"Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid" is a 1975 anime adaptation of the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The story centers on Marina, a young mermaid princess who becomes fascinated with the human world after saving a prince named Walter from a shipwreck. Against the warnings of her father, the Sea King, and her grandmother, Marina makes a pact with the Sea Witch, exchanging her voice for human legs. The condition is that she must win Walter's love within three days or she will perish and turn into sea foam. Marina endures immense physical pain as her tail transforms into legs, and every step she takes feels like walking on knives. Despite her inability to speak, she captivates Walter with her beauty and grace. However, Walter remains unaware of her true identity and the sacrifices she has made. A neighboring princess, who mistakenly believes she was the one who saved Walter, becomes a rival for his affection. Marina’s inability to communicate her feelings and the growing bond between Walter and the princess create a tragic tension. As the deadline approaches, Marina’s sisters intervene, offering her a dagger obtained from the Sea Witch. They reveal that if Marina kills Walter, she can return to the sea and regain her mermaid form. Torn between her love for Walter and her desire to survive, Marina ultimately chooses to spare his life. In the end, she dissolves into sea foam, but her selfless act transforms her into a spirit of the air, granting her a chance to earn an immortal soul through good deeds. The anime stays true to the original fairy tale’s melancholic tone, emphasizing themes of unrequited love, sacrifice, and the longing for an unattainable world. Marina’s journey is marked by her unwavering determination and the emotional weight of her choices, while Walter’s obliviousness and the Sea Witch’s cunning add layers of conflict. The narrative explores the consequences of Marina’s decisions, blending fantasy elements with a poignant exploration of human emotions and the cost of pursuing one’s dreams.