The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning(also known by the working title,Walt Disney Pictures: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning,The Little Mermaid III: Ariel's BeginningorThe Little Mermaid 3: Ariel's Beginning) is a 2008animateddirect-to-videomusicalfantasy filmproduced byDisneytoon Studios,with the animation production being done byToon City Animation, Inc.andDisneyToon Studios Australia.This film is theprequelto Disney's 1989 animated feature filmThe Little Mermaid,the third installment inThe Little Mermaidtrilogy,and the last direct-to-video sequel afterJohn Lassetertook over as chairman for the Disney Animation Division. It is also the first in the chronology of the story running through the series, and it is based on thefairy taleThe Little MermaidbyHans Christian AndersenandThe Little Mermaidanimated television series which ran for three seasons.

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
DVD cover
Directed by	Peggy Holmes
Screenplay by	Robert Reece Evan Spiliotopoulos
Story by	Jule Selbo Jenny Wingfield
Based on	The LittleMermaid byHans Christian Andersen Disney'sThe Little Mermaid byWalt Disney Animation Studios Disney'sThe Little Mermaid byWalt Disney Animation JapanandWalt Disney Television
Produced by	Kendra Halland
Starring	Jodi Benson Samuel E. Wright Jim Cummings Sally Field
Edited by	John Royer
Music by	James Dooley
Production companies	Disneytoon Studios Walt Disney Pictures
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release date	26 August 2008(2008-08-26)
Running time	77 minutes
Countries	Canada Australia United States Philippines
Language	English

Directed byPeggy Holmes,the film's story is set not long before the events of the original film, when all music has been banned from the underwater kingdom of Atlantica byKing Tritonfollowing the tragic death of his beloved wife. Years later, his spirited youngest daughter,Ariel,sets out to challenge her father’s decision and rediscovers the joy of music and love.

Jodi BensonandSamuel E. Wright(in his final film role) reprise their roles as Ariel andSebastianrespectively, whileSally Fieldvoices the film's new villainess, Marina Del Rey.Jim Cummingstakes over the role as King Triton, replacingKenneth Mars,who had been diagnosed withpancreatic cancer.

The film was released byWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainmenton August 26, 2008. Though critical reception was improved overits predecessor,the film received mostly negative reviews that criticized the score and screenplay while the animation and voice performances were praised.

Plot

At least 10 years before the events of theoriginal film,King Tritonand his wife,Queen Athena,rule over the underwater kingdom of Atlantica, filled with music and laughter. They have seven young daughters: Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, Andrina, and the youngest of whom isAriel.One day, while themerpeoplerelax in a lagoon above the surface, King Triton gifts Queen Athena amusic box.However, the merfolk flee at the approach of apirate ship.Everyone escapes except Athena, who tries to recover the music box and is killed when the ship crashes into the lagoon. Devastated by his wife's death, Triton throws the music box away and bitterly bans music from Atlantica forever.

A decade later, Ariel and her sisters live under a strict routine maintained by theirgoverness,Marina Del Rey, and her kind hearted assistant, Benjamin themanatee.Marina hates being the girls' governess and longs to be King Triton'sattaché,a job currently filled bySebastianthecrab.Ariel is equally frustrated by her and her sisters' dull lifestyle, which causes arguments with her father and drives a wedge between the two.

One day, Ariel befriendsFlounder,a youngtropical fishwhom she later follows to an underground music club. She is overjoyed by the presence of music and is shocked when she sees Sebastian performing there. When her presence is revealed, the entire band stops playing and hides, believing Ariel will tell her father about them. Instead, Ariel is moved by her mother’s memory and singsI Remember,recalling the joy that filled her family’s life when music was a part of the kingdom. She is accepted as a member of the club after swearing anoathof secrecy.

Ariel returns to the palace and her sisters confront her over her disappearance, she explains where she was and, the following night, all seven princesses go to the club and have fun. However, Marina follows them, discovers the club and later reveals its existence to King Triton. He imprisons Sebastian, Flounder, and the band and assigns Marina to take over Sebastian's duties while Ariel and her sisters are confined to the palace as punishment for their disobedience.

Unable to live in the kingdom without music, Ariel decides to leave and frees her friends from jail. Although initially against the idea, Sebastian leads them to a deserted place far away from the palace where Ariel discovers her mother's music box, as Sebastian hoped. Ariel realizes her father has forgotten how to feel happy since Athena's death and decides to bring the music box back to him, hoping it will remind him. Meanwhile, Attina informs Triton that Ariel and Sebastian are missing and he orders his guards to find them. Knowing that Triton is regretting his hasty dismissal of Sebastian and desperate to hold onto her newfound power, Marina releases herelectric eelsto hunt down and kill Ariel and Sebastian.

Ariel and the band are confronted by the eels on their way back, but Flounder defeats them. Sebastian and Marina fight, but she is apparently defeated when he traps her in a coral tube. However, just as King Triton arrives, Ariel notices Marina barreling towards an unaware Sebastian, intent on killing him. Triton watches in horror as Ariel rushes to protect Sebastian and gets hit herself, falling to the ground. As he holds Ariel, Triton blames himself for the lack of joy in the kingdom and, upon hearing the music box play, sings to Ariel and she revives. Triton apologies and the two reconcile.

