The Corner Penthouse

I just picked up the complete set of 3 The Little Mermaid VHS Movie Character Collectible Figures - Ariel, Eric, and Ursula - that were manufactured by Basic Fun in 2022. Read on to find out more...

There are nine of these "Movie Character Collectible Figures", each in a VHS-style case that opens to reveal the figure in front of a display background. The line includes three for The Little Mermaid (Ariel, Eric, and Ursula), three for Aladdin (Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie), and three for Cinderella (Cinderella, Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother). The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney animated film of my childhood (though I don't agree with the film's message), so when I found two of the figures in a recent shopping trip for $10 each, I excitedly bought both of them. I paid another $15 for Ariel through an online second-hand marketplace. In total, the set cost me about $35. Had I known what the figures looked like inside, I would not have bought any of them.

Before I get to showing you why I feel that way, let's look at the outside. The exterior case, which measures 3.75"x5.25"x2", is designed to look like the original clamshell VHS case from the early 1990s.


Yes, the original The Little Mermaid clamshell VHS case has the infamous "penis spire", which actually pre-dates the VHS release. I have that same artwork on a framed poster from 1989. Here, the "offending" spire has been altered. (Original on the left, figure case on the right)


Each figure is roughly 3.5" tall and sits on a videocassette stand, while there is also a videocassette printed on the left side of the backdrop (not seen in the photo below).


From far away, the figures look really good. The whole display inside looks really nice, especially if you grew up in the Disney Clamshell VHS era. Unfortunately, once you get up close and personal, the figures look anything but nice. Ursula looks pretty good, and is definitely the best of the three, though it's hardly a perfect paint job.


Ariel needs to learn how to apply her lipstick better. She also has smudges on her forehead, nose, and chin. Her tail is spotty, too. (See the tail in the uncropped enlarged photo.)


I thought Ariel was the worst until I locked eyes on her husband, Prince Eric. Holy crap! That is the dirt worst paint job I have ever seen on a collectible figure. Where to begin? The hair isn't completely painted; male pattern baldness? His eyes point in different directions. He also has a smudge on his nose, and dirt on his forearms. (See the uncropped enlarged photo for the arms.)


Honestly, given the price that I paid for these three figures, I expected a better paint job on all three of them. I feel so bad for anyone who pays much more than $35 for the set. Some eBay scalpers charge just that much for ONE of them!

Before I opened these up, I gave thought to buying the other six in the series (three Aladdin and three Cinderella). However, if they also share the shitty paint jobs that these figures have, I won't bother.