Yes, and Disney took the criticism about Ariel in stride and made Beauty and the Beast, about a studious bookworm resistant to the charms of boys. Still firmly in the 90’s.
The princess in Beauty and the Beast exists to redeem, civilize, and forgive someone who has kidnapped her family.
This is not a narrative I find more compelling for my daughter than a mermaid trading her voice away to have the opportunity to seduce a sailor prince.
Young, beautiful girl runs into conflict because ____. Foolishly and/or impulsively, she attempts to solve the problem herself by ___, but of course she is too weak to do so. Luckily, she is saved by the charming man, who resolves the problem by ____.
Wrap it around details of a fairy tale and bam: $300M+ profit.