Following this, King Triton lifts his decade-long banishment of music and welcomes it back into his kingdom, much to everyone's delight. Sebastian is reinstated as right hand to the King, as well as appointed as Atlantica's first official Court Composer. Marina was imprisoned in the dungeon for her crimes, and Ariel shares a dance with her father.

Voice cast

Main article:List of The Little Mermaid characters

• Jodi BensonasAriel,an adventurous, headstrong mermaid and the youngest daughter of King Triton and Queen Athena.
• Samuel E. WrightasSebastian,a red Caribbeancrabwith a Jamaican accent who serves as King Triton's advisor and court composer. This was Wright's final film role before his death from prostate cancer in 2021.
• Jim CummingsasKing Triton,Ariel's strict and overprotective father and the ruler of Atlantica who is prejudiced towards humans. Cummings replacesKenneth Mars,who was unavailable to reprise his role due to battling cancer at the time.
  • Cummings also voicesShelbow,a member of the Catfish Club Band.
• Sally FieldasMarina Del Rey.
• Parker Goris asFlounder,a yellowtropical fishwho is Ariel's best friend.
• Kari WahlgrenasAttina,the eldest sister who keeps the others in order and is always following her father's words.
• Tara Strong(previously the voice of Melody, the daughter of Ariel, inReturn to the Sea) as:
  • Adella,the third eldest sister who dreams of falling in love with a boy.
  • Andrina,the second youngest sister who is sarcastic and likes to joke around.
• Jennifer HaleasAlana,the second eldest sister who is interested in beauty, fashion and is very cautious with her appearance.
• Grey DeLisleas:
  • Aquata,the middle sister who is tough, but shy and can't dance.
  • Arista,the third youngest sister who is very quirky and often "borrows" other people's things. She joins the band at the end of the movie.
• Jeff BennettasBenjamin,Marina's mild-mannered manatee sidekick.
  • Bennett also voices the Swordfish Guards who patrol the palace.
• Lorelei Hill Butters asQueen Athena
  • Andrea RobinsonasQueen Athena's singing voice
• Rob Paulsen(previously the voice ofPrince EricinReturn to the Sea) asInk SpotandSwifty,members of the Catfish Club Band.
• Kevin Michael RichardsonasCheeksandRay-Ray,members of the Catfish Club Band.

Production

The film's working title wasThe Little Mermaid III,and it was originally scheduled for a mid-2007 release. WhenJohn Lassetertook over Disney Animation, more resources were spent on completingCinderella III: A Twist in Time,and attention only returned toAriel's Beginningin July 2006 after the wrap-up ofCinderella III.

A teaser trailer and musical preview of the film (an alternate version of "Jump in the Line" ) were attached to the Platinum Edition DVD ofThe Little Mermaid,which was released in October 2006. At the time, the working titleThe Little Mermaid IIIwas still being used.

LikeThe Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea,this film usesdigital ink and paintwith the use of theToon Boom Harmonysoftware.

Soundtrack

The score to the film was composed byJames Dooley,who recorded the score with a 72-piece ensemble of theHollywood Studio Symphony,as well as abig band,at the Sony Scoring Stage.The film features new songs written byJeanine Tesori,along with covers of previously recordedcalypsosongs that were arranged by Dooley. No soundtrack has been released yet for the film.

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Athena's Song (Endless Sky)"	Andrea Robinson
2.	"Just One Mistake"	Sally Field
3.	"Jump in the Line"	Samuel E. Wright& Chorus
4.	"Jump in the Line (Reprise)"	Jodi Benson,Parker Goris,Samuel E. Wright& Chorus
5.	"I Remember"	Jodi Benson
6.	"Man Smart (Woman Smarter)"
7.	"Just One Mistake (Reprise)"	Sally Field
8.	"I Will Sing"	Jeannette Bayardelle

Release

The film was released on Region 1 DVD in the United States on August 26, 2008, and on Region 2 DVD in theUnited KingdomandEuropeon September 22, 2008. The DVD contains special features including deleted scenes, a production featurette hosted by the director, games and activities, and a featurette hosted bySierra Boggess(who played Ariel on Broadway) about theBroadway musical.

On December 16, 2008, the film was released in a "The Little Mermaid Trilogy" boxed set that includesThe Little Mermaid(Platinum Edition) andThe Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.On November 19, 2013, it was released on Blu-ray as a 2-movie collection alongside the sequel.

In 2019, the film was released onDisney+.

Censorship in the United Kingdom

In theUnited Kingdom,the word "spastic"was cut from an interactive game in the extra features of the DVD and Blu-Ray releases by theBBFCto achieve a "U" rating. An uncut version was available rated "12".

The word appears uncensored in all versions of the full-length feature.

Reception

The DVD became the top-selling DVD for the week ending August 31, selling 980,237 copies.

On the review aggregate websiteRotten Tomatoes,33% of 6 critic reviews are positive.The new villain, Marina Del Rey, was criticized as a poor follow-up toUrsula.The animation quality of the film has been praised as being "impressive" for a direct-to-video and comparable to that of the original film.A mildly negative review has described that in the film "goofiness often gets buried too often underneath a blah story that's much too run-of-the-mill to allow the emotional oomph of the characters' plights to truly impact".The music has also been criticized as being unmemorable, with one review stating that "to label this a musical would be false advertising".

External links

• Official website
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel's BeginningatIMDb