You’ve probably seen the clickbait. Maybe it was a blurry YouTube thumbnail or a frantic TikTok claiming a "forbidden" VHS tape is worth a fortune. People love a good conspiracy, especially when it involves ruining a childhood classic. But when we talk about the Little Mermaid cover banned controversy, we aren't talking about the 2023 live-action film or some modern political firestorm. We are digging back into 1989, a time of hand-painted celluloid, physical media, and a very unfortunate architectural choice by a distracted artist.
It’s a weird story. Honestly, it’s one of the first true "viral" urban legends of the internet age.
Before the web was everywhere, rumors moved through playgrounds and breakrooms. The story went that a disgruntled Disney artist, facing termination, decided to slip a very "adult" image onto the palace spires of the original The Little Mermaid VHS cover. It sounds like a disgruntled employee's revenge fantasy. Except, like most things that sound too perfect to be true, the reality is a lot more boring—and a lot more human.
The Truth Behind the Phallic Palace
The "banned" artwork in question appeared on the original theatrical poster and the subsequent 1990 "Classics" white clam-shell VHS release. If you look at the golden palace of King Triton in the background, one of the spires looks... well, it looks like a penis. There’s no point in sugarcoating it. It’s right there in the center, shimmering in gold.
Did Disney actually ban it?
Sorta. They didn't issue a public recall or send the FBI to people's living rooms. However, once the rumors reached a fever pitch in the early 90s, Disney did what any massive corporation would do: they pivoted. When the second printing of the VHS hit shelves, that specific spire was altered. The offending tower was reshaped to look like a standard, non-suggestive piece of underwater architecture. So, while "banned" is a strong word, the cover was absolutely censored and replaced.
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The artist, a man named Casey Kalsho, has spoken about this several times over the decades. He wasn't some rogue employee trying to burn the Mouse House down. He was a freelance artist working under an insane deadline. He was rushing. He was tired. He was trying to finish the lighting on a dozen different golden towers at 4:00 AM. He didn't even work for Disney; he worked for an outside agency. He didn't see the shape until it was pointed out to him later by the public. It’s a classic case of pareidolia—our brains trying to find familiar shapes in random patterns—exacerbated by a very unfortunate artistic flourish.
Why People Still Think It's a "Banned" Treasure
If you go on eBay right now, you’ll see listings for the "Banned Little Mermaid VHS" for $5,000, $10,000, or even more. It’s a total scam.
Don't buy into the hype. Millions of these tapes were manufactured before the artwork was changed. If you grew up in the 90s, there is a very high statistical probability that the tape sitting in your parents' dusty attic is the "banned" version. It isn't rare. It isn't a lost relic. It’s just a piece of plastic with an accidental drawing on it.
The myth of the little mermaid cover banned value persists because collectors love the idea of "forbidden" items. It’s the same energy that surrounds the "misprinted" Pokémon cards or the "black diamond" Disney tapes. People want to believe they are sitting on a gold mine. In reality, these tapes usually sell for about $10 to $20 on a good day. The high-priced listings you see are often just money laundering schemes or people hoping to trick an uninformed buyer who watched a "Top 10 Secret Facts" video.
More Than One Controversy
Interestingly, this wasn't the only time the 1989 film faced "banned" accusations. There was a whole separate hysteria regarding the wedding scene at the end of the movie.
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Remember the bishop?
People claimed that during the wedding of "Vanessa" (Ursula in disguise) and Prince Eric, the bishop gets a little too... excited. Viewers pointed to a suspicious bulge in his robes. This led to actual lawsuits and protests from groups like the American Family Association. Snopes and other fact-checkers eventually debunked this, noting that the "bulge" was actually the character's knobby knees moving under his heavy vestments. If you look at the animation frames, it’s clearly his knees. But in the 90s, the "Satanic Panic" mindset was still lingering, and people were looking for any reason to catch Disney being "subversive."
The Impact on Modern Media
Disney learned a massive lesson from the little mermaid cover banned debacle. They became incredibly protective of their artwork. If you look at modern Disney posters, every inch is scrutinized by layers of legal teams and brand managers. The era of the "freelance accident" is basically over. Everything is digital, everything is layered, and everything is checked for accidental anatomical references.
This incident also shaped how we consume "easter eggs." It turned every Disney fan into a detective. Now, we look for Mickey ears hidden in the clouds of The Lion King (another film that faced "banned" rumors for supposedly having the word "SEX" written in the stars, though the animators claim it said "SFX" as a nod to the special effects department).
The Little Mermaid controversy was the blueprint for the modern "canceled" or "hidden secret" culture. It’s a mix of genuine mistakes, overactive imaginations, and the inherent human desire to find a "dark side" to something innocent.
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How to Tell if You Have the Original Cover
If you’re genuinely curious about whether your old VHS copy is the one that caused the stir, it’s easy to check. Look at the palace.
- Look at the center-most spire, directly behind Ariel and Eric.
- In the original version, the spire has a distinct, rounded head and a shaft that is significantly more detailed than the other towers.
- In the "fixed" version, the spire is a simple, pointed cone that blends into the rest of the architecture.
- Check the box's spine. The "Black Diamond" logo (which says "The Classics") is usually associated with the first runs, though some later "Classics" prints also had the fix.
Real Insights for Collectors
If you are actually looking to collect Disney memorabilia, stop looking at the VHS covers. The market for VHS is almost entirely driven by nostalgia, not actual scarcity. If you want something truly valuable from that era, you should be looking at original production cels or limited edition lithographs signed by Glen Keane (the animator for Ariel).
The little mermaid cover banned story is a piece of cultural history, not a financial investment. It’s a reminder of a time when the world was a little less polished and a little more prone to weird, accidental blunders.
Actionable Steps for Identifying and Handling "Banned" Media:
- Verify the Artwork: Do not rely on eBay titles. Compare your physical copy to high-resolution scans of the 1989 theatrical poster to see the specific architectural differences.
- Check Completed Sales: If you are trying to sell a copy, filter eBay results by "Sold Items." You will see that while people ask for thousands, they actually sell for the price of a sandwich.
- Preserve the Plastic: If you have an original 1990 copy, the value is in the condition of the "clamshell" case. These are prone to yellowing and cracking. Keep it out of direct sunlight.
- Educate Others: Next time someone shares a post about "Disney's secret dirty artists," you can explain the reality of the 4:00 AM deadline and the freelance artist who just wanted to go to sleep.
- Ignore the "Black Diamond" Hype: Understand that "Black Diamond" just means it was part of a specific marketing collection. It does not automatically mean the item is rare or valuable.
The fascination with the little mermaid cover banned artwork won't die because it's a fun story to tell at parties. It’s the ultimate "did you know?" trivia. Just keep your expectations realistic—your old tapes are worth more in memories than they are in dollars.