Disney's Morgana: The Shadow of Ursula

In the entertainment business, cartoon characters are treated as real celebrities and public figures with full careers and accolades to match.

Morgana is the younger sister of the iconic Disney Villian, Ursula (the only female antagonist during The Disney Renaissance period from 1989 to 1999). She first appeared as the main antagonist in the 2000 direct-to-video sequel to 1989's Disney classic, The Little Mermaid. 

Due to her death in the original film, Ursula does not appear in the sequel. Morgana takes her place as the villian in the continued storyline in the second film, Return to the Sea.

Ursula is mentioned many times in the sequel, mostly by Morgana. Her image does appear in a photograph that Morgana has of Ursula. All throughout the film Morgana describes how Ursula was the favorite of their mother. As revealed in the special edition of the film, when Morgana was young, she was shown to have often been criticized by her mother for not being as talented as her older sister, Ursula, whom her mother preferred.

In real life it also seems that, everyone involved with the making of both the films heavily and unfairly favored Ursula as well. When it came to Morgana, she received an considerable lack of respect as well. She was written into the sequel's plot as a failed sorceress as a vast contrast to Ursula's perfection of magic potions and witchcraft. Also, she had a song called, "Gonna Get My Wish", which was cut from the final film edit. However, Ursula's song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" has m been certified gold by the RIAA since its release and covered by the Jonas Brothers. That song being featured on a soundtrack that has been certified multi-Platinum worldwide.

Morgana is not officially affiliated with the Disney Villains franchise like her sister. Although, she would somewhat be considered maybe a "minor villain" of sorts, she has appeared on the official Instagram account for Disney Villains. Once on August 5, 2018 for National Sisters Day. Another post featuring Morgana was posted April 10, 2019 for National Siblings Day.

Although Morgana is similar to villain like her sister and Maleficent, she really holds no significant place in the hearts and minds of any who knows of her.

In terms of Disney characters, Morgana may not have reached the same level of success or popularity as her sister Ursula due to a variety of reasons. Here are a few factors that could have played a role:

1. Character Development: Ursula was introduced as the iconic villain in the classic Disney movie The Little Mermaid, while Morgana appeared as the antagonist in its direct-to-video sequel, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. The first movie had a much larger impact and established Ursula as a memorable character, giving her a head start in terms of popularity and recognition.

 

2. Storyline and Screen Time: Ursula had a more substantial role in her movie, with a compelling storyline and memorable scenes that left a lasting impression on audiences. On the other hand, Morgana's character may not have received the same level of development, leaving her with less screen time and limited opportunities to resonate with viewers.

 

3. Marketing and Merchandising: Ursula's popularity has been sustained through her inclusion in various Disney merchandise, theme park attractions, and subsequent adaptations. Morgana, being a secondary character in a direct-to-video sequel, may not have received the same level of promotion and exposure, which could have affected her chances of achieving widespread recognition.

 

It's important to note that success and popularity can vary based on audience reception, franchise decisions, and various other factors. While Morgana may not have reached the same level of fame as Ursula, it doesn't diminish her character's potential or appeal.

In fact she has made a bit of difference in her own right. She is the first Disney villain in a Disney film or project to be the sibling of another Disney villain. The second one may have been Nasira as she was revealed to have been the twin sister of Jafar in the Aladdin video game Nasira's Revenge.

Morgana also marked the last animated role of Pat Carroll (not counting reprisals of Ursula whom she also voiced), before her death on July 31, 2022.

In conclusion, Morgana was catapulted directly into the shadow of her older sister. Not to mention, in a lesser and more negative light to say the least. Disney never attempted to use her an any other way than to play a small part in helping build upon an already well established franchise. This article is not to compare Ursula with Morgana despite their relation and similarity. However, simply put, Morgana deserved better!