where is the little mermaid set
The original Little Mermaid fairytale is set off the coast of Denmark, and the famous bronze mermaid statue sits in Copenhagen as a tribute to that origin. The 1989 Disney animated film, however, uses a fictional seaside kingdom inspired visually by Dubrovnik, Croatia, rather than explicitly naming Denmark on screen.
Quick Scoop: Where It’s Set
- Hans Christian Andersen’s story: coastal waters of Denmark , rooted in the author’s Danish background.
- Real‑world landmark: the Little Mermaid statue on a rock by the waterside in Copenhagen.
- Disney animated movie: a fantasy kingdom whose production inspiration was Dubrovnik, Croatia on the Adriatic Sea.
| Version | In‑story location | Real‑world inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Hans Christian Andersen tale | Unspecified sea off a European coast, traditionally read as Denmark | [1][7]Author’s homeland and Danish coasts | [7][1]
| Disney 1989 animated film | Atlantica under the sea and an unnamed human seaside kingdom | [1]Dubrovnik, Croatia, named by Disney as a key visual inspiration | [7]
In fan forums, you’ll see debates claiming everything from Denmark to Spain or Italy, but Disney’s own travel‑inspiration list points directly at Dubrovnik for the animated setting.
Live‑Action 2023 Note
The 2023 live‑action remake keeps the same broad “Caribbean‑flavored coastal kingdom” vibe in the story, but most above‑water scenes were filmed around Sardinia, Italy , using its beaches and cliffside villages as the stand‑in backdrop.
TL;DR: Story roots = Denmark; animated movie backdrop = Dubrovnik‑inspired fantasy kingdom; 2023 remake filmed mainly in Sardinia, Italy.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.