10 Brothers Grimm Tales Which Disney Should Adapt

Plot: When her husband is kidnapped by a Nixie (a water creature similar to a mermaid) a woman uses various magic items to win him back.

In recent years, Disney’s animated films have tended to deconstruct or discard their traditional emphasis on “true love”, as rushed relationships have fallen out of fashion in a more responsible age. However, The Nixie of the Millpond could allow Disney to return to romantic tales. In contrast to the conventional stories about falling in love, The Nixie of the Millpond instead emphasises the challenges faced trying to preserve a relationship in the face of adversity. The protagonists certainly love each other but are forcibly separated by the titular Nixie. When fate finally brings them back together, it really feels earned.

Despite all the romantic focus, this is still a tale dominated by interesting females. The female partner is the one doing all the hard work to save her husband, and a mysterious old witch gives her invaluable support. Also memorable is the water-dwelling antagonist. The Little Mermaid was released over three decades ago, and a mermaid villain could provide an interesting counterpoint to the feisty but heroic mermaid tropes popularised by Ariel all those years ago. An old-fashioned romance which is well suited to modern views on romance, The Nixie of the Millpond could allow Disney to take a more mature approach to relationships.