Sebastian’s Response to Criticism: A Tale of ‘The Little Mermaid’

#Mermaid #Sebastian #Response #Criticism

Daveed Diggs Brings New Life to Sebastian in Live-Action Remake of The Little Mermaid

Introduction

If you’re a fan of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, then you’re a fan of a tiny crustacean named Sebastian. The sassy red crab, who helps Ariel defeat Ursula and live her best life above ground, was a standout in the 1989 animated film. Back then, voice actor Samuel E. Wright brought the character to life. Now, three decades later, it’s Daveed Diggs who is making Sebastian shine for a new generation.

The Daunting Task of Playing Sebastian

In The Little Mermaid’s live-action remake, which debuted last weekend, Diggs expertly adds his own spin to the character, but he admits that playing Sebastian was a daunting task. “I was terrified until we started rehearsing,” he tells me over Zoom. “A big part of me was like, What am I doing? Fandoms are a real thing and you don’t want to disappoint people when you know how important these films are to folks.”

All fears aside, the 41-year-old Diggs quickly settled into the character. Prior to filming, he traveled to the Caribbean to learn about their culture and the origins of Calypso music, which is featured throughout the film. That laid the groundwork for Sebastian’s history.

Collaboration Between Cast and Crew

And for the crab’s signature attitude and witty one-liners? Well, that came with the help of Diggs’ co-star, Awkwafina, who voices Sebastian’s frenemy, Scuttle. “She’s a genuinely hilarious person,” Diggs says of the comedian. “We developed this weird backstory for Sebastian and Scuttle.” In their version of events, the bickering duo were divorced before the events of The Little Mermaid even take place.

“The way they argue has that kind of vibe to it,” Diggs adds, laughing at the elaborate bit. “It’s that, like, we’ve known each other for a long time and we know each other so much that we can’t be together anymore. But there’s love in there somewhere.” If Disney’s paying attention, they’ll give Sebastian and Scuttle the prequel they deserve. Until then, you can watch their shenanigans transpire in The Little Mermaid.

The Recording Process and Final Cut

For Diggs, the recording process was a unique experience. Rob Marshall, the film’s director, made a bunch of smart choices with the production, but the best decision was to have the cast rehearse together. That first month, they rehearsed it like it was a musical. Each actor was in a scene with someone else, allowing them to rehearse in real space together.

When they did the actual audio recordings, they were on a sound stage altogether. Awkwafina, Jacob, and Diggs were all sitting at stands with mics, and there were cameras pointed at them to capture their facial expressions. All of the other actors in the scenes were also there acting with them so that they could play off of each other for real.

When Diggs saw the final cut, he was surprised at how realistic it looked. He loved the color palettes chosen by Rob for under the sea and on land. They speak to each other in this really beautiful way. There’s this one incredibly cinematic moment when Ariel goes to the surface for the first time, and they blend in a way that shows some really beautiful filmmaking, plus a great score.

The Importance of Representation

The Little Mermaid was a childhood favorite for Diggs. His favorite Disney film is still The Aristocats or the animated Robin Hood. He loves the voice acting in those, which is really great. There’s something very endearing about the artwork in those movies too.

Diggs says that Samuel’s performance is iconic, but he didn’t want to do an impression of him. He wanted to honor him while playing the character as himself. “Samuel did that part for so long. A huge part of why the character is so iconic is because of him and what he brought to it.”

The casting of people of color in the film, especially Halle Bailey, comes with a lot of scrutiny. However, for Diggs, it was a tribute to Halle, who he called a “generational talent.” Being a real-life Disney princess comes with so much love and hate, but Halle carries it all with grace beyond her 23 years. Watching her grow into this incredibly caring brilliant, confident woman is inspiring.

Perhaps the most important message in The Little Mermaid is representation. Diggs believes that it’s essential for viewers to see themselves reflected on screen, even in a children’s movie. The film has already made waves for its casting choices, and it’s exciting to see what this new era of Disney movies may bring.

Conclusion

Daveed Diggs provides a fresh take on the classic character of Sebastian in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. With a creative collaboration between cast and crew, the film brings a realistic yet magical world to life. It’s important to see representation in films like this, and Halle Bailey’s performance is nothing short of a tribute to Disney’s efforts towards inclusivity. The Little Mermaid marks the beginning of a new era of Disney remakes, and it’s exciting to see what’s in store for the future.

https://copyrightwebstamp.com/blog/news/sales/sebastians-response-to-criticism-a-tale-of-the-little-mermaid/6978/?feed_id=1350&_unique_id=647cb57dbf579