Fairytale-like love stories are definitely a guilty pleasure for many. Here’s one you won’t even feel guilty for enjoying. A simple heartwarming story in combination with a unique type of illustration – this is what makes the internet a better place.

A talented Ukrainian artist Andy Ivanov created a touching mermaid story called “May, the Mermaid of Lily Lake” that has quickly become a hit on the internet. He captivated the attention of his over 200,000 followers by sharing one piece of the beautiful story at a time, leaving thousands of people holding their breath until the next episode. In addition to artistic storytelling, exquisite digital artwork is very eye-pleasing.

In the context of the recent quarrel between devoted fans of the iconic “The Little Mermaid” about the casting choices for the live-action remake and harsh discussions on whether Ariel should be black or white, this artist probably thought – “Why not green?” And we couldn’t agree more. It appears that green suits mermaids perfectly. There are no boundaries and rules when it comes to expressing your drawing ideas and it results in fascinating artwork.

More info: Instagram | artstation.com

Image credits: andivart

“Hello!”

Image credits: andivart

“Oh no!”

Image credits: andivart

“Please, live… I’ll bring you a Petal of life”

Image credits: andivart

“Do you see this beast?”

Image credits: andivart

“Got caught!”

Image credits: andivart

“Good job, boy! We got her!”

Image credits: andivart

“What have I done?… She will not survive in captivity… I must somehow help her…”

Image credits: andivart

“I’ll bring you home…”

Image credits: andivart

“- I’m so, so sorry… Please be free again. – Hey boy! Do not do what you want to do, or I’ll shoot you!”

Image credits: andivart

“Bang!”

Image credits: andivart

“Petal of Life… I kept it in my hand, from the beginning”

Image credits: andivart

“You will live, you will live…”

Image credits: andivart

Image credits: andivart

Image credits: andivart

Mermaids have fascinated mankind for as long as we can remember. The very first myths about merfolk originated around 1000 BC: Ancient Syrians had a goddess who turned into a fish when she jumped into a lake. However, only her bottom half turned into a fish because she was so beautiful.

The legendary Christopher Columbus said he saw mermaids near Haiti in 1493. He added that, in his opinion, they were “not as pretty” as widely reported, and looked a lot like men. While Captain John Smith claimed he spotted a green-haired mermaid in 1614 near Newfoundland. The captain fell in love with her at first sight. That is until he realized she was part fish. Scientists believe that what sailors take to be mermaids are actually manatees and dugongs. But some of us still believe real mermaids are still out there.

The concept artist and cartoonist Ivanov created this little story idea for the #MerMay challenge, a month-long celebration of creativity, community, and mermaids, obviously. Artists from all over the world create beautiful drawings inspired by one of the most charming characters. A month full of mermaids? Sounds too good to be true. People were instantly so impressed with Ivanov’s beautiful story, and they demanded it to be turned into an animated movie. So behold, Disney, we are ready for a new green princess of the sea!

Would you like to see “May, the Mermaid of Lily Lake” on the big screen?

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