Melody grows up as an ordinary human princess, unaware of her Atlantican ancestry, and banned from entering the sea. Despite the ban, she is subconsciously drawn to the sea due to her mermaid half constantly resurfacing regardless of how deep
So, why the change? One theory is that each of Ariel's sisters represents different oceans that are home to various cultures and ethnicities. It's pretty problematic to have mermaids who all look the same representing such an expansive underwater world.
In the movie "The Little Mermaid", why is Ariel a white girl? Because it is a Hans Christian Andersen Danish fairy tale that the movie is based on. Danish people are white and therefore so is The Little Mermaid as the story was written. In the first illustrated edition, The Little Mermaid is a blonde and not a redhead.
On the significance of casting a Black actress as Ariel
Sherri Hope Culver: To have a Disney character who is not just a princess but a live-action, real flesh and blood person that children can be inspired by is important. This is because people of color are less likely to see themselves reflected in the media.
But, the casting has its critics as well, who argue Disney's original mermaid in the 1989 animated film — who was white — more accurately represented the character in Hans Christian Andersen's story. There are a lot of folklore tales about Black mermaids, though, and that mythology dates back hundreds of years.
Ursula was played by Melissa McCarthy in the 2023 live action remake of The Little Mermaid, directed by Rob Marshall. In this version, like with the Broadway musical, Ursula is the estranged younger sister of King Triton (played by Javier Bardem), thus making her the paternal aunt to Ariel and her sisters in this film.
When Morgana escapes, Ariel decides that until Morgana is found, the sea would be too dangerous for Melody and vows to keep all knowledge of the sea from her, including her grandfather, late grandmother, and her aunts. Ariel, heartbroken, gives her father the locket he had given to Melody.
Triton's seven daughters represent the seven seas, so it makes sense that the women who mothered them would be as different as the oceans.
The theory surmises that the seven daughters of King Triton represent the Seven Seas known to the human world, with Ariel herself representing the Red Sea…for obvious reasons.
Queen Athena was the wife of King Triton, and the mother of Ariel and her six older sisters. She was the Queen of Atlantica, and beloved by her family and subjects. She was noted for her singing talent and her love of music. She and Triton had been the best of friends ever since their childhood.
Ariel and Eric
Ariel was just 16 in The Little Mermaid when she made a deal with the sea witch Ursula so she could pursue Prince Eric, who was 18, on the land!
Snow White is only 14 years old, making her the youngest. Jasmine, who is supposed to be 15, is the second youngest. Cinderella and Tiana are the oldest, both 19 years old.
Snow White and Rapunzel are German. Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle are French. Ariel is Danish. Merida is Scottish.
Ursula's original design was inspired by many different sea creatures, including scorpion fish and manta rays, before director Ron Clements decided to base the character on an octopus. However, to make the animation process cheaper and faster, her tentacles were reduced from eight to six.
Ursula's drag roots
Specifically, Divine, the drag alter ego of Harris Glenn Milstead. Rob Minkoff, the original movie's animator, told Vogue that it seemed like a “funny and quirky idea” to “take (Ursula) and treat her more like a drag queen.”
Ursula is a feminine name of Latin origin, imploring caution against quick assumptions. Translated from the Latin ursa, Ursela means "little she-bear"—adding a notable vulnerability to an otherwise ferocious being.
Inspired by Polynesian mythology, Moana is depicted as the strong-willed daughter of a chief of a Polynesian village, who is chosen by the ocean itself to reunite a mystical relic with the goddess Te Fiti.
Tiana is notable for being Disney's first black princess. The studio's decision to create a black heroine was met with mixed reception.
Halle Bailey takes on the lead role of Ariel, the curious and enchanting youngest daughter of King Triton. Bailey, a talented singer-songwriter and actress, has garnered five Grammy nominations for her musical contributions.