text: The film differs so substantially from Andersen's original story that it has been said to "betray Andersen's tale while it exploits society's obsession with physical beauty and romantic love." This film launched a franchise that was continued with a TV series of the same name (1992-1994), a sequel: The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), and a prequel: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008).