The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

About The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, released in 2008, is a prequel to the Disney original classic, The Little Mermaid. The film, directed by Peggy Holmes, explores the life of Ariel before she became a human and reveals the motivation behind her fascination with the human world. After the death of Queen Athena, King Triton bans music from the Kingdom of Atlantica. The story revolves around Ariel's challenging journey to bring back music to the kingdom.

Making/Production

The film was produced by DisneyToon Studios and released directly to DVD by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The making of the movie involves traditional animation, a departure from the original film's use of both traditional animation and CGI. The animation team worked hard to capture the unique undersea environments and lively characters of Atlantica.

Actors

• Jodi Benson as Ariel - Bringing the iconic character to life yet again, Benson’s portrayal is both charming and rebellious, highlighting Ariel's love for music and adventure.
• Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian - With his distinctive voice, Wright perfectly embodies the essence of the panicky and caring Sebastian, adding depth to the character.
• Sally Field as Marina Del Rey - Voicing the movie's antagonist, Field brings an enjoyable mix of sass and villainy to the role.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The film was initially titled, "The Little Mermaid III".
• It is the only movie in The Little Mermaid franchise that does not feature humans.
• This film marks the first time that King Triton is shown as a young merman.

Quotes

• "Music's kinda catchy, don't ya think?" - Ariel
• "Waking or sleeping, I cannot escape you, you song." - Sebastian

Music, Soundtrack

• "Athena's Song" - Music is a key part of this film and the opening song perfectly sets the tone
• "Just One Mistake" - Marina Del Rey’s villain song, full of sass and drama
• "Jump In The Line (Shake Senora)" - A lively, catchy piece that brings the fun of underwater adventure