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Goodbye, Jodi Benson and Halle Bailey – there’s a new Little Mermaid in town.
It’s been 35 years since The Little Mermaid (1989) made a splash at the box office, which means it’s officially been three and a half decades since we were first introduced to Ariel.
Known for her striking red hair, bright personality, and adventurous spirit, Ariel is captivated by human life (and the dashing Prince Eric) and longs to experience it firsthand – something that ultimately leads to her giving her voice to the evil sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll).
Credit: Disney
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Ariel is one of Disney’s most popular princesses, but it’s her voice actress, Jodi Benson, who brings the character to life. Benson brings a unique charm and warmth to the character, and her performance helps define Ariel as a spirited, adventurous young woman who simply longs to be “Part of Your World.”
Benson – who famously also provided the voice of Barbie in the Toy Story franchise – reprised the role of Ariel for both the film’s sequel, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), and prequel, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008), which is a rarity in the world of Disney.
She also remains a firm fixture at Disney’s theme parks, having provided additional voice work for attractions such as Mickey’s PhilharMagic and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
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But while Benson’s voice may be the voice most commonly associated with Ariel, she’s not the only actress to take on the role. Last year, Disney continued its streak of live-action adaptations with the release of The Little Mermaid (2023). Directed by Rob Marshall, the film reimagines the beloved 1989 animated classic with a fresh perspective while paying homage to the original (including a cameo from Benson).
This time around, Halle Bailey took over the part of Ariel. Her casting received backlash from a specific demographic of fans who criticized Disney’s decision to cast a Black actress as a character who was originally depicted as white. Nonsensical attacks about “white erasure” built up under the hashtag #NotMyAriel (with few of these critics comprehending that Ariel is not only a fictional character but a fictional mermaid).
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Haters also failed to acknowledge that Benson herself endorsed Bailey as her successor, writing on Instagram in 2022, “I’m SO proud of you & your beautiful performance as Ariel.”
Bailey shook off the criticism, telling British Vogue that she “[didn’t] really let that affect me.” She added: “I mean, I grew up in Georgia. I’m from the Deep South. Being a Black woman, in general, you just know the way things are and how people sometimes are just blatantly racist.”
She later added to The Face, “I know people are like: ‘It’s not about race.’ But now that I’m her… People don’t understand that when you’re Black, there’s this whole other community… It’s so important for us to see ourselves.”
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Upon the film’s release, the majority of its praise was focused on Bailey’s performance. As per The Hollywood Reporter, “Bailey doesn’t disappoint as Ariel. Her performance adds edge to what is ultimately a serviceable film. Whether she’s belting out a newly arranged ‘Part of Your World’ or silently observing her less than charming prince (Jonah Hauer King) navigate his own social constrictions, her charisma radiates off the screen.”
Ariel in Disney Theme Parks
While the film may not have been the behemoth success Disney was expecting at the box office, it was successful enough to warrant in-park activations. Multiple Disney parks across the globe introduced meet and greets with Bailey’s version of Ariel, clad in her dress from the scenes in which she is human.
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Originally intended as a temporary stint, these meet and greets continue at some locations to this day. At Walt Disney World Resort’s Hollywood Studios, for example, guests can meet live-action Ariel at Walt Disney Presents, and the animated version of Ariel is available to meet at her grotto in Magic Kingdom Park.
(Another) New Version of ‘The Little Mermaid’ Debuts
Meanwhile, at Disneyland Resort, Disney is throwing a third version of Ariel into the mix. According to Disney Parks Blog, guests will soon be able to meet Ariel as depicted in the animated series “Disney Jr.’s Ariel.”
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This series is inspired by the live-action version of The Little Mermaid. The children’s show premiered in June 2024 and is in part intended to highlight the multicultural diversity of the Caribbean, with Dr. Patrice Saunders – professor of English and hemispheric Caribbean studies at the University of Miami – serving as a cultural consultant.
Despite being inspired by the recent film, this version of the meet-and-greet character will not be the same as when you meet the live-action Ariel. The cartoon focuses on an eight-year-old Ariel, so the character is adjusted accordingly (and, notably, is not a face character).
Credit: Disney
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Guests will be able to meet Ariel 3.0 for one day only at Disney Jr. Let’s Play! Party. This will be hosted on August 8 in Disney California Adventure Park as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and will also feature cameos from characters from other Disney Jr. shows, such as Mickey Mouse Funhouse and SuperKitties.
During Ariel’s one-day stint, guests can find her in Hollywood Land. This will also contain a Disney Jr.’s Ariel arts and crafts area. For those not in the park, the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage will also offer a bubble show inspired by the animated series between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Do you plan on meeting the new version of Ariel?
