Ariel

Lore & Background

Ten years after Queen Athena was killed by a pirate ship while retrieving a music box, King Triton banned all music and surface travel in Atlantica. Ariel, the youngest of seven sisters including Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, and Andrina, grew up under this oppressive silence managed by her bitter governess, Marina Del Rey. Driven by frustration with the dull routine, Ariel followed Flounder to a secret underground club where Sebastian and the Catfish Club Band performed in defiance of the King's orders. Instead of exposing them, she joined their ranks after singing 'I Remember,' recalling the happiness music once brought her family. This discovery ignited her resolve to challenge Triton's decision, leading her sisters to join the rebellion before Marina betrayed them to the angry King.

In Their Own Story

After Marina Del Rey exposed the secret music club to an enraged King Triton, he destroyed the venue and imprisoned Sebastian, Flounder, and the band. Ariel and her sisters were confined to the palace, but Ariel could not live without music any longer. She escaped, freeing her friends, and led them to a deserted location where they found Queen Athena's lost music box. Realizing her father had forgotten how to feel happy since Athena's death, Ariel decided to return it to him. When Attina informed Triton of their escape, Marina released electric eels to hunt them down. Confronted by the eels on their way back, Flounder defeated them while Sebastian fought Marina. Just as Triton arrived, Marina attempted to kill an unaware Sebastian; Ariel rushed to protect him, taking a hard hit that knocked her unconscious. As Triton held his dying daughter and heard the music box play, he sang to her, leading to reconciliation and the lifting of the ban.

Reader's Guide

Ariel is characterized as independent and headstrong, serving as the catalyst for restoring music to Atlantica. Her arc begins with secret rebellion against King Triton's decade-long ban, moving from a lonely discovery of an underground club to leading her sisters in defiance. Key moments include singing 'I Remember' to bond with the Catfish Club Band, orchestrating a prison break to free Sebastian and Flounder, and finding her mother's music box. The turning point occurs when she sacrifices herself to save Sebastian from Marina Del Rey's electric eels, an act that shatters Triton's resolve to keep music banned. Her bravery forces her father to acknowledge his grief, resulting in the restoration of music, Sebastian's reinstatement as Court Composer, and the imprisonment of Marina and Benjamin.

Did You Know?

• Samuel E. Wright reprised his role as Sebastian in other media after 2008, including the Disney video game 'Kinect Disneyland Adventures' (2011) and the animated series 'Sofia the First' (2013).
• Jim Cummings replaced Kenneth Mars as King Triton because Mars was unavailable, though official sources do not confirm he was battling cancer at the time.
• The working title for the film was originally The Little Mermaid III: Ariel's Beginning before its release.
• Ariel sings the song 'I Remember' at the underground music club, which serves as a turning point in her acceptance by Sebastian and the band.
• The film received mixed reviews upon release on August 26, 2008, unlike most of Disney's direct-to-video follow-up films.

Ariel's Journey to Restore Music

Set one year prior to the original 1989 classic, this prequel chronicles a young Ariel living under the shadow of her father’s grief-stricken decree. Following the tragic death of Queen Athena at the hands of pirates, King Triton has banned all music and surface contact within Atlantica, creating a joyless atmosphere ruled by strict routine. Ariel, characterized as independent and headstrong, struggles against this oppressive silence while being supervised by the bitter governess Marina Del Rey. Her spirit remains unbroken as she secretly befriends Flounder and discovers an underground music club where Sebastian performs in defiance of the King's orders. Instead of reporting them, Ariel is moved to sing a memory of her mother's love, earning the band's trust. This discovery fuels her resolve to challenge her father’s banishment of joy, leading her to orchestrate a daring escape with her sisters and friends to reclaim the music that once defined their kingdom.

The Conflict with Marina Del Rey

The narrative tension is driven by Marina Del Rey, a new villainess voiced by Sally Field who serves as the mer-princesses' governess. Unlike the kind-hearted assistant Benjamin, Marina resents her role and desperately covets the position of King Triton's attaché, currently held by Sebastian. Her ambition turns malicious when she discovers the secret music club frequented by Ariel and her sisters. Betraying their trust, she exposes the rebellion to an enraged Triton, resulting in the destruction of the club and the imprisonment of the musicians. Marina’s betrayal escalates as she seizes power, ordering electric eels to hunt down Ariel and Sebastian after they flee the palace. Her ultimate downfall occurs during a confrontation where she attempts to kill Sebastian; however, Ariel intervenes to protect her friend, taking a severe blow that nearly costs her life. This act of bravery exposes Marina's treachery, leading to her imprisonment alongside Benjamin in the dungeon.

Voice Cast and Character Evolution

The film features a notable voice cast that bridges generations of Disney animation history. Jodi Benson returns as Ariel, capturing the character's spirited nature even before she becomes the iconic figure from the original film. Samuel E. Wright reprises his role as Sebastian, marking his final film performance before retirement, bringing warmth to the crab who secretly supports the underground music scene. A significant change occurs with King Triton; Jim Cummings takes over the role of the strict ruler from Kenneth Mars, who was unavailable due to illness. Cummings also voices Shelbow, a member of the Catfish Club Band. The dynamic between these characters drives the story, particularly as Sebastian guides Ariel toward her mother's lost music box and helps her understand her father's deep sorrow. Their collective efforts highlight themes of forgiveness and the healing power of art.

Legacy and Production Context

Released directly to video on August 26, 2008, this film serves as the third installment in The Little Mermaid animated trilogy and the final direct-to-video sequel produced before John Lasseter's leadership shift at Disney Animation. Produced by Disneytoon Studios with animation by Toon City Animation Inc., it stands as a unique entry based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale and the earlier television series. Unlike its predecessors, the film received mixed reviews upon release, reflecting the challenges of continuing beloved franchises in a direct-to-video format. Despite this, it holds historical significance as the first chronological story in the series' timeline, exploring the origins of Triton's ban on music. The narrative concludes with a reconciliation between father and daughter, lifting the decade-long silence and reinstating Sebastian as the Court Composer, effectively setting the stage for the events of the original 1989 masterpiece.