Bob GarverSpecial to the Valley NewsBack in 1989, the animated version of “The Little Mermaid” ushered in what came to be known as the “Disney Renaissance,” an era of creative and commercial prosperity where the company reclaimed its position as the king of animated family entertainment. Now in 2023, the company is looking to a live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” to put it back on top of that mountain, minus the animation. Sure, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is doing well, but the studio hasn’t really been connecting with younger audiences lately, at least not at the box office. The pandemic forced “Soul,” “Luca” and “Turning Red” to go directly to streaming. “Raya and the Last Dragon” opened too soon after theaters reopened to be a blockbuster
