There are many things I love in this life. Cats, a good cup of coffee, the beach…. But I also really love Disney Princess movies, as I’m sure many other people do as well. I mean, what’s not to love? Singing and dancing and romance? Yeah, the romantic dreamer in me just can’t get enough of that cotton candy fluff. So which, you ask, is the best Disney Princess movie? Well, after some very long deliberation and a very close competition (Sorry "Beauty and the Beast!"), I’m just going to say it: "The Little Mermaid"

Now, I’m not going into this without a good critical eye. I did take a gender studies class and specifically studied "The Little Mermaid" (both the Disney version and the Hans Christian Andersen version). I know there are issues with a woman trying to get a man to fall in love with her only through body language, but really there is so much more to this beautiful story (Disney version)!

First, the music is absolutely groovy and swoon-worthy. Sure, if you’re looking for a group jam, you may be more inclined to sing a song from "Mulan," but if you want a fun, tropical feel Under the Sea is the perfect song for the job! Feeling a little stir-crazy and wishing you could be somewhere else? Part of Your World will give you all the feels and goosebumps. And if you’re just as much of a die-hard romantic like myself, then you probably know all the words to "Kiss the Girl."

I think if there is one lesson, aside from the obvious “True love conquers all”, that really speaks to fans of this film, it’s the display of true friendship that we get to see throughout this film. If it weren’t for Flounder helping Ariel to the ship to crash Eric’s wedding, the two lovebirds may have never ended up together. And let’s not even mention Sebastian’s musical skill in the iconic scene on the little row-boat. Scully helps Ariel understand (though he may often be misinformed) the outside world and, I would argue, plays a huge role in Ariel’s desire and love for the human experience. Ariel has some really supportive friends that stick with her throughout this crazy and, for Sebastian, near-deadly experience. We all need friends like that, no?

Ariel’s father has always been a huge soft spot for me in this film because he always reminded me of my own dad. Oftentimes in Disney films either the parents are dead or they are just plain dumb/absent. King Triton it neither of those things. He plays the role of father in a way that shows he is not only the King of the ocean, but a struggling single-father trying not to mess up raising his teenage daughters. He makes his mistakes and probably needs to work on his anger management, but ultimately he just wants to keep his daughters safe and happy. In the end, love wins out and King Triton says goodbye to Ariel because he knows how important her happiness is. Seriously, I’m getting all choked up just thinking about it now!

There’s something kind of magical about "The Little Mermaid" and I’m not just talking about it being a Disney film. There’s a bit of an undertone that speaks to people on almost an elemental level. To say this is a “coming-of-age” film is really a big understatement. Ariel, being the sixteen year old mermaid she is, falls for the forbidden love. Not only that, but it is love at first sight. Eric doesn’t have a lot of character development here, which begs the question: what is this movie really about? Sure, it may be just a love story to many, but to some it is about so much more. This movie shows that life is really about making decisions, and while some decisions may not be well made, it is all part of the journey that makes a person who they are. Ariel could have stayed in the ocean and married a merman and gone on with her life, but she didn’t. She didn’t leave just for Eric, she left for all of it. She gave up her best asset, her voice. It clearly had to be a terrifying experience, but she did it. Those kinds of decisions are what give life a little spice. "The Little Mermaid" isn’t just a love story, it’s about self-advocacy and making decisions for oneself that, although may be selfish at times, are ultimately decisions that fundamentally and irreversibly change the trajectory of a life in progress.