As Disney comes under criticism for the messages it creates in its older films, such as patriarchal gender roles and racist undertones, yet another fallacy has been uncovered. In Walt Disney’s The Little Mermaid there is a little-known scene in which a crab named Sebastian leads other sea creatures in a song titled “Under the Sea.” It makes for a cute movie moment but, as leading researcher Eugena Tatwell suggests, it is a wholly unrealistic premise.
Following years of involved marine research, Tatwell has hypothesized that crabs, in fact, cannot sing. Her work has shown that crabs rarely, if ever, have lips capable of replicating the English language, and furthermore do not have vocal cords.
“We all like to think that these movies portray real life.” she said in an interview with the Cardinal. “Prince Charming will sweep us away and we’ll all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. I’ve spent years working with, living with and becoming one with the crabs, and they have not once sung the simplest of melodies, much less carried the leading role in Caribbean styled Disney score. If you think that crabs are going to sing to you, you might as well believe that pigs can fly, and that President Eisenhower was real.”
Tatwell’s research has been replicated among marine biologists across the globe. The buzz about the “singing abomination” as it has been dubbed in official research, has even prompted creators of the Disney production to speak up.
“Yeah… I know crabs don’t talk.” said Ron Clements, co-writer of the screenplay. “It’s a cartoon. You know there was also, like, mermaids and magic and stuff in there too, right?”
As of yet, no charges have been pressed against Disney for its deliberate act of misinformation, though after reading Tatwell’s research, government officials say everything is “still on the table.”
“I just can’t believe,” said Tatwell, “that the public has been so terribly misinformed about the musical capabilities of the crab for so long without justice.”
Tatwell’s research is available for full viewing online. She is also available by email for those interested in supporting a class action lawsuit.
