The Little Mermaid (1989)
Theatrical Release date: November 15, 1989
Theatrical re-releases: November 26, 1997
Classic Release: May 18, 1990 - VHS 913 - dropped 1990
Notes: "The Little Mermaid" was the only Black Diamond edition in circulation for less than a year. The cover art was banned and the video was dropped because of controversy. At least 2 copies of the videocassette were produced. One, with a white label and a vertical yellow title, and another with no label, but a painted white title on the cassette. Pictured above. Although the video was for sale for a very short time in 1990, The Little Mermaid was one of the best selling Disney Home Videos, with 7.5 million copied sold by July 30th of the same year. Details in article below. The Little Mermaid earned Buena Vista Home Video awards at the 20th annual Key Art Awards in 1990. Details in article below:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Little Mermaid's message: videos a year-round hit. (Richard Cohen, executive vice president of Buena Vista Home Video sees year round sales of videos at supermarkets)

Supermarket News; 7/30/1990; Simmons, Tim

BURBANK, Calif. - Is The Little Mermaid trying to tell us something about the home video business?

Richard Cohen, executive vice president, Buena Vista Home Video, a division of Walt Disney Co., certainly thinks so. He believes the retail success of his company's movie, The Little Mermaid, is a powerful indication of just how strong the videocassette sell-through market is on a year-round basis.

The animated feature film was released for retail sale in May, and more than 7.5 million cassettes have been shipped.

'Mermaid' and 'Turtles' take high honors in promotional art. (the 20th Annual Key Art Awards; "The Little Mermaid" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: the Movie" among the winners) (Brief Article)

Video Business; 8/30/1991; Fitzpatrick, Eileen

Buena Vista Home Video and LIVE Home Entertainment took the most honors in the 20th Annual Key Art Awards, which recognize excellence in movie advertising and promotion. Buena Vista won five awards: first and second place in the standee category for The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, respectively; first place and second place, trade print advertising category, for The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle: Mona Moose and The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle: The Birth of Bullwinkle, respectively; and second place, video packaging, for Peter Pan.