Disney Junior has released the first official teaser for “Ariel,” its upcoming series based on “The Little Mermaid,” and it features an iconic Disney villain like you’ve never seen her before.
The Details
Set in the fantastical Caribbean-inspired underwater kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows young mermaid princess Ariel as she embarks on fun-filled, action-packed mermaid adventures with her friends.
Driven by a deep and unending curiosity about the world around her, Ariel discovers land treasures, like a big floppy hat, squeaky rubber ducky and whisk, that she collects and keeps safe in her crystal cavern.
Sometimes, Ariel even uses the treasures to help solve problems.
Throughout the series, the multicultural diversity of the Caribbean is also highlighted through music, food, festivals, fashion, language, and folklore.
It features fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder, as well as exciting new additions like Ariel’s two best friends, mer-children Lucia and Fernie, and lots of other adorable sea creatures
In previous Disney incarnations of Ariel and Ursula, the two have been at odds with each other, with the latter known as a Disney villain.
But in Disney Junior’s “Ariel,” Ursula is actually a mentor to young Ariel, and her aunt, as well.
“Fathoms Below,” the opening song in 1989’s “The Little Mermaid,” originally contained a verse that established Ursula as King Triton’s sister, but the song was ultimately cut down for time. It wasn’t until “The Little Mermaid” came to Broadway in 2007 that Ursula was formally acknowledged as Ariel’s aunt, a connection that was also present in the 2023 live-action film.
It’s an interesting way to make a major character in the story not so scary for a pre-school audience.
Ariel’s voice cast includes Mykal-Michelle Harris (“Raven’s Home”) as the titular mermaid, Taye Diggs (“All American”) as King Triton and Amber Riley (“Glee”) as Ursula.
Disney Junior’s “Ariel” is scheduled to debut this summer on the network, and is executive produced by Lynne Southerland (“Mulan II,” “Happily Ever After”).
It was first announced in 2023 during the Annecy International Film Festival.
The Trailer
Meet young Ariel and her friends who love learning and exploring, especially under the tutelage of Ursula, who runs a magic camp.