The Good: Amazing balance, Decent sculpted details, Collectible value, Good coloring
The Bad: Seam on one leg.
The Basics: The 2017 "Ursula" ornament from The Little Mermaid is almost perfect, making it a great argument for future limited edition Disney villain ornaments!
For years, I have been reviewing Hallmark ornaments and from almost the first moment I began reviewing the Disney Hallmark ornament line, I have lamented the plethora of Disney princesses and companion ornaments without any real villains. Long, long ago, Hallmark mortgaged the idea that genre fans had to have Christmas trees that were exclusively populated by protagonists - Darth Vader, The Emperor and Khan from Star Trek easily saw to that. So, the idea that Disney villains have not been the subject of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments has been an issue with me. I most frequently mentioned my disappointment in the lack of Disney villains when I would review the annual Hallmark ornament that was inevitably focused on Ariel from The Little Mermaid. I have long advocated that Hallmark should produce an Ursula or King Trident ornament.
Finally, in 2017, Hallmark showed they were listening! I decided to reward that responsiveness with dedicating my first Hallmark ornament review of the 2017 ornament season being the new, limited edition Ursula ornament!
For those unfamiliar with The Little Mermaid (reviewed here!), Ursula is the primary villain in the film. She is the sea witch who tempts Ariel with a Faustian bargain - legs and the ability to live on land in exchange for the mermaid's voice if she is unable to get a kiss. Ursula is half woman, half octopus with a sly demeanor and a wicked smile.
Sharon Visker sculpted the limited edition Ursula ornament and the ornament is the devious character on her own.
Basics
The "Ursula" ornament recreates the sea witch Ursula in a pose that implies that she is singing or laughing. The ornament, released in 2017 as a limited edition ornament, is an incredible sculpt of Ursula and is instantly recognizable to anyone who loves The Little Mermaid.
Measuring three and one-quarter inches tall by three and a half inches wide by two and a half inches deep, the "Ursula" ornament is a slightly smaller than most of the Disney ornaments, though it is a little bigger than some of the Ariel ornaments in recent years, which is nice. At only $15.95, it is one of the more comparatively expensive Disney ornaments for its size.
The Hallmark The Little Mermaid "Ursula" ornament is made of durable plastic and features Ursula on her own. The character ornament features spiked white hair and a giant smile. Ursula has six tentacles and Hallmark's attention to detail was so impressive that the tentacles have little suckers on them! Ursula's teeth are actually sculpted in, which is impressive - especially when one looks at her head from the side. The sculpted details are augmented by the sharp and accurate cut of Ursula's nose and the shell on her necklace! The real amazing aspect of the sculpted detailing is the fact that Ursula's dress and legs are textured exceptionally subtly - like squid skin - while her human flesh is perfectly smooth!
Honestly, the only thing that robs the 2017 Ursula ornament of a perfect rating is the lone tentacle that is clearly attached and has a deep seam on the top. The underside of the ornament has a seam where the bottom was attached, but that is only visibly by truly looking for it. From the front, the ornament's one seamed tentacle can be fairly easily observed.
The coloring for the Ursula ornament is perfect. Ursula was colored in the film The Little Mermaid in monotones and Hallmark got them perfectly right. The lines are sharp for Ursula's lips, the necklace and shell on it. Hallmark even painted Ursula's bright red fingernails with remarkable precision!
Features
As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, The Little Mermaid "Ursula" could have a sound or light function, but Hallmark opted to make a less-expensive ornament option for fans of The Little Mermaid instead of augmenting it with a feature.
Balance
As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake The Little Mermaid "Ursula" ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Disney movie Christmas Tree, the "Ursula" ornament is a great addition! The ornament has the standard steel hook loop embedded into the top center of Ursula's head. The upswept bangs of the Disney villainess hides the hook loop well. Fortunately, from that point, the ornament is perfectly balanced. Ursula's tentacles essentially create a base and that base is perfectly level when using the hook loop on the ornament!
Collectibility
Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition original U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (reviewed here!). Within a few years, every major franchise from Star Wars to A Nightmare Before Christmas to Indiana Jones started making Hallmark ornaments. "Ursula" is one of many The Little Mermaid ornaments the company has released and one of several Disney ornaments on the market for 2017. This ornament is a limited edition and the first real villain ornament, making it a virtually guaranteed sell-out for Disney and Hallmark ornament fans.
Overview
Fans of The Little Mermaid, Disney, Ursula, and Hallmark ornaments are likely to love the The Little Mermaid Ursula ornament, despite the minor seam issue. If that is the only genuine problem, fans have a lot to be thrilled about with the ornament. This is a must-buy for Disney and The Little Mermaid fans!
This is an ornament I proudly sell in my online store. For my current inventory of them, please check out my Ursula Ornament Inventory!
For other Disney's The Little Mermaid Hallmark ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2016 Under The Sea ornament
2015 Ariel's Thingamabobs ornament
2014 The Little Mermaid 25th Anniversary ornament
2013 Under The Sea The Little Mermaid
2013 Ariel's Big Dream The Little Mermaid ornament
9.5/10
For other ornament reviews, please visit my Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!
© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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