at least vaguely entertaining since Ursula would be putting on diva shows all the time
Can't wait to see who's left for Nathaniel to pick !
Carl... the choices are endless really!