explanation of URSULA'S dress...?

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:03pm

so my genius boyfriend just pointed out that Sherie's costume was probably inspired by the vampire squid, an animal that has spikey tentacles unlike the usual suction cups.....after looking at some pics of this scary animal, I'm convinced Tatiana used this as her basis for the tentacles. Just thought I'd share cause this made me like her costume SO much more!!!



Updated On: 12/6/07 at 11:03 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:05pm

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=vampire+squid&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:07pm

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:17pm

....ewww.

And awesome.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:23pm

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/39007/vampire_octopus/

I just found that super cool link all by myself. Look at it, it's totally Ursula!!!

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 11:29pm

Yes the vampire squid is truly and amazing creature (one of my all time favourite squid), however it would seem odd that a costume designer would get their inspiration from this creature (not to mention its a squid not an octopus), but yes the tentacles do remind me of ursula's costume.... too bad its not quite as cool as mother nature designed it.
Updated On: 12/7/07 at 11:29 PM

[Rocky Horror]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 4:44pm

Aaactually, Ursula is a squid, haha. 6 tentacles.

I can see how you'd think Tatiana got her inspiration from here, but Ursula twice mentions her suction cups. So either they're being inaccurate or she's just not based off this particular squid. Ha, I look far too deeply into things!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 4:51pm

I love when Sherie raises the skirt and all the tentacles are raised around her.

Regardless of all those who hate the costume -- I don't think it could have been improved upon. It looks spectacular and Sherie works it like one amazing prop.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 4:52pm

Great, so we've figured out where the inspiration may have from. It's still freakin' ugly.

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 04:52 PM

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 5:31pm

"Aaactually, Ursula is a squid, haha. 6 tentacles."


squid typically have 10 tentacles NOT 6...

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 05:31 PM

[Rypm25]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 5:37pm

Pat Carrol even states on The Little Mermaid DVD that Ursula is indeed..a squid. Not an octopus..so that makes sense.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 5:46pm

well it doesn't make sense according to fact... however if Pat Carrol states that, who am I to defy it? I always assumed she was an octopus because she really doesn't have the general shape or appearance of a squid, however according to general cepholopod anatomy she is neither squid nor octopus...







To me, Ursula (in the movie) resembles the latter more than the former.






Updated On: 12/7/07 at 05:46 PM

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 6:02pm

I agree. I've always thought of Ursula as an octopus. The reality is that both octopus and squid have eight "arms". But, squid have two "tentacles" in addition to their eight "arms".

So, if she's a squid, the dress should have eight arms and Sherie's arms would be the tentacles, which are used by the squid to shoot out and grab things. Though the dress/costume fits the look of an octopus, not a squid. A squid does not flare out its arms like Sherie does when she works her dress, an octopus would.

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 06:02 PM

[PotO2]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 6:55pm

I think people are thinking way to deeply about this. XD It's just a costume that happens to resemble a vampire squid that may have been the *inspiration* for the costume, not an exact replica.

If you want to get technical, she could be BOTH (in the Broadway show anyway). She goes from being a squid at one point, to being an octopus at another; two examples are that she is an octopus during I Want the Good Times Back (with eight arms) and a squid in Poor Unfortunate Souls (with eight arms, two tentacles). Now, you did say that a squid wouldn't behave like that, but look at the vampire squid- it flared out it's arms to form a protective coat around itself.

Honestly though, it's debatable (not that it should be debated, being only a costume), and I doubt there will ever be a *right* answer.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 9:04pm

For some reason I am voting for a Vampire Squid outfit verses the new Ursula look. Sorry, it could be more stunning and a whole lot more convincing if it was better designed.

I can hardly see the resemblance. Way too many ruffles for even a Vampire Squid. That look though would have been awesome if done right. Too bad. Still an ugly pinata, bad plant eating sculpture to me.

Of course the "designer" has the right answer. Unfortunately I cannot appreciate her work on this costume at least.
Updated On: 12/8/07 at 09:04 PM

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:28pm

Yes, artscallion is right on the money!

It's really impossible to say which she is because the fact of the matter is neither have 6...

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:40pm

i'd like to think that it's a combo of diff. things, after all, she's definately part human....I just like the fact that the designer chose spiky tentacles as they look more threatening to me than round suction cups:)

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 11:48am

How many tentacles does Ursula have in the show? Do Sherie's arms count as tenctacles, or are her arms just...arms?

[PotO2]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 12:50pm

Well, her *costume* has eight arms at one point and six arms at one point. Not sure about the tentacle part, as there is no way to tell.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 3:41pm

At what points do her number of tentacles change?

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 3:59pm

"I Want the Good Times Back" - 6 tentacles hanging off the main part of the costume

"Poor Unfortunate Souls" - 8 tentacle dress

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 5:06pm

I thought even thought the site caption for this (^) says "Good Times Back", I thought it was from "Unfortunate Souls".

[Trap-Door Lover]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 5:11pm

On the TLM dvd, Pat Caroll jokingly explains that in the movie Ursula only has six tentacles because it was cheaper to animate. She calls Ursula a squid.