Perhaps this is where they got Ariel's look?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Little Mermaid
atomicseasoning — 9 years ago(November 27, 2016 03:41 PM)
Based on conversations they had with the Disney animators back in the late 80s - early 90s, they claimed that the stereotype for a mermaid back in the 1980s was slim, blonde, etc., like Darryl Hannah in the 1984 movie Splash. Then I think one of the guys mentioned how they wanted to go for something different and made 'Ariel' a redhead.
Interestingly though, after watching an old TV commercials from the 1980s & searching 'Sea Wees' (mini mermaid doll toy sets which were produced from 1979-85), I came across this set of dolls on eBay, particularly this doll named 'Coral' who originally debuted in 1979! (A full decade before Disney's 'Ariel' the Little Mermaid debuted in the theaters.)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CyTiq0iVEAECArx.jpg -
Andthatismytwocents — 9 years ago(November 27, 2016 05:19 PM)
The Classic's Illustrated Comic off the fifties ALSO had a red headed Mermaid with a green tail
Also Louis Solboken Known for the Spaceship Under The Apple Tree series
also wrote a story The Mermaid Who Could Not Sing
Cynthia the mermaid looks like
