The Little Mermaid Workprint !full! -
A "workprint" is an early, unfinished version of a film, typically assembled for internal screenings, test audiences, or small distribution to overseas dubbing studios. The Little Mermaid workprint is a rough cut of Disney’s 1989 animated classic, created before the final theatrical release. It is famous for containing substantial differences in animation, storyboarding, audio, and musical sequences.
For the aspiring animator, this is invaluable. It reveals that the "magic" of Disney is not instantaneous. It shows that characters like Scuttle or Flounder went through design tweaks and that scenes were trimmed for pacing. It serves as a reminder that perfection is an edit away, encouraging creators to value the rough draft as a necessary step toward the final vision. the little mermaid workprint